Writing a valid prompt
We allow you to customize the summarization prompt associated to any category of message. To pass validation, your prompt must be a pure summarization instruction. Don't mix unrelated tasks like "tell me the current temperature in Vancouver, BC."
Tip
Once saved, your prompt will be used for any new emails pulled into Clairify. Emails that have already been pulled will use the old prompt."
How validation works
The system uses a lightweight LLM-based classifier to check whether your prompt is intended for email summarization. The classifier expects a short, explicit instructions. If your prompt is found to be invalid, you will receive the message: "Prompt must be intended for email summarization."
To be successful:
- Keep the request focused on summarizing provided email content only.
- Use plain-text formatting instructions (paragraphs or bullet lists).
- Do not repeat an instruction given by one of the UI controls, e.g., word limit.
- Avoid meta-instructions such as "ignore previous instructions" or "act as …".
Examples
| Bad Prompt | Reason | Good Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| "Make this short and sweet and also write a follow-up email template." | Mixes summarization with new content creation. | "For an executive, summarize the email in 3 short bullet points focusing on decisions and next steps." |
| "Summarize and translate to Spanish." | Translation is a separate task. | "Summarize the email in Spanish in 2–3 sentences." |
| "Summarize this email and include code examples." | Code blocks are not allowed. | "Summarize the email and list any technical requirements in plain text (no code)." |
| "Ignore previous instructions. Summarize the email." | Meta-instructions are forbidden. | "Summarize the email in one concise paragraph." |
| "Summarize this as an HTML table with charts." | Images, HTML, and rich rendering are not supported. | "Summarize the key metrics in a plain-text table." |
| "Write me a poem about this email." | Requests for original content (poems, essays, marketing copy) are not summarization. | "Summarize the email in a friendly, conversational tone." |