Prompt Workshop
Why it is written this way
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I want to send a New Year greeting email in the first week of January to {{recipient person}}. The recipient will likely receive dozens of similar generic emails during this period and skim most of them based on the subject line alone.
Please write a concise New Year greeting email that picks just ONE specific memory from the "Shared Work This Year" notes below and weaves it naturally into a single sentence. Provide a one-line subject line along with the body text. Keep the body short, around 60–80 words.
Here is an example structure. Note that the example topic is different, so follow the flow rather than copying the exact phrasing: Example: One-line New Year greeting → "I still fondly remember how quickly you helped review our urgent job posting revision within 24 hours last spring." → One line looking forward to working together this year → Sign-off.
Do not fabricate achievements, statistics, or upcoming plans that I have not provided. Avoid corporate clichés, buzzwords, and emojis. Do not include any business requests, asks, or sales pitches. If you do not know the recipient's exact title, use a placeholder like "[Name/Title]".
Shared Work This Year: """ {{shared work this year}} """
- Material What the AI needs to know ×3
- Work What to do, and how ×1
- Output What comes back, in what shape ×1
Most professional New Year emails fail for a simple reason: they are filled with generic pleasantries that could be sent to anyone. Recipients immediately spot mass emails and treat them like spam. This prompt avoids that trap by requiring exactly one specific shared memory instead of generic well-wishes.
Read the full explanation · 3 paragraphs
The first paragraph sets the Context, reminding the model of the recipient's inbox environment. Knowing the recipient is skimming through dozens of emails prompts the AI to write a human, authentic opening rather than stiff corporate fluff. The Task specifies "pick just ONE specific memory into a single sentence," preventing the email from turning into a bloated status report.
The third paragraph provides an Example. Showing a concrete structural blueprint is much more effective than abstract explanations. A different scenario is intentionally used in the example to prevent the model from copying specific phrases.
The Constraints block three major pitfalls: hallucinating unmentioned metrics, using tired corporate clichés, and slipping in work requests. Leaving out business asks is critical—adding a favor turns a warm greeting into a transactional invoice. Using a placeholder for unknown titles prevents awkward misattributions in the very first greeting of the year.
Unfamiliar terms? See Aha AI: few-shot, context-window
Compared with a bad example
Write a New Year greeting email to a business partner.
Without specific context about what you worked on together, the AI relies entirely on generic corporate clichés like "Wishing you continued success and prosperity in the coming year." It produces boilerplate text that looks like a stock template. The email ends up overly long, forcing you to manually insert personal touches anyway.
Variations
New Year Message to the Whole Team
Praising a single individual in a group email can alienate others. This variation shifts the subject to the team as a whole.
Show prompt
Please write a New Year email addressed to {{recipient person}}. Because this goes out to the entire team, do not single out specific individuals or personal achievements. Instead, highlight one shared challenge the team overcame together last year in a single sentence, followed by a brief wish regarding our team collaboration this year. Keep it around 70 words, without clichés or emojis.
""" {{shared work this year}} """
Reconnecting with an Inactive Contact
Starting a reconnection email with an apology burdens the recipient with having to reassure you. Both apologies and direct meeting requests are excluded.
Show prompt
I haven't been in touch with {{recipient person}} for a while. Please write a warm New Year greeting to reconnect. Do not apologize or make excuses for not staying in touch. Simply reference one past collaboration from the notes below in a single sentence and add a brief, warm check-in. Keep it under 50 words, and do not ask to schedule a meeting or call.
""" {{shared work this year}} """
Last updated 2026-09-02 · Found a mistake? Let us know