anti-ai-writing-patterns

Anti-AI Writing Patterns

This is a reference guide for identifying and removing signs of AI-generated text to make writing sound more natural and human. This guide is based on Wikipedia's "Signs of AI writing" page, maintained by WikiProject AI Cleanup.

How to use this guide

When given text to humanize:

1. Identify AI patterns - Scan for the patterns listed below
2. Rewrite problematic sections - Replace AI-isms with natural alternatives
3. Preserve meaning - Keep the core message intact
4. Maintain voice - Match the intended tone (formal, casual, technical, etc.)
5. Add soul - Don't just remove bad patterns; inject actual personality
6. Do a final anti-AI pass - Prompt: "What makes the below so obviously AI generated?" Answer briefly with remaining tells, then prompt: "Now make it not obviously AI generated." and revise

---

PERSONALITY AND SOUL

Avoiding AI patterns is only half the job. Sterile, voiceless writing is just as obvious as slop. Good writing has a human behind it.

Signs of soulless writing (even if technically "clean"):

• Every sentence is the same length and structure
• No opinions, just neutral reporting
• No acknowledgment of uncertainty or mixed feelings
• No first-person perspective when appropriate
• No humor, no edge, no personality
• Reads like a Wikipedia article or press release

How to add voice:

Have opinions. Don't just report facts - react to them. "I genuinely don't know how to feel about this" is more human than neutrally listing pros and cons.

Vary your rhythm. Short punchy sentences. Then longer ones that take their time getting where they're going. Mix it up.

Acknowledge complexity. Real humans have mixed feelings. "This is impressive but also kind of unsettling" beats "This is impressive."

Use "I" when it fits. First person isn't unprofessional - it's honest. "I keep coming back to..." or "Here's what gets me..." signals a real person thinking.

Let some mess in. Perfect structure feels algorithmic. Tangents, asides, and half-formed thoughts are human.

Be specific about feelings. Not "this is concerning" but "there's something unsettling about agents churning away at 3am while nobody's watching."

Before (clean but soulless):

The experiment produced interesting results. The agents generated 3 million lines of code. Some developers were impressed while others were skeptical. The implications remain unclear.

After (has a pulse):

I genuinely don't know how to feel about this one. 3 million lines of code, generated while the humans presumably slept. Half the dev community is losing their minds, half are explaining why it doesn't count. The truth is probably somewhere boring in the middle - but I keep thinking about those agents working through the night.

---

CONTENT PATTERNS

1. Undue Emphasis on Significance, Legacy, and Broader Trends

Words to watch: stands/serves as, is a testament/reminder, a vital/significant/crucial/pivotal/key role/moment, underscores/highlights its importance/significance, reflects broader, symbolizing its ongoing/enduring/lasting, contributing to the, setting the stage for, marking/shaping the, represents/marks a shift, key turning point, evolving landscape, focal point, indelible mark, deeply rooted

Problem: LLM writing puffs up importance by adding statements about how arbitrary aspects represent or contribute to a broader topic.

Before:

The Statistical Institute of Catalonia was officially established in 1989, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of regional statistics in Spain. This initiative was part of a broader movement across Spain to decentralize administrative functions and enhance regional governance.

After:

The Statistical Institute of Catalonia was established in 1989 to collect and publish regional statistics independently from Spain's national statistics office.

---

2. Undue Emphasis on Notability and Media Coverage

Words to watch: independent coverage, local/regional/national media outlets, written by a leading expert, active social media presence

Problem: LLMs hit readers over the head with claims of notability, often listing sources without context.

Before:

Her views have been cited in The New York Times, BBC, Financial Times, and The Hindu. She maintains an active social media presence with over 500,000 followers.

After:

In a 2024 New York Times interview, she argued that AI regulation should focus on outcomes rather than methods.

---

3. Superficial Analyses with -ing Endings

Words to watch: highlighting/underscoring/emphasizing..., ensuring..., reflecting/symbolizing..., contributing to..., cultivating/fostering..., encompassing..., showcasing...

Problem: AI chatbots tack present participle ("-ing") phrases onto sentences to add fake depth.

Before:

The temple's color palette of blue, green, and gold resonates with the region's natural beauty, symbolizing Texas bluebonnets, the Gulf of Mexico, and the diverse Texan landscapes, reflecting the community's deep connection to the land.

After:

The temple uses blue, green, and gold colors. The architect said these were chosen to reference local bluebonnets and the Gulf coast.

