# Draft the email, keep the commitment yours

Original 5HO practice material. Fictional example. Reviewed 5 October 2026.

## Useful result

You'll finish with a clear email whose names, dates, prices and promises still match your approved facts.

An email draft should help you say what you mean. It should not quietly promise a discount, a delivery date or a small miracle. Today, you keep the commitments while AI helps with the wording.

## Set up

Allow 15 minutes in a text chat. You do not need an email connector; paste the fictional message and leave the result as a draft.

## Practice input

Customer: Can you deliver by Friday and waive the delivery fee? Known facts: dispatch date unconfirmed; standard delivery fee AUD 15; Jo can check dispatch availability. No discount authority supplied.

## Do the task

1. Separate the customer’s requests from what you can actually confirm.
2. Ask for a polite reply that acknowledges both requests.
3. Check dates, prices and implied promises before saving the draft.

## Prompt

Draft a reply under 110 words. Acknowledge Friday delivery and the fee-waiver request. Explain what still needs checking. Do not approve a discount or promise when Jo will reply.

## Refine

Underline the commitments by listing them below the draft. Remove any that are not supported by the facts.

## Expected checks

A good reply can offer to check availability without claiming Friday is possible. It must not quietly set the fee to zero or invent a response deadline.

## Save

Save reply-draft.txt. Have the authorised person approve any commitment before you send it.

## Sources

- Writing clear prompts: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10032626-prompt-engineering-best-practices-for-chatgpt