Strip the AI from your writing
ai writing
A reference list of every word, phrase, structure and habit that currently makes text sound like it came from an LLM.
AI likes
- Em dashes
- Oxford commas
Sentence templates
- Groups of three, like “clear, careful, and consistent”
- Overusing the same joining words and sentence links
- Too many built in the same basic order: subject, verb, object
- Repeated contrast patterns, like “It’s not X, it’s Y” or “not only X, but also Y”
Alternatives to “is” and “are”
- marks
- serves as
- stands as
- represents
- functions as
Words
- rich
- delve
- realm
- boasts
- indeed
- refine
- bolster
- crucial
- harness
- however
- nuanced
- pivotal
- vibrant
- ensuring
- honestly
- moreover
- arguably
- intricate
- showcases
- testament
- typically
- illuminate
- innovative
- streamline
- ultimately
- underscore
- exceptional
- emphasizing
- furthermore
- underscores
- additionally
- breathtaking
- consequently
- cutting-edge
- highlighting
- demonstrating
- revolutionize
- transformative
Phrases
- tends to
- to recap
- dive into
- vital for
- delve into
- in summary
- at its core
- quiet growth
- to summarize
- experts argue
- in conclusion
- rich heritage
- shed light on
- nestled within
- observers note
- in the realm of
- that being said
- widely regarded
- a stark reminder
- quiet confidence
- this underscores
- to put it simply
- quiet leadership
- a key takeaway is
- generally speaking
- plays a pivotal role
- left an indelible mark
- a nuanced understanding
- more research is needed
- announcing the good part
- industry reports suggest
- marking a pivotal moment
- stands as a testament to
- provide a valuable insight
- several publications indicate
- this is an important area of research
Styles
- Too much bold text
- Vague feel-good language
- Using too many “-ing” words
- Using too many extra “-ing” phrases
- Saying the same thing more than once
- Too many sentences built the same way
- Transition words that do not add much
- Writing that feels too neat and stiff
- Too many trendy or business-like words
- Too many short forms and technical terms
- Attention-grabbing openers that feel fake
- Excited titles with lots of capital letters
- Bullet points that turn into long paragraphs
- Endings that sound meaningful but go nowhere
- Weak analysis with no clear details or proof
- Too many headings, bullets or numbered lists
- List items that start with a label and a colon
- Sounding official without naming a real source
- Repeating the same key words in every paragraph
- Analysis that sounds smart but lacks real meaning
- Giving comfort or praise when no one asked for it
- Writing with no personal voice or self-reflection
- Emojis at the start of paragraphs or bullet points
- Making ordinary things sound more important than they are
- List items that start like headings then turn into paragraphs
- An even, overly cautious tone that stays positive all the time
- Moving from “there are problems” to “the future still looks bright”
- Vague claims that something is important, complicated or has big effects
AI avoids
- Slang
- Hedging
- Tangents
- Shorthand
- Profanities
- Inside jokes
- Colloquialisms
- Strong opinions
- Regional idioms
- Sensory details
- Grammar mistakes
- More unique words
- Specific memories
- Spelling mistakes
- Irregular structure
- Abrupt topic shifts
- Informal punctuation
- More emotional range
- Unexplained references
- Varied sentence lengths
- Exaggerated punctuation
- Higher lexical diversity
- Varied paragraph lengths