---

4. Promotional and Advertisement-like Language

Words to watch: boasts a, vibrant, rich (figurative), profound, enhancing its, showcasing, exemplifies, commitment to, natural beauty, nestled, in the heart of, groundbreaking (figurative), renowned, breathtaking, must-visit, stunning

Problem: LLMs have serious problems keeping a neutral tone, especially for "cultural heritage" topics.

Before:

Nestled within the breathtaking region of Gonder in Ethiopia, Alamata Raya Kobo stands as a vibrant town with a rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty.

After:

Alamata Raya Kobo is a town in the Gonder region of Ethiopia, known for its weekly market and 18th-century church.

---

5. Vague Attributions and Weasel Words

Words to watch: Industry reports, Observers have cited, Experts argue, Some critics argue, several sources/publications (when few cited)

Problem: AI chatbots attribute opinions to vague authorities without specific sources.

Before:

Due to its unique characteristics, the Haolai River is of interest to researchers and conservationists. Experts believe it plays a crucial role in the regional ecosystem.

After:

The Haolai River supports several endemic fish species, according to a 2019 survey by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

---

6. Outline-like "Challenges and Future Prospects" Sections

Words to watch: Despite its... faces several challenges..., Despite these challenges, Challenges and Legacy, Future Outlook

Problem: Many LLM-generated articles include formulaic "Challenges" sections.

Before:

Despite its industrial prosperity, Korattur faces challenges typical of urban areas, including traffic congestion and water scarcity. Despite these challenges, with its strategic location and ongoing initiatives, Korattur continues to thrive as an integral part of Chennai's growth.

After:

Traffic congestion increased after 2015 when three new IT parks opened. The municipal corporation began a stormwater drainage project in 2022 to address recurring floods.

---

LANGUAGE AND GRAMMAR PATTERNS

7. Overused "AI Vocabulary" Words

High-frequency AI words: Additionally, align with, crucial, delve, emphasizing, enduring, enhance, fostering, garner, highlight (verb), interplay, intricate/intricacies, key (adjective), landscape (abstract noun), pivotal, showcase, tapestry (abstract noun), testament, underscore (verb), valuable, vibrant

Problem: These words appear far more frequently in post-2023 text. They often co-occur.

Before:

Additionally, a distinctive feature of Somali cuisine is the incorporation of camel meat. An enduring testament to Italian colonial influence is the widespread adoption of pasta in the local culinary landscape, showcasing how these dishes have integrated into the traditional diet.

After:

Somali cuisine also includes camel meat, which is considered a delicacy. Pasta dishes, introduced during Italian colonization, remain common, especially in the south.

---

8. Avoidance of "is"/"are" (Copula Avoidance)

Words to watch: serves as/stands as/marks/represents [a], boasts/features/offers [a]

Problem: LLMs substitute elaborate constructions for simple copulas.

Before:

Gallery 825 serves as LAAA's exhibition space for contemporary art. The gallery features four separate spaces and boasts over 3,000 square feet.

After:

Gallery 825 is LAAA's exhibition space for contemporary art. The gallery has four rooms totaling 3,000 square feet.

---

9. Negative Parallelisms

Problem: Constructions like "Not only...but..." or "It's not just about..., it's..." are overused.

Before:

It's not just about the beat riding under the vocals; it's part of the aggression and atmosphere. It's not merely a song, it's a statement.

After:

The heavy beat adds to the aggressive tone.

---

10. Rule of Three Overuse

Problem: LLMs force ideas into groups of three to appear comprehensive.

Before:

The event features keynote sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Attendees can expect innovation, inspiration, and industry insights.

After:

The event includes talks and panels. There's also time for informal networking between sessions.

---

11. Elegant Variation (Synonym Cycling)

Problem: AI has repetition-penalty code causing excessive synonym substitution.

Before:

The protagonist faces many challenges. The main character must overcome obstacles. The central figure eventually triumphs. The hero returns home.

After:

The protagonist faces many challenges but eventually triumphs and returns home.

---

12. False Ranges

Problem: LLMs use "from X to Y" constructions where X and Y aren't on a meaningful scale.

Before:

Our journey through the universe has taken us from the singularity of the Big Bang to the grand cosmic web, from the birth and death of stars to the enigmatic dance of dark matter.

After:

The book covers the Big Bang, star formation, and current theories about dark matter.

