Author: Claude AI, under the supervision, prompting and editing by HocTro
Real-World Prompts for Writing, Excel, Research, and Everyday Work
Article 7 covered Claude Code — a tool that runs in the terminal, which sounds like it's built exclusively for programmers. But in truth, most of AI's power doesn't live in code — it lives in language. And language is something everyone uses every day.
You write articles, you put together reports, you translate documents, you work with Excel spreadsheets, you compose emails, you research new topics. All of those things — Claude handles them well, and handles them well.
This article brings together the most practical applications for people who don't write code, with ready-to-use sample prompts you can try right now. No terminal needed. No API key needed. Many of these work immediately at claude.ai or whatever Claude interface you're already using.
1. Writing Articles and Content
This is where most people use Claude the most — and also where the difference is most dramatic when you know how to ask correctly.
The key: don't just say "write an article about X." Tell Claude the style, the length, the audience, and the purpose — the results are completely different.
Writing from scratch:
`
Write an article of about 1,500 words on the history of Vietnamese
coffee, in a warm, conversational Southern Vietnamese style — like
telling a story to a friend over a cup. The reader loves coffee but
doesn't know much about its history. No bullet points — write in
flowing, connected paragraphs.
`
Expanding an existing article:
`
Here is my short article about Raymond Lefèvre [paste article].
Please expand the "international career" section by about 500 words,
focusing on his Japan tours and how Asian audiences responded to him.
`
Rewriting in a different voice:
`
This passage [paste it] sounds too academic. Rewrite it in a more
personal, conversational tone — like talking with a friend — while
keeping all the same information intact.
`
Creating an outline before writing:
`
I want to write a long article on "Why French music was popular in
southern Vietnam before 1975." Help me build a detailed outline with
6–8 sections, each with notes on what points to cover.
`
Reviewing and editing:
`
Read this article [paste it] and tell me: which section is the
weakest? Where does it repeat itself? Are there any transitions
that feel unnatural? Don't rewrite anything — just point out
the problems.
`
Writing compelling headlines:
`
This article is about [topic]. Here is the opening paragraph
[paste it]. Write 10 different headline options — some emotional,
some question-based, some direct. I'll pick the one that fits best.
`
2. Research and Summarization
Claude can't browse the internet in real time (unless a search tool is integrated), but with documents you provide, it analyzes and synthesizes exceptionally well.
Summarizing long documents:
`
Here is a 10,000-word interview with Boris Cherny about Claude Code
[paste it]. Summarize the key points in 500 words, organized by
topic. Keep the best direct quotes from him.
`
Comparing multiple sources:
`
I have three articles on the same topic [paste all three]. Analyze
what they agree on, where they disagree, and what point seems most
worth exploring further.
`
Explaining technical jargon:
`
I'm reading this medical research paper [paste the passage]. Explain
the technical terms in plain language — I don't have a medical
background.
`
Finding weaknesses in an argument:
`
Here is an essay I just wrote [paste it]. Play the role of a
skeptical reader — find the weak arguments, the places that lack
evidence, and the questions a doubting reader would ask.
`
Generating research questions:
`
I'm researching the influence of French music on Vietnamese pop music
from 1954 to 1975. Suggest 10 specific research questions for me —
ranging from ones that are easy to find sources for to ones that
would require deeper investigation.
`
3. Claude and Excel Spreadsheets
This is one of the least-known applications. There are several ways to combine Claude with Excel:
Method 1: Copy-Paste (Simplest of All)
No integration needed. Copy data from Excel, paste it into Claude, ask your question.
`
Here is my revenue table [paste data from Excel]:
Month | Revenue | Expenses
Jan | 45,000,000 | 32,000,000
Feb | 51,000,000 | 35,000,000
Mar | 38,000,000 | 34,000,000
...
Analyze the trend, identify which month had the best profit margin,
and forecast the next month based on the current pattern.
