A chatbot remembers everything said so far in the same conversation. That means you never need to start over. If the first draft is not right, you tell it what is wrong and it revises. People who get good results from AI are mostly people who ask one more time.
| What went wrong | Weak follow-up | Better follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Too long | "Shorter please" | "Cut it to under 60 words. Keep the date and the after-5pm line." |
| Wrong tone | "Make it better" | "Warmer and less formal, as if to a neighbour I get on with. Keep it polite." |
| Missed or invented a detail | "That's not right" | "You left out the flat number (flat 4) and added a plumber's name I never gave you. Fix both, change nothing else." |
The pattern in the right-hand column is always the same: say what is wrong, say what to keep. Without the second half, the model may fix your complaint by rewriting everything, including the parts you liked.
Your turn
Write the follow-up yourself
Here is a draft message: "Dear Mr Patel, I am writing to inform you that the kitchen tap in my flat has been leaking since Thursday and the situation has deteriorated. I have attempted to tighten it without success. I would be grateful if you could arrange for a plumber to attend at your earliest convenience. I am available on weekdays after 5pm. Kind regards, Sam (Flat 4, 12 Alder Street)" Rewrite it so it is [CHANGE]. Keep [WHAT TO KEEP]. Change nothing else.
Hint: Naming what to keep is the half most people forget. It stops the model fixing one thing and breaking two others.
Try it
Now fix a genuinely weak answer
Knowledge check
The model's draft is good apart from being too formal. Which follow-up is most likely to give you what you want?