---
id: "quote-literal-machine"
type: "quote"
source_timestamps: ["00:04:50"]
tags: ["prompt-engineering"]
related: ["concept-specification-precision"]
speaker: "Nate B. Jones"
speakers: ["Nate B. Jones"]
sources: ["s42-job-market-split"]
sourceVaultSlug: "s42-job-market-split"
originDay: 42
---
# Talking English to a machine

> 'You have to learn to talk English to a machine in a way a machine takes literally.'
> — [[entity-nate-b-jones]]

## Why it matters

The core definition of what prompt engineering actually entails in a professional setting. It collapses 'prompting' into the first of the seven skills: [[concept-specification-precision]].