20 ChatGPT Prompt Templates for Everyday Work (2026)

These ChatGPT prompt templates save you the hardest part of using AI: figuring out what to type. Every template below is copy-paste ready — fill in the parts in [brackets], send it, and you have a useful answer in seconds. They work with the free plan, and most of them work with Gemini and Claude too.

One rule for all twenty: fill in the brackets. A template with empty brackets gives you a generic answer. A template with your real details gives you a real answer.

How to use the templates (1 minute)

Each template follows the same shape: a role, a task, the details, and the format. You only change the details — the rest stays the same.

[brackets] mean “fill this in with your own words”. Delete the brackets when you paste.
Keep the format part (“under 100 words”, “in bullet points”) — it is what stops the answer from being a wall of text.
Save the ones that work. When a template gives you a good answer, save it in one document. Your best prompts are worth keeping.

Emails (templates 1–4)

1. Write a reply

Act as a friendly assistant. Write a reply to this email: [paste email]. Say that [your point], and keep it under 100 words, polite and clear.

2. Shorten an email

Shorten this email to under 50 words. Keep the meaning and the polite tone: [paste email].

3. Make it more formal

Rewrite this email to sound more formal, for [a manager / a parent / a client]. Keep the meaning the same: [paste email].

4. Follow up politely

Write a polite follow-up email about [topic]. I wrote to [person] on [date] and have not heard back. Ask for an update, keep it under 80 words.

Summaries (templates 5–8)

5. Summarize in bullets

Summarize this text in 5 bullet points, one line each: [paste text].

6. Explain it simply

Explain this in simple words, like I am 10 years old, with one example: [paste text or topic].

7. Key takeaways

What are the 3 key takeaways from this text? Give me one sentence for each: [paste text].

8. Compare two texts

Compare these two texts. What do they agree on, what do they disagree on, and which one is more convincing? Text 1: [paste]. Text 2: [paste].

Planning (templates 9–12)

9. Weekly plan

Make me a simple plan for this week. My goal is [goal]. I have [hours] a day, [days of the week]. Give me one thing to do each day, with a time.

10. Meeting agenda

Make a meeting agenda for [topic]. The meeting is [length] long, with [number] people. Include the topic, the time for each part, and what we need to decide.

11. Project checklist

Make a checklist for [project]. Break it into steps, in order, with a checkbox for each step. Keep each step to one line.

12. Study plan

Make a study plan for [subject]. My exam is on [date]. I can study [hours] a day. Give weak topics more time and include one rest day a week.

Ideas (templates 13–16)

13. Ten ideas

Give me 10 ideas for [topic]. Make them practical and different from each other. Number them.

14. Pros and cons

What are the pros and cons of [decision]? Give me 3 pros and 3 cons, one line each, then your recommendation.

15. Names and titles

Give me 10 titles for [article / presentation / project] about [topic]. Make them short, clear, and interesting.

16. Improve this idea

Here is my idea: [idea]. How can I make it better? Give me 3 specific suggestions.

Writing and editing (templates 17–20)

17. Fix my grammar

Check my grammar and spelling. Fix the mistakes, explain each one in one line, and give me the corrected version: [paste text].

18. Rewrite it shorter

Rewrite this text to half the length. Keep the meaning and the main points: [paste text].

19. Change the tone

Rewrite this text in a [friendly / formal / confident] tone. Keep the meaning the same: [paste text].

20. Turn notes into a draft

Turn these notes into a first draft of [a report / an email / a lesson plan]. Use headings and bullet points, keep it under 300 words: [paste notes].

How to build your own template (5 minutes)

Once you have used these twenty, you can write your own. Every good template has the same four parts:

Role: “Act as a [friendly assistant / teacher / editor].”
Task: what you want — write, summarize, plan, compare.
Details: the facts — names, dates, topics, limits.
Format: how the answer should look — “under 100 words”, “in bullet points”, “give me 3 options”.

Write your template down, try it once, and fix what does not work. A template you wrote for your own job is always better than one you copied — because it has your details in it.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using templates word-for-word without filling in the details. The brackets are the point. An empty template gives you an empty answer.
Never saving the ones that work. A good prompt you lose is a good prompt you have to write again. Keep one document with your best prompts.
Asking for 20 ideas and using none. Pick the best three and do something with them. Ten ideas you ignore are worth less than one idea you use.
Copying the first answer without reading it. Read it first. AI makes mistakes — wrong facts, wrong tone, wrong details. You are the editor.
Pasting private information. Never paste passwords, bank details, or other people’s personal data into ChatGPT or any AI tool.

FAQ

Are these templates free?

Yes. They work with the free ChatGPT plan, and most of them work with Gemini and Claude too. You do not need a paid plan for any of them.

Can I use them with Gemini or Claude?

Yes. The same prompts work in all three — the role, task, details, and format are the same. Try the same template in two tools and compare the answers.

Do I need to copy them exactly?

No. Adjust the details and the format to your job. The template is a starting point, not a rule — change the words, the length, and the tone until it fits what you need.

How do I save my favourites?

Keep one document — a note, a Doc, or a text file — with your best prompts. Add to it when you find a better one, and delete the ones you never use. After a month, you will have a personal library that fits your work.