How to write prompts for Claude using XML tags to get scary-good...
Jafar Najafov@JafarNajafov
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Aug 04, 2025
~2 min read
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How to write prompts for Claude using XML tags to get scary-good results:
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Why XML?
Claude was trained on structured, XML-heavy data like documentation, code, and datasets.
So when you use XML tags in your prompts, you’re literally speaking its native language.
The result? Sharper, cleaner, and more controllable outputs.
(Anthropic says that XML tag prompts gets best results)
Claude was trained on structured, XML-heavy data like documentation, code, and datasets.
So when you use XML tags in your prompts, you’re literally speaking its native language.
The result? Sharper, cleaner, and more controllable outputs.
(Anthropic says that XML tag prompts gets best results)
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Why it works:
✅ Clarifies intent
✅ Mimics Claude's training structure
✅ Boosts reasoning + structure
✅ Reduces hallucination
Now let’s dive into 5 🔥 real-world use cases:
✅ Clarifies intent
✅ Mimics Claude's training structure
✅ Boosts reasoning + structure
✅ Reduces hallucination
Now let’s dive into 5 🔥 real-world use cases:
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AI Research Assistant
Plain prompt:
Find the top 3 recent papers on retrieval-augmented generation and summarize each in 2 sentences.
XML version:
Research and summarize
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
3 research summaries
2 sentences per paper
Plain prompt:
Find the top 3 recent papers on retrieval-augmented generation and summarize each in 2 sentences.
XML version:
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LinkedIn Post Writing
Plain prompt:
Write a LinkedIn post about how AI freelancers are changing traditional employment.
XML version:
Write
LinkedIn post
Rise of AI freelancers
Highlight disruption of traditional work
Insightful and engaging
Plain prompt:
Write a LinkedIn post about how AI freelancers are changing traditional employment.
XML version:
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Code a Simple App
Plain prompt:
Build a Python script that takes a URL, extracts all links on the page, and saves them to a CSV.
XML version:
Code
Python
Extract all links from a URL and save to CSV
Use requests and BeautifulSoup
CSV
Plain prompt:
Build a Python script that takes a URL, extracts all links on the page, and saves them to a CSV.
XML version:
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Create a Slide Outline
Plain prompt:
Create a 5-slide outline for a presentation on the business impact of generative AI.
XML version:
Create slide outline
Business impact of generative AI
5 slides
Executives
Professional and persuasive
Plain prompt:
Create a 5-slide outline for a presentation on the business impact of generative AI.
XML version:
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Here's the prompt template you can use:
[What to do]
[Optional subject]
[Output type: Email, Code, Slides]
[Casual, Formal, etc]
[Optional speaker]
[Who it's for]
[Your content or request]
[Length, style, language, rules]
[Your content or request]
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Claude isn't just "another LLM".
When you use XML-style prompts, you unlock:
- Multi-step thinking
- Cleaner output
- Modular control
- Fast personalization
Stop prompting like it's 2022.
Start structuring like a prompt engineer.
When you use XML-style prompts, you unlock:
- Multi-step thinking
- Cleaner output
- Modular control
- Fast personalization
Stop prompting like it's 2022.
Start structuring like a prompt engineer.
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P.S.
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Want to master AI and build a thriving business for free?
I have a newsletter that helps over 140,000 people learn AI and monetize their skills.
Subscribe here for free: newsletter.nextool.ai/subscribe
You'll receive 7 of our best courses for free when you subscribe.
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