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Document two conflicting customer definitions without picking one

  • For FP&A and financial analysts
  • You practice Keeping the AI to your sources
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Advanced

About this exercise

Sales and Finance both report "active customers" and the numbers differ. Write a prompt for a glossary entry with exactly four lines starting "Sales definition:", "Finance definition:", "Counts:" and "Open decision:". Use only the notes. Don't choose one definition, and don't state which number is right. The Open decision line names who decides and the date from the notes. Plain text, under 100 words. No bullets or numbering.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Choosing a winner. The AI says the invoice definition is better because it ties to revenue. Try: Add: "Do not say which definition is better or which number is right."
  • Dropping the overlap. The AI gives 520 and 455 with no explanation of the gap. Try: Say: "Counts includes the overlap figures: both, login-only, paid-only."
  • Missing deciders and date. The AI ends with 'teams should align'. Try: Add: "Open decision: who decides and the date."
  • 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 four lines
  • Includes the overlap
  • Names deciders and date
  • Stays neutral
  • Caps length

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