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Learning Effectively Means Simplifying First

Use ELI5 Prompts to Unlock Clarity from LLMs

When learning something new, especially in technical or domain-specific environments, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by jargon, unclear instructions, or assumptions of prior knowledge. A powerful way to cut through that noise is by asking a language model to explain it like you’re five (ELI5).

This isn't about lowering your standards—it’s about elevating your understanding by starting with the basics.

Why Ask for Simplification?

  1. Speed up comprehension Asking an LLM to "ELI5" a concept forces it to focus on the essence of the idea, not the terminology. That means you can understand something in minutes that might otherwise take hours of deciphering.
  2. Get unstuck faster When a concept or instruction feels vague or confusing, jumping to the technical documentation often makes it worse. Instead, ask the LLM to restate it simply so you can move forward.
  3. Build learning momentum Once you understand the core idea in plain language, you can dig deeper more confidently. Simplification gives you traction.

How to Prompt an LLM to Simplify

Here are some effective prompt patterns:

  • "Explain this like I’m five: [paste the confusing text]"
  • "Can you summarize this in super simple terms so a beginner would get it?"
  • "What does this mean in everyday language?"
  • "What’s the basic idea behind this?"

If you're dealing with a particularly complex system or task (e.g. using a CSV importer in a CRM), you can even ask:

"Explain this feature to me like I’ve never seen this kind of tool before."

Or:

"Walk me through what I’m supposed to do, like you're coaching me through it for the first time."

Example in Practice

Confusing Input:

"Importers are available under the CRM URL path. Each accepts a CSV with a header row matching schema requirements for entity creation."

ELI5 Prompt:

“Explain this like I’m five.”

LLM Output:

"There are tools on the website that let you upload a spreadsheet to add information, like company names or contacts. The top row in the spreadsheet should say what’s in each column—like ‘name’ or ‘email’—so the system knows where to put the info."

Now you’re in a better position to actually use the feature, rather than just skim over it with partial understanding.

Don’t Fear “Dumbing It Down”

Simplifying isn’t lazy or amateurish. It’s strategic.

  • You’re not trying to pass a quiz.
  • You’re trying to do something correctly and confidently.
  • Once you understand the basics, you can ask follow-ups to go deeper: “Now explain the edge cases,” or “What happens if the format is wrong?”

Tip: Chain the Prompts

If the first ELI5 explanation is still fuzzy, keep going:

  • “That’s better. Now explain just the part about headers.”
  • “Give me an analogy—like something I’d do in real life.”
  • “Turn that into a checklist I can follow.”

LLMs are interactive learning companions. Use that to your advantage.

Summary

When stuck, don’t spin your wheels trying to “sound smart” or puzzle it out alone. Just ask:

“Explain this to me like I’m five.”

It’s one of the simplest—and smartest—ways to unlock clarity.

Use LLMs to reduce complexity early, then add depth when you're ready. That's not cheating—that’s learning effectively.