By Cesar Miguelañez — 25 Jan 2025

10 Examples of Tone-Adjusted Prompts for LLMs

Explore how tone adjustment in prompts can enhance AI communication across various contexts, from business to customer service.

Tone adjustment in prompts helps guide AI responses to fit specific goals, audiences, and situations. Whether you're writing for business, social media, or technical purposes, adjusting the tone ensures your content is clear, engaging, and effective. Here's a quick overview of the 10 tone examples covered:

Formal: Use professional language for business communication.
Casual: Create conversational content for social media.
Technical: Write precise and structured scientific or technical content.
Empathetic: Respond with care and understanding in customer service.
Persuasive: Craft marketing copy that motivates action.
Humorous: Add wit and playfulness for entertainment.
Authoritative: Educate with clear and reliable information.
Creative: Inspire storytelling with imaginative prompts.
Urgent: Communicate emergencies with clarity and directness.
Neutral: Report news with objectivity and balance.

Quick Comparison Table:

Tone	Purpose	Key Features
Formal	Business Communication	Professional, respectful, concise
Casual	Social Media Content	Conversational, engaging, relatable
Technical	Scientific Writing	Precise, objective, structured
Empathetic	Customer Service	Supportive, understanding, solution-oriented
Persuasive	Marketing Copy	Action-driven, benefit-focused, engaging
Humorous	Entertainment Content	Witty, playful, culturally relevant
Authoritative	Educational Materials	Clear, factual, accessible
Creative	Storytelling	Imaginative, descriptive, flexible
Urgent	Emergency Communication	Direct, clear, actionable
Neutral	News Reporting	Objective, fact-based, balanced

Understanding Tone Adjustment in LLM Prompts

Tone adjustment in LLM prompts involves fine-tuning prompts to generate responses tailored to specific business, technical, or customer-facing needs. Mastering this skill allows users to guide AI outputs effectively.

Here’s what makes tone adjustment work:

Strategic Vocabulary Choices: The words you use shape how the message feels. For example, including phrases like "please" and "thank you" creates a polite tone, while technical terms set a more professional vibe.
Clear Contextual Framing: Giving the AI background information helps it pick the right tone. If the content is intended for a professional business audience, specifying this steers the model toward formal language.
Explicit Instructions: Don’t leave the tone up to chance. Directly stating the desired tone - whether casual, formal, or technical - leads to more consistent and accurate results.

When combined, these elements create responses that fit the intended purpose. For instance, in marketing, a carefully worded prompt can produce content that speaks directly to a target audience while staying true to a brand's voice.

It’s also important to match your prompts to the audience’s expertise and communication goals. This ensures the tone stays appropriate and respects cultural nuances across different applications ^[1]^[2]^[3].

With these basics covered, we can explore how tone adjustment applies across various industries.

1. Formal Tone: Business Communication Prompt

Formal prompts rely on professional language and clear instructions, making them ideal for business communication. This style ensures messages are both respectful and easy to understand.

For example, a prompt for enterprise communication might look like this:

"Write a professional email to a client explaining the benefits of our new product. Use a formal and respectful tone, ensuring the email is clear, concise, and includes specific examples of how the product addresses the client's needs."

Key elements of effective formal prompts include:

A clearly defined purpose
Specific tone guidelines
Clear expectations for the format
Use of relevant industry terms
Professional and polished language

When creating formal prompts, focus on clarity and precision. Incorporate industry-specific language where appropriate, and test your prompts through collaborative tools to fine-tune them for your target audience ^[1]^[2].

When it comes to social media, the focus shifts from formal precision to a more conversational and engaging style. Casual tone prompts are designed to help LLMs craft informal, relatable content that resonates with audiences and drives interaction.

Just like the formal business prompts mentioned earlier, casual tone prompts have three key parts:

Context Setting

Start by providing essential details about the platform, audience, and purpose of the content. This helps the LLM tailor its output to the specific social media environment you're targeting.

Tone Guidelines

Lay out clear instructions on the desired tone and style. You might include:

Conversational language
Common, everyday phrases
Relatable scenarios or examples
Platform-specific hashtags
Emoji usage, if appropriate

Format Specifications

Clearly define any technical requirements, such as character limits, post structure, or formatting rules unique to the platform.

Here’s an example of a casual tone prompt:

"Create a social media post announcing a new product launch with a casual tone and a strong call to action."

Casual tone prompts are great for boosting engagement and audience interaction. They still require consistency with the brand voice, but they adapt it to the informal nature of social platforms.

What to Watch Out For:

Avoid using industry-specific jargon
Keep the tone consistent throughout
Respect the norms of the platform
Be mindful of cultural sensitivities

To make the most of casual tone prompts, aim for content that feels approachable and relatable while staying true to your brand. For example, a Twitter post might focus on being concise, while Instagram content could lean into storytelling with visuals and captions ^[1] ^[2].

