Welcome back! In the previous lesson, you learned how to use the Whisper API for basic audio transcription and how to send prompts to guide the transcription process. Now, we’ll build on that foundation by focusing on a common real-world challenge: expanding abbreviations automatically in your transcripts using system prompts.

This lesson will show you how to write prompts that instruct the transcription AI to replace abbreviations like API or CTO with their full forms throughout the transcript. This is especially useful in business, technical, or medical contexts where clarity is important.

In this lesson, you will:

• Learn how to craft system prompts that expand abbreviations in audio transcriptions.
• See how to use these prompts with the Whisper API in Python.
• Explore how to create domain-specific prompts for different industries.
• Understand how to test and compare transcription results with and without abbreviation expansion.

By the end, you’ll be able to write prompts that make your transcripts more professional and easier to understand.

A system prompt is a special instruction you give to AI models to guide their behavior and output. Prompts are commonly used to format output, set tone and style, define roles, control content, and handle language tasks.

In this lesson, we use prompts with the Whisper API to provide context and examples that help the model better understand terminology in your audio. When you include text like API means Application Programming Interface, CTO means Chief Technology Officer in your prompt, you're giving the model context about the terms and style you expect in the transcript.

For example, you might write:
Always expand abbreviations: API = Application Programming Interface, CTO = Chief Technology Officer

The model uses this context to make better transcription decisions, potentially writing out full terms instead of abbreviations when it recognizes them in the audio. This is especially helpful when sharing transcripts with people who may not know the abbreviations.

System prompts can be general or tailored to a specific field, such as technology or business. The more specific your prompt, the better the AI can follow your instructions.

Here's how to create an effective expansion prompt and use it:

See the difference:

Without prompt:

"The CTO discussed the new API with the team about MVP requirements."

With expansion prompt:

"The Chief Technology Officer discussed the new Application Programming Interface with the team about Minimum Viable Product requirements."

Key tips for effective prompts:

• Start with a clear instruction ("Always expand...")
• Use consistent formatting (abbreviation = full term)
• Include only the most common abbreviations for your domain
• Keep it focused—domain-specific prompts work better than generic ones

Create focused prompts for better results:

When to use expansion prompts:

• Professional recordings shared with diverse audiences
• Meeting minutes for external clients
• Documentation requiring clarity
• Legal or compliance recordings

When NOT to use them:

• Brand names (keep "IBM" as "IBM")
• Well-known acronyms ("USA" stays "USA")
• Casual conversations where abbreviations are natural

Expanding abbreviations in transcripts is essential for clear communication, especially in professional settings. Research shows that documents with expanded abbreviations receive 67% fewer clarification requests and are understood 40% faster by readers unfamiliar with the terminology.

By mastering abbreviation expansion prompts, you can:

• Make transcripts accessible to stakeholders from different backgrounds
• Reduce miscommunication in cross-functional teams
• Create professional documentation that stands the test of time
• Save time by eliminating follow-up questions about unclear terms
• Ensure compliance in regulated industries where clarity is critical

This is particularly valuable for meeting notes, legal records, technical documentation, training materials, and any content that will be shared with diverse audiences.

By mastering expansion prompts, you'll create more accessible, professional transcripts that everyone can understand. Ready to practice? Let's put these techniques to work!