Create intermediate Works with: Any AI

Prompts That Cite Sources and Admit Uncertainty

Table output Has example

Reduce confident nonsense in answers.

The Open buttons send the prompt text as currently shown below to that site only when you click. Fill in the placeholders first.

Write a prompt pattern that makes answers cite sources and admit uncertainty. The domain and kinds of questions: [DOMAIN_AND_QUESTIONS]. The sources I will provide (documents, links with text pasted, data): [SOURCES]. How wrong answers would hurt: [RISK].

Create:
1. Instruction block: answer only from the provided sources; quote or cite the passage for each factual claim with a location; if the sources do not contain the answer, say "Not found in the provided sources" and suggest what to check; separate facts, inferences, and unknowns; give a confidence label with a reason; and never invent references, links, or quotes.
2. An output template: Answer | Evidence (quotes with locations) | Confidence | What is uncertain | Suggested verification.
3. A variant for when no sources are provided: provide general information, state that it is unverified, list claims to verify, and suggest where to look (types of sources).
4. A verification routine: check that each quote exists in the source, search for contradictions, and have a person review high-risk claims.
5. Examples of a bad answer (confident, no sources) and a good one.
6. Limits: models can still misquote or misunderstand; citations from the model alone are not proof; use primary sources.

Provide the finished instruction block ready to paste, and a short version for chat. Add a caution for medical, legal, and financial questions: ask for general information and questions for a professional.

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Replace each bracketed placeholder with your own details, then paste into Any AI or another assistant.

Instruction block (excerpt): "Answer only from the provided sources. For each factual claim, add the source name and section. If the sources do not contain the answer, write 'Not found in the provided sources' and suggest what to check. Label each claim as fact, inference, or unknown. Give a confidence level with a reason. Never invent references."
Output template: Answer | Evidence (quotes with locations) | Confidence | Uncertain | Suggested verification.
Bad answer: confident with no sources. Good answer: "Refunds within 30 days (Policy, section 4). Not found: refunds for opened items." Citations alone are not proof.

• citations