Best ChatGPT Prompts for Writing “What Is” Articles

I’ve spent years working as a content writer in the digital marketing world. Back then, writing felt easier, no AI tools, no endless detectors, just skill and research. But as technology advanced, AI brought both ease and challenges.

The tough part? Even original content sometimes gets flagged by AI detectors. The easy part? With smart editing and the right prompts, you can still create content that feels natural and human.

In today’s world, the content that performs best is a mix of human creativity with a touch of AI support. That’s why in this guide, I’ll share the best ChatGPT prompts to generate "what" articles. These are prompts I’ve personally used to rank content, and you can easily adapt them to your own style.

So, let’s dive in and get started.

Structure of a Perfect “What” Article

The very first step in writing a “what” article is research. Before you start, search your primary keyword on Google and analyze at least 5 competitors.

Here’s what you need to check:

• What kind of content they are writing
• The style and tone they use
• Which headings they cover
• The wording they choose
• How their article flows from start to end

By doing this, you’ll get a clear idea of how others are writing about that keyword. Then in your mind, you can create your own improved outline.

Now open your doc, along with ChatGPT or any other AI tool. The first prompt you will use is for the outline.

Prompt for the Outline

Here’s the exact prompt you can use:

Prompt: Hey ChatGPT, my primary keyword is “insert your keyword.” I need to create a detailed guide on this. My audience is mixed — beginners to advanced readers — so keep vocabulary simple and headings easy to understand. Please give me an updated SEO-friendly outline with natural flow. No outdated concepts.

When you receive the outline, don’t just accept it blindly. Look at it carefully:

• Does it fully answer a user’s question of “what”?
• Is it better than your competitors’ structure?
• Are there missing points?

If needed, ask ChatGPT again: “Please add headings for [topic] in this outline”.

Prompt for Introductory or Opening Paragraph

The second task is to create your introduction.

For “What” articles, it’s best to start with a confusion-based statement to grab attention and then calm the reader by telling them what you will cover in the article.

Prompt: Hey ChatGPT, now give me an introduction paragraph for the keyword “your keyword.” Start with a confusion-based line, then reassure the reader by telling them what we will cover in this guide. Use my keyword naturally one time. Do not add a definition here. Use simple English, active tone, and a mix of short and medium sentences. No AI phrases.

Prompt for the Definition Paragraph

After the opening, the next heading will usually be the definition. For example: What is “your keyword” (use this as an H2).

Prompt: Okay ChatGPT, now give me a definition paragraph for my keyword “what is …”. Explain what it stands for and what it means. No repetition, no AI terms, and no em-dash. Use 7–8 simple sentences in a natural sequence, like explaining to a beginner.

After this step, check carefully:

• Is there any repetition? If yes, tell ChatGPT to remove it.
• Is the length fine? If not, ask to shorten or expand.
• Are the words easy and natural? If not, ask to adjust.

Prompt for the Importance Section

After the definition, usually comes the Importance part. But always check your outline because sometimes headings may vary.

Here you have two choices:

Option 1: Use the exact heading from your outline and tell ChatGPT: Please write this section in simple English, with a human touch. No AI words. Updated content.

Option 2: If the heading is “Importance,” say: I need an “Importance” section (H2). Add 2–3 intro lines and then explain the importance in short bullets, one line each. Simple English.

If you prefer paragraphs instead of bullets, just replace the word "bullets" with "paragraphs" in your prompt.

Prompt for the Working Section

Next, many “what” articles include how it works. Again, you have two choices:

Option 1 (direct from outline): Copy the exact heading from your outline and tell ChatGPT: Please write this section in simple English, with a human touch. No AI words. Updated content.

Option 2 (custom prompt): Hey ChatGPT, now give me the working of [keyword]. After H2 heading, add 2–3 intro lines, then explain in bullet points how it works. . Keep it simple, no hard terms, no extra indents. Make it clear enough for even beginners to understand. 

After that, check the output:

• Does it cover the concept fully?
• Any repetition? Remove it.
• Wording okay? If not, adjust again.

Prompt for the Types/Key Elements in a “What” Article

After the working section, your outline will usually have either a Types heading, a Key Elements heading, or some other related heading. At this point, you need to do one simple thing: check your outline carefully and then pick the right prompt.

