Writing Good Instructions for Claude Cowork¶
The better your instructions, the better your results. This guide shows you how to write instructions that work.
The 4 Rules¶
1. Be Specific About What You Want¶
| Bad | Good |
|---|---|
| "Organize these files" | "Create folders called: Work, Personal, Archive. Move files from 2025 into Archive. Put anything work-related into Work. Put everything else in Personal." |
| "Clean up this folder" | "Clean up this folder, but don't delete anything. If a file doesn't fit into the folders I mentioned, leave it where it is." |
2. Include Examples¶
| Bad | Good |
|---|---|
| "Rename these files nicely" | "Rename these files like this: ProjectName_Date_Version. For example: Marketing_2026-02-07_v2" |
| "Write a summary" | "Write a summary in this format: 3-sentence overview, then bullet points for key findings, then next steps" |
3. Explain Edge Cases¶
| Bad | Good |
|---|---|
| "Sort these emails" | "Sort these emails by sender. If an email is from someone at our company, put it in Internal. If it's from a customer, put it in Customer. If you're not sure, put it in Review." |
| "Categorize these receipts" | "Categorize receipts by type: Food, Transport, Office. If a receipt has items from multiple categories, use the category of the most expensive item." |
4. Say What NOT to Do¶
| Bad | Good |
|---|---|
| "Clean up this folder" | "Clean up this folder, but don't delete anything." |
| "Rewrite this document" | "Rewrite this document but keep all the original data and numbers exactly the same. Don't add new information." |
Instruction Templates¶
Copy and customize these templates for common tasks.
File Organization¶
Go through all files in this folder.
Create these folders: [folder names].
Move each file to the right folder based on [criteria].
If a file doesn't fit any folder, [put it in Other / leave it where it is / ask me].
Don't delete any files.
Document Creation¶
Read all the [files/notes/documents] in this folder.
Create one document that:
- [requirement 1]
- [requirement 2]
- [requirement 3]
Format: [describe the format you want]
Save it as: [filename]
Data Processing¶
Look at the [spreadsheet/data] in this file.
Create a new [spreadsheet/document] with these columns: [column names].
Extract [specific data] from each [row/entry].
Sort by [criteria].
Save it as: [filename]
Batch Renaming¶
Rename all files in this folder.
Use this format: [format with example].
Example: [show one before and after].
Keep the original file extension.
Content Repurposing¶
Take this [article/document] and create:
- [format 1] with [specific requirements]
- [format 2] with [specific requirements]
- [format 3] with [specific requirements]
Keep the main message the same but adjust the tone for each format.
Common Patterns That Work¶
The "Show Me First" Pattern¶
When you're not sure what you want:
Go through the files in this folder and tell me:
- How many files there are
- What types of files (documents, images, etc.)
- Suggest 3 ways to organize them
Don't move anything yet — just show me the options.
This lets you review before committing to an approach.
The "Do It Like This" Pattern¶
When you have a specific format in mind:
Here's an example of what I want the output to look like:
[paste your example here]
Now do the same thing for all [files/items] in this folder.
Showing an example is worth 100 words of description.
The "Step by Step" Pattern¶
For complex tasks:
Do this in order:
1. First, [step 1]
2. Then, [step 2]
3. After that, [step 3]
4. Finally, [step 4]
Don't skip any steps.
Breaking work into steps gives you more control over the process.
The "Safety First" Pattern¶
For important files:
Before making any changes:
1. Create a backup copy of each file (add "_backup" to the name)
2. Then make the changes to the original files
3. At the end, tell me what you changed
If anything seems wrong, stop and ask me.
Words That Help¶
| Use | Instead Of | Why |
|---|---|---|
| "Create folders called X, Y, Z" | "Organize into categories" | Tells Claude exactly what to make |
| "Move files from before 2025" | "Move old files" | Defines what "old" means |
| "Add today's date in YYYY-MM-DD format" | "Add the date" | Specifies the exact format |
| "Don't delete anything" | (not mentioning deletion) | Sets a clear safety boundary |
| "Save as report.xlsx" | "Save it" | Specifies filename and format |
| "If you're not sure, leave it" | (nothing) | Handles uncertainty gracefully |
Words to Avoid¶
| Avoid | Why | Use Instead |
|---|---|---|
| "Make it nice" | Too vague | "Use headings, bullet points, and bold for key terms" |
| "Fix this" | Fix what exactly? | "Correct any spelling errors and fix the date formats to YYYY-MM-DD" |
| "Do your best" | No clear success criteria | "Include at least 5 items per category" |
| "Whatever works" | No guidance | "Organize by date, newest first" |