1In one sentence
When an answer is wrong, too long, too generic or off-topic, there are five standard moves that fix it, and arguing is not one of them.
2New words
- Off-topic — the answer is about something near your question, not your question.
- Generic — the answer could have been written for anyone; nothing in it is about you.
- Scope — how wide the question is. "Tell me about marketing" is huge; "three ways to get my first 10 customers" is narrow and answerable.
3Why you would want it
Everyone gets bad answers. The difference between a frustrated user and a skilled one is what they do next. Beginners type "no, that's wrong" and get a slightly reworded wrong answer. Skilled users know which gap caused the problem and fill it.
| What went wrong | Why it happened | The move |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong fact | Claude had no source and guessed | Give the fact, attach the file, or say search the web and link your sources |
| Too generic | The desk was empty (Chapter 0.5) | Add context: who you are, who it is for, what you tried |
| Too long or too short | No length given | Say the length: 5 lines, one page, under 100 words |
| Wrong style or shape | No example or format | Paste an example; name the format |
| Off-topic or drifted | The chat is long and early instructions slid off | Start a new chat with a fresh brief; paste the good parts |
4Try it now
- Ask: What should I charge for my service? (deliberately vague).
- Read the generic answer.
- Now apply move 2: I am a freelance photographer in a mid-sized city, 5 years' experience, shooting weddings. Competitors charge between [X] and [Y]. I want to be premium but bookable. What should I charge and why?
5What you will see
The first answer cannot give a number: Claude lists six things it would need to know and a general framework. Useful, but not an answer:
The second gives a price range with reasons, tied to your market and your hours:
You did not fight with Claude; you filled the gap.
6Watch out
- "That's wrong, try again" rarely helps. Say what is wrong and give what is missing.
- If the same problem returns three times, the chat is probably too long. Move 5: fresh chat.
7Go further
Before you type a fix, ask Claude: What information were you missing to answer this well? It will usually tell you exactly which move to make.