What is the 'pink elephant' problem in prompt engineering?

Negative framing (e.g., 'Don't do X') often triggers the very behavior you want to avoid because the model must process the concept of 'X' to ignore it. Positive framing directs the model toward the correct behavior immediately.

How do I make Claude follow strict project rules?

Use a combination of context and motivation (explaining WHY a rule exists) followed by structural enforcement like checklists or 'verification gates' that force the model to confirm a step is complete.

How many instructions can Claude handle at once?

It is recommended to stay under a limit of roughly 150 instructions. Beyond this point, model performance tends to degrade uniformly across all rules, leading to missed requirements.

Why should I use XML instead of Markdown for Claude directives?

Claude parses XML highly effectively for multi-part instructions. It outperforms Markdown and JSON for rule preservation in long prompts, helping the model distinguish between constraints, examples, and output formats.

Writing Claude Directives

Name: Writing Claude Directives
Author: ed3dai

byed3dai

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Learning & Documentation

Master the art of writing efficient, high-compliance instructions for Claude models to optimize behavior and minimize token usage.

This skill provides a comprehensive framework for engineering effective Claude directives, covering everything from token efficiency and structural enforcement to model-specific nuances for Claude 4.x and 4.5. It teaches developers how to use XML for format control, apply positive framing to prevent hallucinations, and implement feedback loops that ensure the model stays on track. Whether you are building complex multi-step workflows, specialized skills, or project-specific CLAUDE.md files, these principles help you create instructions that Claude follows more reliably while pruning unnecessary token costs.

Key Features

01Compliance techniques leveraging context and motivation over raw imperatives

02Token-efficient instruction patterns designed for Claude 4.x models

03Standardized naming and discovery optimization strategies for the Claude ecosystem

04XML-based structure patterns for robust multi-part directives and format control

05Overengineering prevention guidelines to keep AI outputs focused and minimal

065 GitHub stars

Use Cases

01Creating specialized skills for the Claude Code ecosystem with high discovery rates

02Writing project-specific CLAUDE.md files to guide development behavior and style

03Optimizing long system prompts to improve model compliance and reduce latency

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add ed3dai/ed3d-plugins-testing writing-claude-directives

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill