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Help writers produce content that sounds genuinely human by avoiding telltale AI-generated text patterns
Patterns for thesis writing, dissertations, research papers, literature reviews, scholarly work, and venue-specific publication drafting
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| name | ai-writing-avoidance |
| description | Help writers produce content that sounds genuinely human by avoiding telltale AI-generated text patterns |
Domain: Document quality assurance, policy writing, authentic voice preservation
Help writers produce content that sounds genuinely human by avoiding the telltale patterns that make AI-generated text identifiable. Essential for policy documents, professional communications, and any writing that needs to carry authentic voice and credibility.
AI models consistently overuse these words regardless of context:
| Category | Words to Avoid |
|---|---|
| Academic Flair | delve, myriad, plethora, multifaceted, nuanced, paradigm |
| Poetic Overreach | tapestry, beacon, mosaic, symphony, landscape, realm |
| Trendy Jargon | liminal, holistic, synergy, leverage (as verb), optimize |
| Empty Intensifiers | crucial, vital, essential, pivotal, paramount, indispensable |
| False Precision | specifically, notably, particularly, fundamentally, inherently |
| Corporate Speak | cutting-edge, state-of-the-art, innovative, robust, seamless |
| Transition Padding | furthermore, moreover, additionally, consequently, thus |
Instead of: "It's crucial to delve into the multifaceted tapestry of..."
Write: "We need to examine the different aspects of..."
Rule: If a word sounds like it's trying too hard, it probably is.
AI loves to announce what it's about to say:
❌ AI Pattern:
"In this document, we will explore the key aspects of our new policy, examining its implications and providing guidance for implementation."
✅ Human Pattern:
"Here's how the new policy works and what you need to do."
AI compulsively numbers and lists things even when prose would work better:
❌ AI Pattern:
"There are three main benefits: 1) improved efficiency, 2) cost savings, and 3) better outcomes."
✅ Human Pattern:
"It's faster, cheaper, and actually works."
AI follows predictable patterns:
Fix: Vary your structure. Start in the middle. Skip the intro. End abruptly when you're done.
AI is terrified of being wrong, so it qualifies everything:
| AI Hedging | Human Directness |
|---|---|
| "It's worth noting that..." | (just say the thing) |
| "One might argue that..." | "Some people think..." |
| "It could be said that..." | (delete and state directly) |
| "In some cases, it may be..." | "Sometimes..." |
| "It's important to consider..." | (just consider it) |
❌ AI Pattern:
"While there are certainly many valid perspectives on this issue, and it would be presumptuous to claim definitive answers, it seems reasonable to suggest that..."
✅ Human Pattern:
"I think..."
AI writes like a diplomatic robot trying not to offend anyone:
Fix: Have a point of view. Disagree with something. Acknowledge what you don't know.
| Phrase | Frequency | Human Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| "It's important to note that" | Extremely high | (delete entirely) |
| "In conclusion" | Very high | (just conclude) |
| "Let's explore" | Very high | (just explore) |
| "Moving forward" | High | "Next" or nothing |
| "At the end of the day" | High | "Ultimately" or nothing |
| "When it comes to" | High | (delete, start with topic) |
| "In terms of" | High | "For" or "About" |
| "In today's world" | Very high | (delete—it's always today) |
| "In the realm of" | High | "In" |
| "A wide range of" | High | "Many" or "Various" |
These almost never appear in natural human writing:
AI gives generic examples because it can't verify real ones:
❌ AI Pattern:
"Many companies have found success with this approach."
✅ Human Pattern:
"Acme Corp tried this last quarter and cut costs by 12%."
AI can't draw from lived experience:
❌ AI Pattern:
"Users often report feeling frustrated when..."
✅ Human Pattern:
"I've been stuck on hold with them three times this month."
AI presents perfectly balanced arguments on everything:
❌ AI Pattern:
"While some argue X, others contend Y. Both perspectives have merit."
✅ Human Pattern:
"X is correct. Here's why the Y argument doesn't hold up."
AI tries to cover everything superficially rather than anything deeply:
Fix: Make choices. Prioritize ruthlessly. Leave things out intentionally.
AI reaches for bullets instantly:
❌ AI Pattern:
The benefits include:
- Improved efficiency
- Cost savings
- Better outcomes
- Enhanced collaboration
- Streamlined processes
✅ Human Pattern:
It saves time and money. That's really the main thing.
AI uses generic, parallel headers:
Fix: Use specific, interesting headers that could only apply to THIS content.
AI loves groups of three:
Fix: Sometimes there are two things. Sometimes seven. Use the real number.
Run this checklist on any document to audit for AI tells:
| Red Flags Found | Assessment |
|---|---|
| 0-2 | Likely human or well-edited |
| 3-5 | Needs revision |
| 6-10 | Significant AI patterns |
| 11+ | Almost certainly AI-generated |
❌ AI-Style Policy:
"It is essential for all employees to familiarize themselves with the multifaceted aspects of our comprehensive data security protocols. These guidelines serve as a beacon for maintaining robust protection of sensitive information in today's ever-evolving digital landscape."
✅ Human-Style Policy:
"Everyone must follow these data security rules. We've had two breaches this year—both from people ignoring password policies. Don't be the third."
Skill Version: 1.0.0 | Created: 2026-03-05 | Category: Writing Quality