`
`
This data [paste it] seems to have some data entry errors. Find any
values that look abnormal — too high or too low compared to the
rest of that column — and list them with their row numbers so I
can go back and check.
`
Method 2: Ask Claude to Write Excel Formulas
Claude is excellent at writing Excel formulas — including complex ones.
`
I have an Excel sheet where column A is employee names, column B
is sales figures, and column C is the month (1–12). Write a formula
to calculate the total sales for each employee only in Q3
(months 7, 8, and 9).
`
`
Column A has dates in the format "15/03/2025". Write a formula to
split the day, month, and year into three separate columns.
`
`
I want to automatically highlight cells in column C that are below
the average of the entire column. Write step-by-step instructions
for setting up Conditional Formatting in Excel to do this.
`
`
Explain what this formula does in plain language:
=SUMPRODUCT((MONTH(A2:A100)=3)(B2:B100>50000)C2:C100)
`
Method 3: Claude Embedded in Excel (Microsoft 365 Copilot)
If you use Microsoft 365 (a paid subscription), Copilot — the AI built into Excel — lets you chat directly inside the Excel interface without opening another tab. You ask right there in Excel:
- "Create a chart from the data I have selected"
- "Write a summary of the highlights in this table"
- "Add a column calculating the percentage change compared to the previous month"
If you don't have Microsoft 365 Copilot, Google Sheets has Gemini built in with similar functionality through Google Workspace subscriptions.
4. Emails and Professional Communication
Writing a difficult email:
`
I need to decline a collaboration invitation because the project
isn't the right fit, but I want to preserve a good relationship
with the partner. Write an email of about 150 words — polite,
clear, not evasive, and leaving the door open for future
collaboration.
`
Responding to a complex email:
`
Here is a complaint email from a client [paste the email].
Help me draft a reply that: acknowledges the problem, explains
the cause (without placing blame), proposes a concrete solution,
and closes on a positive note.
`
Adjusting tone:
`
This email I wrote [paste it] sounds a bit harsh. Rewrite it in
a more professional tone while still conveying exactly what I
want to say.
`
Creating a template:
`
I need an email template to send new clients after they sign up
for our service. Content: welcome message, link to onboarding
guide [placeholder], support contact information, and an
invitation to schedule an onboarding call. Tone: friendly
but professional.
`
5. Translation With Context
Google Translate translates word by word. Claude translates with context — and you can specify the style.
Translating while preserving style:
`
Translate this French passage into English, keeping the formal
and slightly classical voice of the original. Don't modernize
the language:
[paste the French text]
`
Translating with annotations:
`
Translate this English interview into Vietnamese. Technical terms
like "inference," "token," and "fine-tuning" — keep them in
English on the first appearance, with the Vietnamese meaning
in parentheses.
`
Reviewing a translation:
`
Here is my Vietnamese translation [paste it] of the original
English text [paste original]. Find any passages that sound
unnatural, where meaning was lost, or where a better translation
is possible. Don't rewrite everything — just point out the
problems and suggest alternatives.
`
Back-translating to verify:
`
Translate this Vietnamese passage back into English so I can
compare it to the original English source and check whether
the translation preserved the meaning correctly.
`
6. Organization and Information Management
Sorting and categorizing:
`
I have a list of 50 scattered notes from a meeting [paste them].
Categorize them into: decisions made / action items / questions
to answer / reference information. Present as a table.
`
Creating a checklist:
`
I'm launching a blog for the first time. Create a complete
checklist of everything to do before hitting publish — covering
technical items (SEO, images, load speed), content (proofread,
links), and promotion (social media, email newsletter).
`
Summarizing a meeting:
`
Here are my rough notes from a 2-hour meeting [paste them].
Create a proper meeting summary: list of attendees, points
discussed, decisions made, and a list of action items with
the person responsible for each.
`
7. Text Analysis and Creative Writing
Analyzing a piece of writing:
`
Read this short story [paste it] and analyze: the main theme,
the storytelling techniques the author uses, the strengths,
and areas that could be improved. Write like an editor giving
feedback, not a teacher grading a paper.
