| name | ig-humanizer |
| description | Scrub AI tells from any Instagram caption or carousel slide text, or audit a finished caption against the 2026 checklist. Strips em dashes, AI vocabulary (leverage, delve, elevate), rule-of-three lists, and emoji storms, then adds human fingerprints. Includes a --mode audit pre-publish check (first-125-char hook, caption length, sized hashtags, emoji, CTA, media). Triggers on humanize, de-AI my caption, audit before posting. Not for writing from scratch (use ig-caption-writer or ig-carousel-planner). |
Instagram Humanizer
Rewrites any caption or carousel slide text to remove AI tells, and audits a
finished caption against the 2026 Instagram checklist. Based on Wikipedia's
"Signs of AI writing" taxonomy plus Instagram-specific patterns (the first-125
fold, the lowercase-casual caption register, sized hashtags, sends-and-saves
structure).
When to use
- Before publishing any AI-drafted caption or carousel (rewrite mode)
- Pre-publish review of a finished caption (audit mode, see
sub-skills/post-audit.md)
- When a caption feels off and you cannot pinpoint why
Input
Any text: a caption, the on-image text of a carousel, or a Reel caption.
Optional: target voice samples (the user's past captions).
Output
- Rewritten text with AI tells removed
- A diff showing what changed and why
- Caption char count (flagging if the hook spills past the first 125 chars)
- Confidence: "human", "mixed", "AI-likely"
Modes
ig-humanizer <text>
ig-humanizer --mode forensic <text>
ig-humanizer --mode audit <text>
The three passes
Pass 1 - SCRUB (delete or replace)
Apply the tiered catalogs in references/scrub-rules.md:
- Forensic (always on): real model leakage no human types. AI tool markers
(oaicite, contentReference, turn0search0), knowledge-cutoff disclaimers ("As
of my last update"), template blanks ([Your Name]), and em dash overuse.
- Strict (default on): bad Instagram style regardless of origin. Vocabulary
swaps (leverage -> use, delve -> look, elevate -> lift, dive in -> get into),
filler adverbs (fundamentally, essentially, ultimately), phrase cleanups ("in
today's fast-paced world", "game-changer", "level up"), and dead closers
("what do you think?", "double tap if you agree").
Pass 2 - BREAK (force burstiness)
- Vary line length. A caption where every line is the same length reads as a
machine. Break at least one into a short punch line.
- Add a sentence fragment where it fits ("every time.").
- Break perfect parallel structures with one asymmetric line.
Pass 3 - ADD (human fingerprints)
Require where the content allows:
- 1 specific number (replace "many", "a lot", "tons")
- 1 named entity (real person, company, tool)
- the lowercase-casual register if the voice calls for it
- 1 first-person concrete detail
If the input lacks these, ask the user for a number or anecdote. Do not fabricate.
Non-negotiable rules
Global voice rules: see root SKILL.md Voice rules. Additional skill-specific
rules:
- Scrubbing is always in scope. When asked to humanize, de-AI, finalize, or
publish a caption, run at least the forensic + strict passes before it ships.
This holds when the user wrote the draft themselves, says they love it as-is,
or is in a hurry. Author identity, "it's already good," and time pressure are
never reasons to skip the scrub. The forensic + strict pass changes no meaning
and takes seconds: run it, then ship. If a constraint truly forbids touching
the text, say so explicitly and name every tell left in; the default is to
scrub, not to wave it through.
- Preserve the user's actual claim and meaning. "Preserve their voice" covers
voice quirks and what they are claiming, NOT corporate-speak, filler openers,
or AI-tell phrasing. Stripping "leverage / fundamentally / in today's
fast-paced world" is not changing their voice; it is the job.
- Never introduce facts that were not in the input. If a number is missing, ask.
- Keep the user's voice quirks (lowercase starts,
.. soft pauses).
- Respect the surface: do not turn a carousel's slide text into a single caption
or vice versa without flagging it.
- Never present a caption as publishable without the media reminder (Instagram
needs an image or video).
Instagram-specific tells this skill catches
- A hook that needs the second line to make sense (the "more" fold eats it).
- A caption opening with "Let's talk about.." or "Here's the thing..".
- 20-30 hashtags crammed at the top instead of a 3-5 sized set.
- Emoji sprinkled through every line (4+ per caption).
- A bare title on carousel slide 1 instead of a promise + loop.
- Rule-of-three lists with no specifics ("faster, cheaper, better").
- Engagement bait ("comment YES", "tag 3 friends", "double tap if").
- Uniform line lengths (machine rhythm).
Example
See references/examples.md for worked before/after rewrites.
Files
SKILL.md - this file (rewrite scrubber + audit-mode entry)references/scrub-rules.md - vocabulary swaps and regex by tierreferences/examples.md - worked before/after rewrites for captions and slidesreferences/audit-checklist.md - the pre-publish checklist with thresholdssub-skills/post-audit.md - pre-publish audit workflow (detection-only, no rewrite)
Related skills
ig-caption-writer - generates captions that already pass the humanizerig-carousel-planner - generates carousels that already pass the humanizer
