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Compare family phone plans over a full year
Practice: Giving the right context. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
You need 4 lines and you always pay by autopay with a debit card. Compare 12-month costs, including promos that end and one-time fees. Write exactly 3 numbered lines, one per plan, each showing the 12-month math, then one unnumbered last line: Pick: [plan]. Plain text, under 80 words.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Pricing only the first month. The AI compares B's $100 promo month and ignores the jump to $160. Try: Add: "Compare full 12-month costs, including when promos end."
- Not mentioning autopay. The AI doesn't know you qualify, so Plan C looks pricier. Try: Add: "We use autopay with a debit card."
- Not asking to see the work. Plan math is easy to slip on. Try: Add a line to copy: "1. Plan A: 12 x $160 = $1,920"
- Getting a pros-and-cons list. The AI writes about coverage and perks. Try: Add: "Then one line: Pick: [plan]. Nothing else."
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each line: "each line under 16 words."
- Forgetting where it goes. AI loves markdown tables and bold, which show up as clutter in a family group text. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold, headings or tables."
What a strong prompt includes
- Says 12 months
- Mentions autopay
- Includes fees
- Asks to show the math
- Asks for plain text
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