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Produce a prepaid balance listing as one JSON block

  • For Accountants
  • You practice Asking for a format you can use
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

You're updating the prepaid listing as of October 31, 2026. Write a prompt for one JSON code block, an array with one object per line (no pretty-printing), using exactly the keys vendor, monthly and remaining for the three prepaids. Straight-line by month, and count the month a term starts and the month it ends. Outside the code block write at most 15 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Pretty-printing. The AI spreads each object over several lines, breaking the line limit. Try: Say: "One object per line, no pretty-printing."
  • Including the old prepaid. The AI adds Orchard Parking from the note. Try: Add: "Leave out fully amortized items."
  • Wrong months used. The AI counts the payment date, not the term start, so remaining balances are off. Try: Say: "Count months from the first month of each term through October."
  • Wrong monthly amounts. The AI divides by days or by the wrong number of months. Try: Add: "monthly = paid / months in the term".
  • Commentary around the block. The AI adds explanation paragraphs. Try: Add: "At most 15 words outside the code block."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Gives the keys
  • States the formulas
  • Sets one object per line
  • Leaves out finished items
  • Limits prose

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