Word of the Day
Output Formatting
Output formatting is instructing the model to return a specific structure — a table, JSON, bullets — so results are usable and consistent.
Get it freeOutput formatting means telling the model exactly how to shape its answer: 'return a markdown table with columns X, Y, Z,' 'respond only with valid JSON,' 'give three bullets, no preamble.' It turns freeform prose into something you can paste, parse, or drop into a document without cleanup.
The strongest version pairs an explicit format instruction with a one-line example of the shape you want (a mini few-shot). For programmatic use, many APIs now support a strict JSON or schema mode that guarantees parseable output.
Related: few shot prompting · negative prompting · prompt engineering
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