`
Writing in a specific style:
`
Write an opening paragraph of about 200 words for a story
about an old man sitting alone drinking coffee, in the Southern
Vietnamese literary style of Son Nam — unhurried, keenly
observational, rich with everyday detail.
`
Generating multiple versions:
`
Write 3 different endings for this article [paste it]:
- An optimistic ending that looks toward the future
- A reflective ending that poses an open question
- An ending built around a concrete image, saying nothing
directly
I'll choose whichever fits the full article best.
`
8. Prompts Most People Never Think of
A few less obvious prompts that are extraordinarily useful:
Simulating reader reactions:
`
Read this article [paste it] and simulate the response of
3 types of readers: (1) someone who completely agrees,
(2) someone skeptical who needs more convincing, (3) a
subject-matter expert reading critically. What would each
person think? What would they ask?
`
Asking "why not":
`
I'm considering [a specific decision]. Instead of encouraging
me to do it, play devil's advocate and list the best reasons
NOT to do it.
`
Generating interview questions:
`
I'm about to interview an expert in [field]. Here's what I
know about them [paste bio]. Write 15 interview questions —
a mix of practical, opinion-based, and personal. Avoid
generic questions like "tell me about your journey."
`
Explaining for multiple audiences:
`
Explain [a complex concept] in three different ways:
- For a 10-year-old child
- For an adult with no technical background
- For someone with basic knowledge who wants to go deeper
`
Tips for Using Claude Effectively Every Day
Give Claude enough context. "Write an article about music" produces vague results. "Write a 1,200-word article on the influence of American jazz on Trịnh Công Sơn, for Vietnamese readers who love music but have no music theory background, in the style of a cultural magazine feature" — produces something specific and useful.
Say clearly what format you want. Connected paragraphs or bullet points? 500 words or "very short"? Informal or professional tone? Claude doesn't guess — it follows instructions.
Use Claude as an editor, not just a writer. Many people only ask Claude to write from scratch. Asking it to give feedback, analyze, and revise something you wrote yourself often produces better results — the voice stays yours.
Save good prompts. When you find a prompt that works well for your type of work — save it. Next week you can reuse it with different content. This is what saves you the most time in the long run.
Don't accept the first response if it's not right. Be direct: "The middle section is weak — rewrite just that part with more force" or "The tone is still too stiff — add concrete examples." Claude doesn't take it personally.
Quick Reference Table — Prompts by Task Type
| Task Type | Suggested Prompt Pattern |
|---|---|
| Writing from scratch | "Write [length] about [topic], style [describe], audience [describe]" |
| Expanding existing writing | "Expand the [section] by [word count], focusing on [aspect]" |
| Rewriting in a different voice | "Rewrite in [style], keep all content the same" |
| Analyzing Excel data | "Here's my data [paste it], analyze [specific question]" |
| Writing Excel formulas | "Write an Excel formula to [describe the specific task]" |
| Summarizing documents | "Summarize in [length] the key points, keeping [what matters]" |
| Translation | "Translate to [language], preserve [style/terms], handle [specifics] this way" |
| Writing emails | "Write an email [purpose], tone [describe], about [length]" |
| Getting writing feedback | "Read this, find [specific issue], don't rewrite — just point it out" |
| Devil's advocate | "Play critic, list the best reasons NOT to do [X]" |
Key Things to Remember
- Claude isn't just for programmers. Writing, analysis, translation, Excel — all usable right now, no setup needed.
- Detailed context = better results. Specify style, length, audience, and purpose.
- Use Claude as an editor — ask it to respond to what you wrote, not only to write for you.
- Save prompts that work well. An effective prompt is an asset — reuse it many times.
- For Excel, copy-paste is enough to start — no technical integration needed.
- Don't accept the first response if it isn't right. Say exactly what's off and ask for it again.