Controlling the Output Format
Part of the Fundamentals section of Coddy's AI Prompts journey — lesson 14 of 23.
You've seen that AI defaults to Markdown formatting. But you're not stuck with that default—you can tell the AI exactly how to structure its response.
Want just plain text with no formatting? Say so:
What are the primary colors? Answer in plain text, no bullet points or formatting.
The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow.
Need a numbered list instead of bullets? Ask for it:
List 5 European capitals as a numbered list.
Want the response as a table? Request that format:
Compare cats and dogs. Present the comparison as a table with columns for trait, cats, and dogs.
You can even request specific structures like JSON, comma-separated values, or a single paragraph. The key is stating the format explicitly in your prompt. Phrases like respond as a single sentence, format as a table, or use no markdown give the AI clear instructions to follow.
The AI wants to help, but it can't read your mind about formatting preferences. When you specify the output format upfront, you get responses that fit directly into whatever you're working on—no reformatting needed.
Challenge
Ask the AI to list 4 planets in our solar system, but format them as comma-separated values on a single line—no bullet points, no line breaks, just planets separated by commas.
The AI's response must:
- Contain at least 3 commas (separating the 4 planets)
- NOT contain a bullet point marker (
-or*) - NOT contain any line breaks (everything on one line)
- Prompt must be lesson than 15 words.
Cheat sheet
You can control the AI's output format by explicitly stating how you want the response structured in your prompt.
Request plain text with no formatting:
What are the primary colors? Answer in plain text, no bullet points or formatting.Request a numbered list:
List 5 European capitals as a numbered list.Request a table format:
Compare cats and dogs. Present the comparison as a table with columns for trait, cats, and dogs.Other format options include JSON, comma-separated values, or single paragraphs. Use clear phrases like:
respond as a single sentenceformat as a tableuse no markdownformat as comma-separated values
Specifying the output format upfront ensures responses fit your needs without reformatting.
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All lessons in Fundamentals
3Writing Your First Prompts
AI Talks Markdown (By Default)Controlling the Output FormatControlling Tone and StyleWhen the AI Ignores You