The Problem
AI tools often make assumptions when information is unclear or missing. This leads to answers that miss the mark or require multiple rounds of back-and-forth to get right. You lose time clarifying what you actually wanted.
The Solution
Add this simple line to the end of every complex prompt:
"Before answering, do you have any questions or need any clarification?"
That's it. This asks the AI to pause and identify gaps before it writes an answer.
How to Apply It
- Write your normal prompt
- Add the clarification closer at the end
- AI will ask questions if anything is unclear
- Answer the questions
- AI answers with the gaps filled
Before You Rely on This
The examples on this page are made up to show the technique. No test results have been published for it, so try it on your own work and judge it by what you find.
This guide is about how to word a prompt. It does not make a client's document or information safe to put into an AI tool. What you may enter depends on the plan your firm has, its agreement with the vendor and your firm's policy: Claude Projects for Client Matters sets out the checks for one tool. To practise, use a precedent or a published document that contains no client information, and refer to parties by role.
Why It Works
Large language models are trained to be helpful and provide answers even when information is incomplete. They'll make "reasonable assumptions" rather than ask for clarification. By explicitly inviting questions, you override this behaviour and create a two-way dialogue instead of a one-way guess.
Example
Without the closing line:
Draft a clause limiting liability for our SaaS contract.
Result: AI drafts a generic clause that might not fit your jurisdiction, contract type, or risk tolerance.
With the closing line:
Draft a clause limiting liability for our SaaS contract.
Before answering, do you have any questions or need any clarification?
AI responds:
- What jurisdiction applies to this contract?
- What types of loss do you want to exclude or limit (direct, indirect, consequential)?
- Should there be a liability cap, and if so, based on what (fees paid, fixed amount)?
- Any specific exclusions (like fraud or data breaches)?
Now you provide these details, and the clause is drafted for your contract instead of a generic one. You still review it.
Pro Tips
- Use this for any task with several variables
- Especially valuable for drafting, analysis, and strategic work
- Less needed for simple tasks like "summarise this case"
- The line is plain English, so it is not tied to one tool or model version
Common Mistakes
❌ Don't use for simple tasks: "What's the deadline for filing a defence in the County Court? Do you have questions?" (Overkill)
❌ Don't ignore the AI's questions: If you don't answer them, you're back to the AI guessing.
✅ Do use for complex, high-stakes work where precision matters.