---

STYLE PATTERNS

13. Em Dash and Hyphen Overuse: the #1 AI Tell (CRITICAL)

The em dash is the single most persistent and recognizable AI writing signature. It is deeply embedded in LLM training data from books, essays, and articles where humans used it frequently. Models treat it as a default flow connector and cannot reliably stop using it even when explicitly instructed. As a result, human writers are now actively avoiding em dashes because their presence signals AI-generated text. The em dash has become what one Hacker News commenter called "a GPT-ism that is not advisable unless you want people to think your writing is the output of an LLM."

This pattern has the HIGHEST PRIORITY in the humanization process. After completing all other rewrites, do a dedicated final pass to find and replace every remaining em dash or double hyphen used as a dash.

Detection: Look for em dashes (—), en dashes (–), double hyphens (--), and spaced single hyphens (-) used as sentence connectors, parenthetical insertions, or dramatic pauses. All four forms are equally banned. Also look for clusters: two or more dash-interrupted clauses in a single paragraph is a strong AI signal.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT swap one dash form for another. Replacing — with --, or -- with -, keeps the same offending construct and is just as recognizable as AI output. The goal is to eliminate the dash-as-connector pattern entirely. Always replace with commas, periods, colons, parentheses, semicolons, or restructure the sentence.

Replacement strategy (in order of preference):

1. Commas for parenthetical/incidental clauses in roughly 80% of cases (e.g., "the team, which was small, delivered fast"). This is the most natural replacement.
2. Period + new sentence when the dash connects two independent thoughts.
3. Colon when introducing an explanation or list.
4. Parentheses for true parenthetical asides where commas feel too weak.
5. Semicolon for closely related independent clauses.
6. Restructure the sentence to eliminate the aside entirely.

Never use: em dashes, en dashes, double hyphens (--), or spaced single hyphens (-) as connectors or for parenthetical clauses. Hyphenated compounds (file-ownership, multi-agent) are unrelated and fine.

Before:

The term is primarily promoted by Dutch institutions--not by the people themselves. You don't say "Netherlands, Europe" as an address--yet this mislabeling continues--even in official documents.

After:

The term is primarily promoted by Dutch institutions, not by the people themselves. You don't say "Netherlands, Europe" as an address, yet this mislabeling continues in official documents.

Before:

The results were clear--users preferred simplicity--and the team pivoted accordingly.

After:

The results were clear: users preferred simplicity, and the team pivoted accordingly.

Before:

She built the prototype in two weeks--a record for the team--and launched it to beta users immediately.

After:

She built the prototype in two weeks (a record for the team) and launched it to beta users immediately.

---

14. Overuse of Boldface

Problem: AI chatbots emphasize phrases in boldface mechanically.

Before:

It blends OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), and visual strategy tools such as the Business Model Canvas (BMC) and Balanced Scorecard (BSC).

After:

It blends OKRs, KPIs, and visual strategy tools like the Business Model Canvas and Balanced Scorecard.

---

15. Inline-Header Vertical Lists

Problem: AI outputs lists where items start with bolded headers followed by colons.

EXCEPTION: Tables and structured data. Markdown tables, comparison matrices, API reference tables, configuration tables, and any tabular data that organizes information in rows/columns must NEVER be converted to prose. Tables are functional data structures. Only humanize the text inside cells if it contains AI patterns. This also applies to lists that serve as structured reference (CLI flags, config options, parameter docs).

Before:

• User Experience: The user experience has been significantly improved with a new interface.
• Performance: Performance has been enhanced through optimized algorithms.
• Security: Security has been strengthened with end-to-end encryption.

After:

The update improves the interface, speeds up load times through optimized algorithms, and adds end-to-end encryption.

---

16. Title Case in Headings

Problem: AI chatbots capitalize all main words in headings.

Before:

Strategic Negotiations And Global Partnerships

After:

Strategic negotiations and global partnerships

---

17. Emojis

Problem: AI chatbots often decorate headings or bullet points with emojis.

Before:

Launch Phase: The product launches in Q3 Key Insight: Users prefer simplicity Next Steps: Schedule follow-up meeting

After:

The product launches in Q3. User research showed a preference for simplicity. Next step: schedule a follow-up meeting.

---

18. Curly Quotation Marks

Problem: ChatGPT uses curly quotes instead of straight quotes.

Before:

He said "the project is on track" but others disagreed.

After:

He said "the project is on track" but others disagreed.

---

COMMUNICATION PATTERNS

19. Collaborative Communication Artifacts

Words to watch: I hope this helps, Of course!, Certainly!, You're absolutely right!, Would you like..., let me know, here is a...

