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Formatting tokens add up fast. A code block with triple backticks and a language specifier adds ~5 tokens. Markdown headers, bullet points, and bold formatting each add 1-3 tokens. For high-volume APIs, stripping unnecessary formatting in prompts can reduce token counts by 5-15%.

Don't use a powerful, expensive model like GPT-5 or Claude 4.1 for simple tasks like reformatting text, correcting grammar, or classifying sentiment. Use a smaller, faster, and cheaper model like GPT-4o-mini or a fine-tuned open-source model. This is a key principle of cost-effective AI development.

To get structured data, explicitly ask the LLM to format its response as JSON, a markdown table, or a numbered list. For example: 'Compare the top 3 smartphones and provide the output in a markdown table with columns for Model, Price, and Key Feature.'

When you need structured responses, instruct the model to use XML tags. For example: 'Provide your answer in the following format: <summary>Brief overview</summary> <pros>List of advantages</pros> <cons>List of disadvantages</cons>'

When asking an LLM to analyze or extract data, clearly specify the desired output format (e.g., JSON, CSV, markdown table). This makes the output easier to parse and use programmatically.

Start the desired output for the LLM. For instance, if you want a list, start your prompt with the beginning of the list: 'Here are the steps:
1.' This can guide the model effectively.

When you need structured responses, instruct the model to use XML tags. For example: 'Provide your answer in the following format: <summary>Brief overview</summary> <pros>List of advantages</pros> <cons>List of disadvantages</cons>'