Option 1 (For Types): If your outline shows a Types heading, use this:

“Hey ChatGPT, now give me the Types of [Insert Keyword]. Add a H2 heading for Types, then write 2–3 intro lines. After that, list the types with their names and one-line explanations. Keep it simple, in plain English, and avoid AI-style terms.”

Note: If you’re writing a separate full article on Types, use the above prompt. But if you’re covering Types inside the same What article in detail, then skip the one-liner explanation and instead write longer descriptions.

Option 2 (For Key Elements or Any Other Heading): If instead of Types you see another heading in the outline, just copy that heading and tell ChatGPT:

“This is my heading. Make it an H2. Give me 2–3 intro lines, then explain the listed points clearly in simple English. No AI terms, no robotic patterns—make it natural”

What to Check After Generation

• Check for repeated points
• Decide if bullets, paragraphs, or a mix works best

Prompt for Advantages and Disadvantages

In a “What” article, never go too deep into advantages and disadvantages. Keep them short so the reader doesn’t get bored.

Prompt: Now I need advantages and disadvantages of this (h2). Add 2–3 short intro lines like “In this section, we will look at the pros and cons.” Then:

• Create (h3) Advantages of this → add one short intro line and then list all advantages in one-liner bullet points.
• Create (h3) Disadvantages of this → add one short intro line and then list all disadvantages in one-liner bullet points.

Make it simple, no AI-style words or phrases.

After this section:

• Adjust length (can be short or slightly longer if needed)
• Make sure wording feels natural

Prompts for Other Major Headings

Depending on your topic, your outline may also include these next headings like: 

• Mistakes
• Misconceptions
• Best Practices
• Future
• Trends

For these, you can use either bullet or paragraph prompts:

Option 1 – Bullets-Style Prompt 

Pick your heading (e.g., Mistakes) and say: Hey ChatGPT, now give me content for this [Heading Name] (h2). After that, add 2–3 short intro lines like “In this section, we cover…” and then enlist all the key points related to this heading in bullet format. Use simple, clear sentences, with no AI words or robotic phrases.

Option 2 – Paragraph Style Prompt

Pick your heading (e.g., Best Practices) and say: Now give me content for this [Heading Name] (h2). Write in 2 short paragraphs that explain it. Keep sentences medium or short, no long confusing ones. Use simple English, avoid AI terms, and give it a natural, human touch—like personal thoughts from an expert.

What To Do Next (After Getting Content):

• Check for repetition
• Decide if bullets or paragraphs look better
• Or even mix both styles
• Adjust wording; shorten or expand as needed

This way, for every new heading in your outline (Mistakes, Misconceptions, Best Practices, Future, Trends, etc.), you’ll just reuse one of these two prompts depending on the style you want.

Prompt for the Conclusion

The conclusion should wrap up the article with summary + importance + future touch.

Prompt: Hey ChatGPT, now write a conclusion. First, restate what we have covered using my primary keyword naturally. Then add a personal recommendation with importance. End with a friendly action line like “stay tuned” or “keep learning.” Use simple, friendly words like "guys," "buddies," or "folks." No AI words.

After generating, check carefully:

• Re-read to make sure the primary keyword is naturally repeated.
• Sometimes ChatGPT adds emojis or robotic last lines – remove them.

Prompt for FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Many people add FAQs before the conclusion, after it, or even in the middle of the article. Place them wherever you like.

Prompt: Now I need 5 FAQs related to my primary keyword “insert keyword”. The questions must have search volume (you can take them from the People Also Ask section). Answer each FAQ in 3 to 4 short, simple sentences. Keep answers human-like, natural, and easy to read. Do not use AI-style phrases, just clear, simple English.

Note: Always double-check FAQ answers for accuracy, especially if they mention stats.

Final Note 

So far, we have covered how to create a “what” article using ChatGPT, from outline to conclusion. The prompts I shared are practical, and you can use them directly.

But here’s my personal tip: AI is just a tool. It can’t fully replace a human brain. You need to guide it, tweak its results, and bring your own creativity. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to give new instructions until it matches your need.

Think beyond the prompts. Use them as a base, but always polish the final draft with your personal touch. That’s the secret to content that ranks and reads naturally.

Commonly Asked Questions 

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions related to the best ChatGPT prompts to generate what articles: