Prompt Patterns|

A Pattern Language for Knowledge Engineering with Large Language Models

Judgment Criteria

Declares the criteria the model should use to evaluate evidence, weigh trade-offs, and handle uncertainty while generating.

Problem

Without explicit criteria, the model defaults to generic, socially agreeable, or stereotype-driven evaluation; user preferences leak in as implicit evidence.

Solution

Declare the evaluation policy - evidence standards, trade-offs, uncertainty handling, preference treatment - before generation. Explicit criteria shift what the model optimizes for while selecting among plausible continuations.