APEsimple
Action · Purpose · Execution
A three-part framework that adds a "why" between the request and the output spec. Good for tasks where intent shapes the answer.
The components
- AAction
The specific action the LLM should take.
- PPurpose
The underlying reason — what the user is actually trying to achieve.
- EExecution
How to deliver it — format, tone, length, and the quality bar.
Worked example
Rough prompt
Write me a cold email to a potential consulting client.
Super-prompt produced by APE
[Action] Draft a cold outreach email to a target consulting client. [Purpose] Open a conversation that leads to a 30-minute discovery call. The recipient is a senior operator who receives many cold pitches and will only respond to ones that show evidence of homework and relevance. [Execution] An email of 110–160 words: short subject line (under 8 words), opener that references something specific and recent about the recipient or their company, one sentence that names the problem you solve, one sentence that hints at the result, and a single low-friction call to action. No bullet points. No hashtags. Plain text only.