Effective file instructions use a specific linguistic structure to help readers orient themselves before taking action:
If your instruction topic covers how to handle files, include these best practices: Prompting best practices - Claude API Docs Files Instruction
: Apply bold formatting for UI elements (buttons, menus) that the user must interact with. Files Instruction
Example: "From the tab, select New then Blank Document . This launches a fresh workspace". Files Instruction
: Keep sentences short to avoid confusing the reader with multiple simultaneous tasks. Technical Formatting Features Good instructions are scannable and easy to navigate: