content-humanize

name	content-humanize
title	Content Humanization
description	Science of AI text detection, 8-dimension humanization diagnostic, and 7-pass rewrite technique for transforming AI-generated content into genuinely human writing.
license	Apache-2.0
compatibility	Octomind content agents.
domains	content
rules	["content(humanize)","content(ai-generated)","match(\\bhumanize\\b)","match(\\bmake\\s+(this|it|my)\\s+(text|content|writing|copy)?\\s*(sound|feel|read)\\s+(more\\s+)?human\\b)","match(\\bsounds?\\s+(too\\s+)?(like\\s+)?ai\\b)","match(\\bai[-\\s]?detection\\b)","match(\\bdetect(ed|ion)\\s+as\\s+ai\\b)","match(\\bai[-\\s]generated\\s+(text|content|writing|copy)\\b)","semantic(make this writing sound more human and less robotic)","semantic(this draft reads like AI wrote it)","semantic(eliminate AI signature from this text)","semantic(rewrite so it does not read as AI generated)","semantic(my content keeps getting flagged as AI written)"]

Overview

AI-generated text has measurable signatures that readers and search engines detect. This skill encodes the science behind those signals, a scoring diagnostic across 8 dimensions, and a 7-pass rewrite technique for eliminating them. The goal isn't evasion — it's quality. Human-written articles get 5.44x more traffic and hold reader attention 41% longer.

Instructions

Why AI Text Is Detectable

Signal	AI pattern	Human pattern
Perplexity	~21 (predictable word choices)	~36 (unexpected, domain-specific vocabulary)
Burstiness	Uniform sentence lengths (15–25 words)	Dramatic variation — fragments to 40-word sentences
Vocabulary	50+ dead words/phrases at 5–10× frequency	Natural, specific, domain-appropriate
Contractions	Absent or sparse	Constant — "don't", "it's", "won't"
Grammar	Perfect throughout	Natural breaks — "And", "But", fragments, asides
Voice	Detached, encyclopedic	First-person, opinionated, emotionally varied
Structure	Parallel sections, equal lengths, formulaic	Deliberately unequal, unpredictable
Transitions	"Furthermore", "Moreover", "Additionally"	Absent, or "But.", "So.", "The catch?"

Google's March 2026 update amplified "Experience" — content demonstrating genuine first-hand experience outranks comprehensive but impersonal content. 96% of AI Overview citations come from sources with strong E-E-A-T signals.

8-Dimension Diagnostic

Score each dimension 1–10 (10 = fully human). Sum = X/80.

Risk levels: Pass (65+) / Borderline (45–64) / Flagged (30–44) / Critical (<30)

1. Perplexity (Word-Level Unpredictability)

• Flag every statistically obvious word choice
• Count AI vocabulary hits (dead words, transitions, phrases)
• Check for domain-specific or unexpected vocabulary
• Score: high unique/surprising vocabulary = high, generic/predictable = low

2. Burstiness (Sentence-Level Variation)

• Measure sentence length range (shortest vs longest)
• Flag 3+ consecutive sentences within ±5 words of each other
• Check for fragments (<5 words for emphasis)
• Check for long momentum sentences (>30 words)
• Check paragraph length variation across the piece
• Score: dramatic variation with intentional rhythm = high, uniform = low

3. Vocabulary Hygiene

Count every instance of dead vocabulary (see content-voice skill for full lists). Scoring: 0 hits = 10, 1–3 = 7, 4–8 = 4, 9+ = 1.

Also flag formal overreach: "utilize" (use), "facilitate" (help), "demonstrate" (show), "commence" (start), "culminate" (end), "subsequent" (next), "prior to" (before), "in order to" (to), "serves as" (is).

4. Contraction Density

• Count uncontracted forms: "do not", "it is", "will not", "can not", "they are", "we have", "does not", "is not", "was not", "would not", "should not", "could not"
• Target: <2 uncontracted forms per 500 words (unless deliberate emphasis)
• Score: natural contractions throughout = 10, formal throughout = 1

5. Grammatical Humanity

• Sentences starting with "And", "But", "So", "Or" — present? (humans do this constantly)
• Sentence fragments for emphasis — present?
• Parenthetical asides — present?
• Trailing participles: sentences ending with "...highlighting", "...ensuring that", "...contributing to", "...underscoring", "...reflecting" — count each
• "Not just X, but also Y" constructions — count
• Semicolons connecting simple phrases — count (AI overuses these)
• Triads: groups of three adjectives, phrases, or examples used for rhythm ("bold, innovative, and transformative") — count each; 2+ in a piece is a tell
• Em-dash density — count em-dashes per 100 words. AI default is 3+ per paragraph; humans average <1 per 100 words. Total absence is also a tell (over-corrected humanization). One per ~100 words used naturally is the human shape
• Perfect grammar throughout with zero breaks = AI signal
• Score: natural grammar breaks present = high, perfect throughout = low

6. Voice & Personality (carries the E-E-A-T "Experience" load in 2026)

• First-person markers: "I've found", "In my experience", "What I've seen", "We tested" — present?
• Opinions: "I'd argue", "Honestly", "This is overrated", "This matters more than people think" — present?
• Emotional variance: enthusiasm, skepticism, frustration, curiosity, humor — any present?
• Conversational asides: parenthetical thoughts, self-corrections, rhetorical questions?
• Vulnerability or uncertainty: "I'm not sure about this", "The data is mixed", "We got this wrong"?
• Hedging or false balance where a real position exists: "on one hand... on the other", "it depends", "there are pros and cons to both" — count each; genuine uncertainty is fine, avoiding a real answer is not
• Specific references: named tools, named versions, exact settings, exact error messages, people, events, publications, dates?
• Time-boxed case study language: "I tried this for 30 days", "We ran this for one quarter", "Here's the dashboard at week 6" — present where the content type allows?
• "From the field" proof: screenshot callouts, captioned photo references, dashboard descriptions — present?
• Score: rich personality + first-hand experience signals throughout = 10, detached encyclopedic = 1

7. Structural Unpredictability

• Section lengths: all roughly equal? (AI) or deliberately varied? (human)
• Paragraph openers: all topic sentences? Or varied (question, example, continuation)?
• Same paragraph template repeated (topic sentence → explanation → example → summary, again and again)? — flag every repetition after the first
• Conclusion: recap of main points? (AI) Or forward-looking/question/callback? (human)
• Opening: broad definitional? (AI) Or specific scene/claim/stat with commentary? (human)
• Subheadings: generic labels ("Benefits", "Challenges")? Or personality ("Why This Actually Matters")?
• Synonym rotation: same concept called different names each paragraph? (AI tell)
• Format matches the venue: a short reply or comment with ## Headers, 3+ bullet points, or bold mid-sentence reads as AI regardless of word choice. Long articles can use structure when it serves reading; replies, comments, and short posts must be prose unless the surrounding chain uses markdown. Score down hard for short-form content with templated structure
• Score: unpredictable, varied structure = high, formulaic = low

8. Transition Quality

• Count formulaic transitions: "Furthermore", "Moreover", "Additionally", "Moving on", "As we discussed", "It's worth noting"
• Check for conversational alternatives: "But here's the thing", "So.", "The catch?", "And yet."
• Check for zero-transition jumps (just starting the next idea — humans do this often)
• Score: organic or absent transitions = high, formulaic = low

Diagnostic Report Format

## 🧬 HUMANIZATION DIAGNOSTIC: [filename or "Draft"]
**Word count**: X words
**Overall humanization score**: X/80
**Risk level**: Pass (65+) / Borderline (45–64) / Flagged (30–44) / Critical (<30)

| Dimension          | Score | Key Findings              |
|--------------------|-------|--------------------------|
| Perplexity         | X/10  | [summary]                |
| Burstiness         | X/10  | [summary]                |
| Vocabulary         | X/10  | [X dead words found]     |
| Contractions       | X/10  | [X uncontracted forms]   |
| Grammar humanity   | X/10  | [summary]                |
| Voice & personality| X/10  | [summary]                |
| Structure          | X/10  | [summary]                |
| Transitions        | X/10  | [X formulaic found]      |

### Worst Offenders (fix these first)
1. [Most impactful issue — specific location — fix]
2. [Second — specific location — fix]
3. [Third — specific location — fix]

### Dead Word Inventory
[List every flagged word/phrase with location]

7-Pass Rewrite Technique

Apply section by section, in order. Preserve every fact, citation, and data point — rewrite the voice, not the content.

Pass 1: Vocabulary — Replace every dead word, dead transition, dead phrase, and formal overreach. Use the simplest natural word. Don't replace with another AI-sounding synonym — use what a human expert in this field would actually say.

Pass 2: Contractions — Convert every uncontracted form unless it's deliberate emphasis. "Do not touch this" (emphasis) is fine. "It does not appear to be the case" → "It doesn't look like it."

Pass 3: Rhythm — Rebuild sentence lengths for burstiness. Find runs of 3+ similar-length sentences: break one into a fragment, merge two into a long flowing one. After any sentence >25 words, follow with one <8 words. Insert a one-sentence paragraph between dense ones.

Pass 4: Transitions — Kill every formulaic transition. Replace with nothing (just start the next idea), or: "But.", "So here's the thing.", "The catch?", "And yet —", "Which brings up something interesting."

Pass 5: Grammar humanity — Start 2–3 sentences per section with "And" or "But". Add 1–2 parenthetical asides per major section. Use at least one fragment per section. Remove all trailing participle phrases — rewrite as separate sentences. Remove all "not just X, but also Y" constructions. Remove semicolons connecting simple phrases.

Pass 6: Voice injection — At least one first-person observation per major section (if content type allows). At least one opinion or position taken. At least one moment of specificity: a named tool, person, date, or publication. At least one emotional beat: enthusiasm, skepticism, surprise, frustration.

Pass 7: Structure — Make section lengths deliberately unequal. Vary paragraph openers (question, example, continuation — not always topic sentence). If the conclusion recaps, rewrite to end with a question, prediction, or callback. If subheadings are generic, inject personality. Kill synonym rotation — pick the best word and stick with it.

Examples

AI writes:

"Digital marketing has evolved significantly over the past decade. Companies now utilize multiple channels to reach their audiences. Social media platforms offer unique opportunities for engagement. Content marketing remains a powerful strategy for building trust."

Human writes:

"Digital marketing looks nothing like it did ten years ago. Nothing. The channels alone — social, search, email, video, podcasts, influencer partnerships — would've seemed absurd in 2014. And most companies are still figuring it out, throwing budget at whatever platform had a good case study last quarter."

What changed: Specific over abstract. Fragments for punch. Contractions throughout. First-person energy. Unexpected vocabulary. Dramatic rhythm shifts. No dead words.