Prompting
Few-shot prompting
Giving a model a small number of examples to demonstrate the desired pattern.
Example
A prompt supplies three approved email examples so the assistant can follow their style.
Why it matters
It helps communicate subtle expectations that a short instruction may leave unclear.
You'll hear it
“These examples show the tone we want across different situations.”
Can you control it?
Yes
Yes. You can often use or adjust few-shot prompting directly when the product supports it. The available options and their effect still depend on the tool.
Common questions
- Do more examples always mean better results?
- No. Extra examples can add confusion, conflict or unnecessary length.
- Can the order of examples affect the reply?
- Yes. Some systems respond differently when the same demonstrations are arranged in another order.
- Must examples cover every possible case?
- No. They should show useful patterns, but unfamiliar cases can still need clarification or checking.