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---
name: prompt-engineering-inconsistent-outputs
description: 'Sub-skill of prompt-engineering: Inconsistent Outputs (+2).'
version: 1.0.0
category: ai-prompting
type: reference
scripts_exempt: true
---
# Inconsistent Outputs (+2)
## Inconsistent Outputs
```python
# Lower temperature for consistency
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-4",
messages=messages,
temperature=0.1 # Lower = more consistent
)
# Or use seed for reproducibility
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-4",
messages=messages,
seed=42
)
```
## Outputs Too Long/Short
```python
# Control length explicitly
prompt = """
Provide a summary in exactly 3 sentences.
Do not exceed 100 words.
"""
# Or use max_tokens
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-4",
messages=messages,
max_tokens=150
)
```
## Wrong Format
```python
# Be very explicit about format
prompt = """
Return ONLY a JSON object. No explanation, no markdown.
{
"key": "value"
}
"""
# Validate and retry
def get_json_response(prompt, max_retries=3):
for attempt in range(max_retries):
response = llm(prompt)
try:
return json.loads(response)
except json.JSONDecodeError:
prompt = f"Your response was not valid JSON. Try again.\n\n{prompt}"
raise ValueError("Failed to get valid JSON")
```
