AI for students · lesson 12 of 24 · free

Constraints and word limits — AI for students

Constraints are the limits you put in a prompt so the answer fits your need. A length limit (“in under 50 words”) controls how long it is, a reading level (“for a 9-year-old”) controls how simple, a tone (“in a friendly tone”) controls how it sounds, and “what to include” (“with one example”) lists must-have parts. To check a word limit, count every word separated by a space — a number like 3 counts as one word.

▶ Watch how it works

Got it? Practise ↓

AI tip

Set the limits — “say how long, how simple, what tone and what must be included”

  1. Four kinds of constraint: a length limit, a reading level, a style or tone, and what to include.
  2. Count words by counting every group of letters or digits between spaces: “Explain how rain forms in 3 short points.” has 8 words.
  3. Over the limit = words written − the limit. Words left = the limit − words written. Equal points = total words ÷ number of points.

Use it for: Summaries, short answers, posters, captions and any answer with a word limit.

Worked example: 🔢 How many words are in this prompt? “Explain how rain forms in 3 short points.” → 8

  1. Count: Explain (1), how (2), rain (3), forms (4), in (5), 3 (6), short (7), points (8).
  2. So the prompt has 8 words.

Check: Try it: write a prompt with all four kinds of constraint, then count its words ✓

▶ Watch it animated

✏️ Practice

Work it out in your head or on paper, type the answer and press Check. Stuck? Press “Show me how”.

Right: 0 · Tried: 0

🏁 Lesson 12 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

🏅 Sign in with Google to earn the 📏 Word Limit Wizard badge when you pass — and a certificate when you finish all 8 lessons of Part 2 · Prompting. You can still take the test without signing in.

🖨️ AI Prompt Word Limits Worksheet

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