3. Technical Tone: Scientific Writing Prompt

Technical writing demands a fine balance between objectivity and clarity, especially in academic or specialized contexts. This is particularly important for LLM applications tailored for scientific tasks.

Scientific prompts build on the foundation of formal business prompts but require three key elements:

Context and Purpose

Start by defining the scientific setting, the intended audience, and the goal of the content. This ensures the LLM responds with the right technical depth and maintains scientific accuracy.

Technical Details

Include specific parameters to uphold scientific integrity, such as:

Citation formats
Guidelines for presenting data
Expected technical terminology
Specific analysis methods

Structure

Lay out the organizational framework needed for the task. This might include abstract formatting, methodology details, or instructions for presenting results.

For example:

"Write a detailed explanation of the process of photosynthesis, focusing on the role of chlorophyll and light-dependent reactions. Use precise technical terms and provide examples to clarify complex concepts."

When designing prompts for technical writing, aim for objectivity while ensuring the content is understandable for the intended audience. The emphasis should always be on delivering accurate and reliable information, rather than stylistic embellishments ^[1]^[2].

This method ensures the generated content meets the rigorous standards expected in scientific and technical writing ^[2]^[3].

Up next, we’ll explore how this contrasts with the empathetic tone used in customer service scenarios.

4. Empathetic Tone: Customer Service Prompt

Customer service isn't just about solving problems; it’s about understanding and addressing emotions while offering practical solutions. Creating prompts for customer service requires a mix of emotional sensitivity and clear problem-solving guidance. The goal? To help language models (LLMs) respond in a way that acknowledges feelings and offers actionable resolutions.

Here's what a good empathetic customer service prompt should include:

Recognizing Emotions First
Start by addressing the customer’s feelings before diving into the technical issue. For example:

"Write a response to a customer who received a damaged product. Use an empathetic tone to acknowledge their frustration, apologize for the inconvenience, and offer a replacement or refund."
Clear Context and Guidelines
Provide detailed instructions about the situation and desired resolution. This ensures the response is tailored and helpful.
Actionable Solutions
Include specific steps for resolving the issue, such as offering refunds, replacements, or follow-ups. This ensures the response isn’t just empathetic but also practical.

The aim is to create responses that feel supportive and trustworthy while delivering clear solutions. It’s not just about sounding human but building real trust through effective communication.

Balancing emotional tone with practical solutions is critical. At the same time, responses should align with the brand's voice, ensuring interactions feel genuine and consistent ^[1]^[2].

Next, we’ll dive into how persuasive strategies for marketing differ from this human-centered approach.

5. Persuasive Tone: Marketing Copy Prompt

Marketing is all about persuasion, blending emotional appeal with solid facts to drive action. Crafting prompts for marketing copy using LLMs means finding the right mix of engaging language and reliable details. A strong prompt should clearly define the audience, the desired action, and the main benefits. For instance:

"Write product copy targeting eco-conscious millennials, highlighting sustainability certifications and long-term cost savings."

Key elements of effective prompts include:

Audience context: Who are you speaking to? (e.g., "Young professionals interested in fitness")
Clear value propositions: Why should they care? (e.g., "Time-saving features")
Supporting evidence: How can you back it up? (e.g., "Customer success metrics")

To make your prompts persuasive, include specific data like performance stats instead of vague claims. This not only strengthens your argument but also helps build trust with your audience ^[1]^[2].

Next, we'll look at how humor plays a role in entertainment-focused content.

6. Humorous Tone: Entertainment Content Prompt

Creating entertaining content with large language models (LLMs) requires a careful mix of humor and context. Being specific is key to hitting the right comedic note.

Here’s an example of a strong humorous prompt:

"Create a social media post for our new comedy show, using a humorous and engaging tone that highlights its unique features and appeals to a young audience" ^[1]

To craft effective humorous prompts, focus on these three components:

Context Setting

Define your audience: Who are they? What do they enjoy?
Specify the humor style: Witty, sarcastic, or playful?
Include relevant trends: Tie humor to current events or cultural references.

Tone Guidelines

Set boundaries: What’s acceptable humor for your audience and brand?
Avoid sensitive topics: Make sure nothing crosses the line.
Match the brand voice: Humor should feel authentic to your business.

Structure Elements

Include a setup and punchline: Every joke needs a rhythm.
Define format and length: Tailor it to the platform (e.g., short for Twitter, longer for Instagram).
Consider platform nuances: What works on TikTok may not work on LinkedIn.

Balancing guidance and creative freedom is critical. Overly strict instructions can stifle creativity, while vague directions might lead to humor that feels off-brand or inappropriate ^[2].

Instead of asking for "funny content", try specifying humor types like "witty observations" or "clever wordplay" ^[1]^[3]. Refining the prompt through multiple iterations can help fine-tune the humor to match both quality and appropriateness ^[3]. Adding references to current cultural trends ensures jokes connect with your audience ^[2].

This emphasis on targeted humor sets the stage for the contrasting tone needed in emergency communications, which we’ll dive into next.

7. Authoritative Tone: Educational Materials Prompt

When using LLMs to create educational content, it’s crucial to strike a balance between being authoritative and staying accessible. A well-crafted prompt helps guide LLMs to generate content that is both reliable and easy to understand.

Key Components of Effective Educational Prompts:

Clear Objectives: Specify the purpose and intended audience.
Appropriate Terminology: Use subject-specific terms suited to the educational level.
Organized Structure: Include headings, examples, and logical content flow.
Fact-Based Content: Present verified information objectively.
Refinement: Iterate to enhance clarity and precision.

Here’s an example of a strong educational prompt:

"Explain the water cycle in detail for high school students. Use a formal tone, include clear headings, and write in concise paragraphs. Ensure all information is accurate and current."

This prompt uses precise language while prioritizing clarity to suit an educational setting, avoiding unnecessary complexity.

Providing Context Matters

To improve the output, be specific about:

Audience Level: Define the target group (e.g., high school students).
Background Knowledge: Mention any prior understanding required.
Learning Goals: Highlight key objectives for the material.
Assessment Needs: Indicate if the content should include questions or activities.

This approach ensures the material is clear, factual, and tailored to the audience, contrasting with the imaginative flexibility needed for storytelling prompts ^[1]^[2]^[3].

8. Creative Tone: Storytelling Prompt

Crafting storytelling prompts is all about sparking imagination while offering just enough structure to guide the narrative. Unlike the straightforward tone used in instructional content, these prompts should inspire creativity while providing clear direction.

Key Elements of a Storytelling Prompt

Theme: A clear idea or concept that sets the tone for the story.
Characters: Guidelines for creating compelling characters and their relationships.
Setting: Details that define the world where the story unfolds.
Plot: A loose framework to guide the storyline without being overly restrictive.

Here’s an example of a storytelling prompt that encourages creativity:

"Write a story inspired by Neil Gaiman, set in a mystical forest where the trees harbor ancient secrets. Focus on a character who uncovers these secrets through their dreams. Use vivid descriptions and keep a sense of wonder alive throughout the tale."

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When designing storytelling prompts, watch out for these issues that can limit the quality of responses:

Too Vague: Instead of saying, "Write a creative story", include specific themes or settings to guide the narrative.
Too Restrictive: Avoid overloading the prompt with constraints that stifle creativity.
Inconsistent Style: Ensure the tone of the prompt stays consistent to maintain focus and direction.

Tips for Better Creative Results

"Imagine a character who can travel through time using only their dreams. Write a story that delves into the emotional and psychological struggles of this ability, focusing on their internal conflict."

This approach encourages imaginative storytelling while leaving room for personal interpretation. It contrasts with the urgency-driven prompts used for emergency communication, which we’ll explore next ^[1]^[2]^[3].

9. Urgent Tone: Emergency Communication Prompt

Emergency messages need to express urgency clearly while avoiding unnecessary alarm. When creating prompts for LLMs to draft emergency alerts, the tone and structure should be carefully designed to ensure clarity and prompt action.

Key Elements of Effective Emergency Prompts

A strong emergency prompt relies on three main components:

Situation Statement: Clearly outlines the type and location of the emergency.
Required Actions: Specifies the immediate steps people need to take.
Critical Details: Includes essential resources and contact information.

Writing Clear and Direct Emergency Prompts

Precision and clarity are essential when crafting emergency prompts. Messages that are concise and direct encourage quicker responses compared to vague or overly complicated instructions.

Here’s an example of a clear and effective emergency prompt for LLMs:

"Create an emergency evacuation alert for a chemical spill. Use short, direct sentences and imperative verbs. Highlight key information, such as immediate actions, assembly points, and emergency contact numbers. Maintain a tone of urgency without inciting panic."

Mistakes to Avoid in Emergency Prompts

When drafting emergency communication prompts, be sure to avoid:

Ambiguous Language: Use precise timeframes instead of vague terms like "soon" or "quickly."
Excessive Information: Stick to the most critical details.
Passive Voice: Opt for active and direct instructions.
Technical Terms: Use simple, straightforward language.

It's important to test prompts across various emergency scenarios to ensure they are clear and appropriately urgent ^[1]^[2].

This approach contrasts with the neutral tone required for news reporting prompts, which we’ll explore next.

10. Neutral Tone: News Reporting Prompt

When it comes to news reporting, objectivity is key. Unlike emergency communications that demand urgency, news writing focuses on delivering clear, unbiased information. Neutral tone prompts are essential for maintaining journalistic integrity.

Core Elements of a Neutral News Prompt

A strong neutral news prompt ensures the delivery of facts without any slant. Here's what to include:

Focus on facts: Stick to verified data, avoiding personal opinions or commentary.
Balanced perspectives: Represent all relevant viewpoints when applicable.
Transparent sourcing: Clearly identify where information, quotes, or claims come from.
Neutral language: Stay away from emotional or loaded terms.

Here’s an example of a neutral news prompt:

"Write a news article about [topic] using verified data and expert insights. Ensure all information is accurate and avoid evaluative comments."

Avoiding Common Mistakes

When creating neutral prompts, steer clear of these pitfalls:

Leading language: This can unintentionally introduce bias. Use neutral terms instead.
Opinion markers: These compromise objectivity. Stick strictly to facts.
Emotional words: These can undermine credibility. Opt for neutral, straightforward phrasing.

Tips for Better Prompts

To make your prompts more effective:

Clearly outline the sources and verification processes required.
Suggest structuring the content using the inverted pyramid format (most important facts first).
Emphasize precise attribution for quotes and claims.

Verifying Sources

Set explicit guidelines for citing and cross-checking sources to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness in the final content ^[1]^[2].

This wraps up the approach to neutral tone adjustments, rounding out the journey from creative storytelling to crisis communication and factual reporting.

Best Practices for Using Tone-Adjusted Prompts

To get the most out of tone-adjusted prompts, focus on these strategies to ensure your communication aligns with your goals and audience.

Context-First Approach

Start by understanding who you're speaking to and the purpose behind your message. For example, a startup's internal memo might lean toward a relaxed tone, while a corporate report will likely require a more formal approach. Tailoring the tone to fit the audience and situation is crucial.

Quick Reference Guide

Use this table to match tone with the context of your communication:

Context	Recommended Tone	Key Considerations
Business Reports	Formal & Professional	Focus on clarity, neutrality, and data
Social Content	Casual & Conversational	Prioritize engagement and brand personality
Technical Documentation	Precise & Structured	Ensure accuracy and step-by-step clarity
Customer Support	Empathetic & Clear	Show understanding and focus on solutions

Fine-Tuning Through Iteration

Experiment with different tone variations and gather feedback to see what resonates best. Collaborative testing can help refine prompts and ensure they align with your goals.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Shifting tones inconsistently within the same message.
Overloading prompts with too many tone-specific instructions, which can dilute the message.

Collaborative Development

Create clear but flexible guidelines to adapt to different scenarios. This approach allows you to refine tone-adjusted prompts effectively, whether you're crafting marketing content or writing technical instructions ^[1]^[2].

Conclusion

Adjusting tone effectively can transform LLM-generated outputs, making them more suitable for various communication needs. This skill helps create responses that connect with specific audiences and achieve intended goals.

The influence of tone goes beyond style - it plays a key role in shaping how messages are received. Thoughtful tone selection is a vital aspect of prompt design, ensuring clarity and relevance.

Different sectors highlight tone's importance: clear communication aids business decisions, empathetic language enhances customer interactions, and precise wording improves technical understanding.

Whether crafting professional business reports or empathetic customer service replies, tone adjustment proves its value across diverse scenarios. The ten examples provided illustrate how fine-tuning tone can lead to meaningful results.

Applying these techniques consistently - from formal emails to urgent alerts - ensures that LLM outputs meet audience expectations and communication objectives.

To master tone adjustment, it's crucial to align audience needs with the context. Using clear prompts and detailed instructions, users can guide LLMs to deliver more refined and context-appropriate responses ^[1]^[2].

FAQs

What is tone in prompt engineering?

Tone in prompt engineering refers to shaping how AI assistants communicate by designing prompts carefully. This approach helps users control the voice and style of outputs from language models, tailoring them to specific communication needs ^[1]. Understanding this concept allows for practical use in a variety of scenarios, as illustrated in the examples in this article.

What tone to ask ChatGPT?

The tone you choose should align with your communication goals and audience. Here are some common styles for different needs:

Friendly & Conversational: Warm, approachable, and engaging
Formal & Professional: Respectful, structured, and precise
Informative & Authoritative: Clear, factual, and reliable
Persuasive & Urgent: Action-driven, impactful, and motivating

What tone to tell ChatGPT?

When guiding ChatGPT on tone, be clear and specific in your instructions. Explicitly describe the tone you want, along with details about the audience and purpose. For example: "Use formal business English for senior executives reviewing a quarterly report." Adding specific examples helps set expectations ^[1]^[2]. This method is similar to the one used in the marketing and emergency communication examples shared earlier.