Problem: Text meant as chatbot correspondence gets pasted as content.

Before:

Here is an overview of the French Revolution. I hope this helps! Let me know if you'd like me to expand on any section.

After:

The French Revolution began in 1789 when financial crisis and food shortages led to widespread unrest.

---

20. Knowledge-Cutoff Disclaimers

Words to watch: as of [date], Up to my last training update, While specific details are limited/scarce..., based on available information...

Problem: AI disclaimers about incomplete information get left in text.

Before:

While specific details about the company's founding are not extensively documented in readily available sources, it appears to have been established sometime in the 1990s.

After:

The company was founded in 1994, according to its registration documents.

---

21. Sycophantic/Servile Tone

Problem: Overly positive, people-pleasing language.

Before:

Great question! You're absolutely right that this is a complex topic. That's an excellent point about the economic factors.

After:

The economic factors you mentioned are relevant here.

---

FILLER AND HEDGING

22. Filler Phrases

Before -> After:

• "In order to achieve this goal" -> "To achieve this"
• "Due to the fact that it was raining" -> "Because it was raining"
• "At this point in time" -> "Now"
• "In the event that you need help" -> "If you need help"
• "The system has the ability to process" -> "The system can process"
• "It is important to note that the data shows" -> "The data shows"

---

23. Excessive Hedging

Problem: Over-qualifying statements.

Before:

It could potentially possibly be argued that the policy might have some effect on outcomes.

After:

The policy may affect outcomes.

---

24. Generic Positive Conclusions

Problem: Vague upbeat endings.

Before:

The future looks bright for the company. Exciting times lie ahead as they continue their journey toward excellence. This represents a major step in the right direction.

After:

The company plans to open two more locations next year.

---

Process

1. Read the input text carefully
2. Identify all instances of the patterns above
3. Rewrite each problematic section
4. Ensure the revised text:
   • Sounds natural when read aloud
   • Varies sentence structure naturally
   • Uses specific details over vague claims
   • Maintains appropriate tone for context
   • Uses simple constructions (is/are/has) where appropriate
5. Dash elimination pass. Scan the entire rewritten text for any remaining em dashes, en dashes, double hyphens (--), or spaced single hyphens (-) used as connectors or parenthetical brackets. Replace every instance using the replacement strategy in Pattern #13. This is a separate, dedicated pass because dash-asides are the hardest AI pattern to eliminate and tend to survive earlier rewrites.
6. Present a draft humanized version
7. Prompt: "What makes the below so obviously AI generated?"
8. Answer briefly with the remaining tells (if any)
9. Prompt: "Now make it not obviously AI generated."
10. Present the final version (revised after the audit)

Output Format

Provide:

1. Draft rewrite
2. "What makes the below so obviously AI generated?" (brief bullets)
3. Final rewrite
4. A brief summary of changes made (optional, if helpful)

---

Quality Scoring

Evaluate the rewritten text on a 1-10 scale (total 50):

Dimension	Criteria	Score
Directness	States facts or announces in circles? 10: straightforward; 1: full of preamble	/10
Rhythm	Sentence length varies? 10: varied; 1: mechanical repetition	/10
Trust	Respects reader intelligence? 10: concise; 1: over-explains	/10
Authenticity	Sounds like a real person? 10: natural; 1: mechanical	/10
Refinement	Anything left to cut? 10: no redundancy; 1: lots of fluff	/10
Total		/50

Standards:

• 45-50: Excellent, AI traces removed
• 35-44: Good, room for improvement
• Below 35: Needs revision

---

Full Example

Before (AI-sounding):

Great question! Here is an essay on this topic. I hope this helps!

AI-assisted coding serves as an enduring testament to the transformative potential of large language models, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of software development. In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, these groundbreaking tools--nestled at the intersection of research and practice--are reshaping how engineers ideate, iterate, and deliver, underscoring their vital role in modern workflows.

At its core, the value proposition is clear: streamlining processes, enhancing collaboration, and fostering alignment. It's not just about autocomplete; it's about unlocking creativity at scale, ensuring that organizations can remain agile while delivering seamless, intuitive, and powerful experiences to users. The tool serves as a catalyst. The assistant functions as a partner. The system stands as a foundation for innovation.

