A prompt is an interface written in prose, and it fails like any interface: ambiguous inputs, missing context, no stated output format. Mind Your Ps and Prompts is a nod to the manners of asking well. Say what the task is, what the model may assume, what good output looks like and what to do when it is unsure.

Edit the prompt the way you edit code. Change one thing at a time, keep the version history and test against examples you have saved. Clear beats clever, and short beats padded once the instruction is complete.