Sort year-end documents into have and need from a bookkeeper's notes

About this exercise

You're helping a small business owner prepare for the year-end review with the accountant. Write a prompt for plain text with exactly two lines: "Have:" and "Need:", each a comma-separated list of documents from the notes. Need lists only what is missing now, with the specific gap. Use only the notes. Under 70 words. No bullets or numbering.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Listing future documents as missing. The AI puts November statements and Q4 reports in Need. Try: Say: "Documents that cannot exist yet don't go in Need."
• Dropping specifics. The AI writes 'bank statements' without the months covered. Try: Add: "Include the months or period covered."
• Missing the cooler invoice. The AI lists all fixed asset invoices as Have. Try: Add: "Need lists the specific missing item."
• Markdown extras. The AI adds bold labels, headings and a closing note. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold. Output only the lines asked for."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits. Try: Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each line short.

What a strong prompt includes

• Names the two lines
• Says what is not missing
• Asks for the gap
• Uses only the notes
• Caps length

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