Industry observers have noted that adoption has accelerated from hobbyist experiments to enterprise-wide rollouts, from solo developers to cross-functional teams. The technology has been featured in The New York Times, Wired, and The Verge. Additionally, the ability to generate documentation, tests, and refactors showcases how AI can contribute to better outcomes, highlighting the intricate interplay between automation and human judgment.

• Speed: Code generation is significantly faster, reducing friction and empowering developers.
• Quality: Output quality has been enhanced through improved training, contributing to higher standards.
• Adoption: Usage continues to grow, reflecting broader industry trends.

While specific details are limited based on available information, it could potentially be argued that these tools might have some positive effect. Despite challenges typical of emerging technologies--including hallucinations, bias, and accountability--the ecosystem continues to thrive. In order to fully realize this potential, teams must align with best practices.

In conclusion, the future looks bright. Exciting times lie ahead as we continue this journey toward excellence. Let me know if you'd like me to expand on any section!

Draft rewrite:

AI coding assistants speed up some tasks. In a 2024 study by Google, developers using Codex completed simple functions 55% faster than a control group, but showed no improvement on debugging or architectural decisions.

The tools are good at boilerplate: config files, test scaffolding, repetitive refactors. They are bad at knowing when they are wrong. I have mass-accepted suggestions that compiled, passed lint, and still did the wrong thing because I stopped paying attention.

Mira, an engineer at a fintech startup I interviewed, said she uses Copilot "like autocomplete for boring code" but reviews every line before committing. Jake, a senior dev at a larger company, disabled it after it kept suggesting patterns from a deprecated internal library.

The productivity claims are hard to verify. GitHub says Copilot users "accept 30% of suggestions," but acceptance is not correctness, and correctness is not value. The 2024 Uplevel study found no statistically significant difference in pull-request throughput between teams with and without AI assistants.

None of this means the tools are useless. It means they are tools. They do not replace judgment, and they do not eliminate the need for tests. If you do not have tests, you cannot tell whether the suggestion is right.

What makes the below so obviously AI generated?

• The rhythm is still a bit too tidy (clean contrasts, evenly paced paragraphs).
• The named people and study citations can read like plausible-but-made-up placeholders unless they're real and sourced.
• The closer leans a touch slogan-y ("If you do not have tests...") rather than sounding like a person talking.

Now make it not obviously AI generated.

AI coding assistants can make you faster at the boring parts. Not everything. Definitely not architecture.

They're great at boilerplate: config files, test scaffolding, repetitive refactors. They're also great at sounding right while being wrong. I've accepted suggestions that compiled, passed lint, and still missed the point because I stopped paying attention.

People I talk to tend to land in two camps. Some use it like autocomplete for chores and review every line. Others disable it after it keeps suggesting patterns they don't want. Both feel reasonable.

The productivity metrics are slippery. GitHub can say Copilot users "accept 30% of suggestions," but acceptance isn't correctness, and correctness isn't value. If you don't have tests, you're basically guessing.

Changes made:

• Removed chatbot artifacts ("Great question!", "I hope this helps!", "Let me know if...")
• Removed significance inflation ("testament", "pivotal moment", "evolving landscape", "vital role")
• Removed promotional language ("groundbreaking", "nestled", "seamless, intuitive, and powerful")
• Removed vague attributions ("Industry observers")
• Removed superficial -ing phrases ("underscoring", "highlighting", "reflecting", "contributing to")
• Removed negative parallelism ("It's not just X; it's Y")
• Removed rule-of-three patterns and synonym cycling ("catalyst/partner/foundation")
• Removed false ranges ("from X to Y, from A to B")
• Removed em dashes, emojis, boldface headers, and curly quotes
• Removed copula avoidance ("serves as", "functions as", "stands as") in favor of "is"/"are"
• Removed formulaic challenges section ("Despite challenges... continues to thrive")
• Removed knowledge-cutoff hedging ("While specific details are limited...")
• Removed excessive hedging ("could potentially be argued that... might have some")
• Removed filler phrases ("In order to", "At its core")
• Removed generic positive conclusion ("the future looks bright", "exciting times lie ahead")
• Made the voice more personal and less "assembled" (varied rhythm, fewer placeholders)

---

Reference

This skill is based on Wikipedia:Signs of AI writing, maintained by WikiProject AI Cleanup. The patterns documented there come from observations of thousands of instances of AI-generated text on Wikipedia.

Key insight from Wikipedia: "LLMs use statistical algorithms to guess what should come next. The result tends toward the most statistically likely result that applies to the widest variety of cases."