Negative Prompting
Domain: Prompt Engineering
🎯 Motivation
Telling the model what NOT to do is sometimes as important as telling it what to do. Negative prompts prevent unwanted behavior.
📋 Concrete Example
‘Explain quantum physics. Do NOT use jargon. Do NOT mention Schrodinger. Do NOT exceed 100 words.’ The constraints prevent common pitfalls.
🔗 Analogy
Instructions to a photographer - ‘Take a portrait. Do NOT shoot from below. Do NOT use flash. Do NOT center the subject.’ Knowing what to avoid is as important as knowing what to do.