Send a friendly first HOA notice about trash bins

About this exercise

You manage an HOA and need to send a homeowner a first notice about trash bins left at the curb. Keep it under 80 words, plain text: the specific issue and dates in the first sentence, the rule's section number, and the date to fix it by. This is a first notice, so mention no fine, and don't mention who complained. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 80 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "4 sentences, each under 20 words."
• Starting vague. The AI opens with "It has come to our attention..." without the dates. Try: Add: "First sentence: bins left at the curb on Oct 28, Oct 31 and Nov 4."
• No rule or deadline. The AI says "please follow the rules" without the section or a date. Try: Add: "Cite Section 4.3 and say to fix it by Nov 16."
• Threatening or naming. The AI lists the fine schedule or says a neighbor complained. Try: Add: "First notice: no fines. Don't mention who reported it."
• Ignoring where it will be pasted. AI loves bold and headings, which show up as stray ** and # symbols in the notice. Try: Name the place and the format: "For the notice. Plain text, no bold or headings."

What a strong prompt includes

• Leads with the issue and dates
• Cites the rule
• Gives the fix-by date
• Rules out fines and names
• Sets a word limit

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