Unit 2.3: Constraints
Set the rules for the answer, its length, tone, level and what it must or must not include.
The task says what to do. Constraints say how. Without them, the AI makes its own choices: usually long, usually very polite, often in English that is harder than you need. Every choice you leave to the AI is a guess.
constraints කියන්නේ උත්තරයට දාන නීති: කොච්චර දිගද, කොයි වගේ ස්වරයකින්ද (tone), කොච්චර සරලද, මොනවා ඇතුළත් කරන්න ඕනද, මොනවා දාන්න එපාද. task එකට පස්සේ, එක නීතියකට එක කෙටි වාක්යයක් ලියන්න.
Five kinds of constraint
| Kind | Useful words |
|---|---|
| Length | under 100 words · in three sentences · one page · no more than five points |
| Tone | formal · friendly · polite but firm · warm · neutral · confident |
| Level | simple English · for a Grade 8 student · no technical words · for someone new to the topic |
| Must include | mention … · include the price · end with a question |
| Must avoid | don't mention … · no emojis · avoid the word "cheap" · don't promise a date |
Constraints in use
- Keep it under 150 words.length
- Be polite but firm.tone
- Write it for someone with no science background.level
- Include the price and the delivery date.include
- No emojis. Don't promise a discount.avoid
"Polite but firm"
This is one of the most useful tones in Sri Lankan working life: a supplier who is late again, a customer who won't pay, a landlord who won't fix the roof. You stay respectful and you don't back down.
I run a printing shop in Nugegoda. A customer has not paid Rs. 45,000 for wedding cards we delivered six weeks ago.
Write a WhatsApp message asking for payment by Friday. Be polite but firm. Keep it under 70 words. Don't threaten legal action.
Before and after
In your world
Quick check
Tap an answer. Nothing is saved.
Which length constraint is clearer?
A customer owes you money. Which tone?
"Explain everything in detail, in under 30 words." Can the AI follow both?
Your turn
Your turn
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Write a request with context, a precise task and at least three constraints: one for length, one for tone, and one to include or avoid.
Score it: 0, 1 or 2 for each.
Clarity
AI එකට කරන්න ඕන දේ පැහැදිලිද?
Completeness
අවශ්ය විස්තර ඔක්කොම තියෙනවද?
Structure
කොටස් හරි පිළිවෙළටද?
Internationally clear
ලංකාවෙන් පිට කෙනෙක්ටත් තේරෙනවද?
Total: 0 / 8
Side quest
Ask for the same message in three tones and compare them:
Next: Unit 2.4: Format
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