The PAST Framework

A practical prompting system for clearer, more useful AI responses

Most bad AI outputs aren’t caused by bad AI — they’re caused by vague instructions.

PAST is a simple structure for writing prompts that give the model everything it needs to succeed.

P — Persona

Who is the AI supposed to be?

Give it a role, expertise level, or point of view to adopt.

Examples:

• You are a senior marketing strategist for SaaS startups.

• You are a friendly, British HR advisor.

• You are a writing coach with a clear, concise communication style.

A — Action

What should the AI do?

Be specific. Use clear, task-based verbs.

Examples:

• Summarise this article in 3 key points.

• Draft a 4-paragraph onboarding email.

• Generate a list of potential podcast titles.

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S — Structure

How should the response be formatted?

Tell it what the output should *look like*.

Examples:

• Return it as a table with pros and cons.

• Use bullet points under bolded headers.

• Format as a LinkedIn post with a hook, body, and CTA.

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T — Tone

How should it sound?

Define the voice, attitude, or complexity level.

Examples:

• Casual and supportive, like a helpful friend.

• Professional, concise, and direct.

• Lightly humorous with a British sensibility.

Try a Full PAST Prompt

> You are a freelance business coach who helps service providers streamline their offers.

> Create a 5-point checklist to improve client onboarding.

> Format it as a numbered list.

> Keep the tone clear, no fluff, and lightly motivational.

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Why Use PAST?

It’s not revolutionary — it’s just what most people forget:

✅ Clarity

✅ Context

✅ Structure

✅ Reusability

Once you start using PAST, you’ll never write a vague prompt again.

Need Help?

Book a session with Jim to apply PAST to your business, content, or workflows.