Writing that doesn't sound like AI

Every large language model has the same tics. Once you can see them you can't unsee them, and neither can your readers. What follows is the list I check copy against before anything goes out.

Order matters when two rules collide: be accurate, then clear, then specific, then human. Style comes last and only when it helps.

The one that gives it away every time

If you fix nothing else, fix this. The pattern is: dismiss one thing, then assert a second thing as the real or deeper truth.

• It's not X. It's Y.
• This isn't X. This is Y.
• Not X. Y.
• Forget X. Focus on Y.
• Less X, more Y.
• The question isn't X. The question is Y.
• You don't need X. You need Y.
• It was never about X. It was always about Y.

Every model defaults to it because it sounds decisive while committing to nothing. It manufactures depth out of a sentence that has one idea in it.

The softer versions do the same work and get the same treatment:

• While X may seem...
• At first glance, X...
• Most people think X...
• X gets all the attention...

It also runs across sentence breaks, which is where most people stop catching it. “Most businesses think they have a traffic problem. They have a conversion problem.” Same pattern, split in two.

The fix is mechanical. Delete the half you rejected and state the remaining claim directly. “The conversion rate is the problem.”

Correcting a real factual error is fine: the meeting is Tuesday, not Thursday. The ban is on contrast used for drama.

Vocabulary that marks the text

These words signal machine authorship on contact. Some were fine before 2023 and are now burned.

delve, realm, harness, unlock, tapestry, paradigm, cutting-edge, revolutionize, intricate, showcasing, pivotal, meticulously, vibrant, unparalleled, underscore, leverage, synergy, innovative, game-changer, testament, groundbreaking, foster, holistic, pioneering, unleash, transformative, redefine, seamless, robust, empower, streamline, frictionless, elevate, effortless, proactive, visionary, disruptive, reimagine, unprecedented, intuitive, democratize, accelerate, state-of-the-art, immersive, future-proof, supercharge, captivate

Inflated verbs have plain equivalents. Use those.

• serves as, stands as, represents a → is
• boasts a, features a, offers a → has
• plays a role in → affects, or causes
• aims to → tries to
• seeks to → wants to

Openings and filler

Cut these on sight. They occupy space without carrying a claim.

• In today's...
• It is important to note that...
• In order to
• Let's dive in / explore / unpack
• At the end of the day
• What makes this particularly interesting is
• In this article, I will...
• Despite its strengths, X faces challenges

Email has its own version, where the throat-clearing arrives at both ends: hoping this finds you well, just following up, just wanted to check in, after careful consideration, please don't hesitate to reach out. Open with the point. Stop when you're done.

Dead transitions belong in the same bin: furthermore, additionally, moreover, that said, with that in mind. Use a real transition or none.

So does engagement bait: let that sink in, read that again, full stop, this changes everything.

Inflation

Do not upgrade the importance of an ordinary fact. A key turning point, a pivotal moment, setting the stage for, marking a significant evolution, broader implications. State the fact and let the reader decide what it's worth.

The subtler patterns

Rule of three.Models list three things when they don't know what to say. “Speed, efficiency, and innovation.” If two things are true, write two.

Adverb crutch. Weak verbs get propped up: quietly runs, effortlessly handles, dramatically improved. Cut the adverb. If the verb still needs help, the verb is wrong.

Elegant variation.Renaming the same thing to avoid repetition. A bike shop becomes “the retailer,” then “the brand,” then “the platform.” Use the name.

Meta commentary.Announcing what you're about to do instead of doing it. “Here is a breakdown of...”

Participles that fake analysis. Highlighting its importance, underscoring its significance, reflecting broader trends, paving the way for. If the analysis is real, it deserves a full sentence with a specific claim.

Metronome rhythm. Sentences of identical length stacked together sound manufactured. Vary them.

False ranges.“From ancient traditions to modern innovation.” If there's no meaningful middle, the range is decoration.

Title case headers.“Key Considerations For Adoption” reads like a template. Sentence case reads like a person.

The pass before you send

Ten checks, in order. Most drafts need four of them.

1. Cut the first sentence if it's throat-clearing.
2. Hunt negative parallelism, including across sentence breaks. Delete the rejected half.
3. Replace marked vocabulary with plain words.
4. Remove dead transitions and filler openings.
5. Swap inflated verbs for is and has.
6. Find rule-of-three lists that should be one or two things.
7. Cut adverbs propping up weak verbs.
8. Remove meta commentary.
9. On email, cut the opening and closing filler.
10. Cut the ending if it repeats a point already made.

Then read it once more and ask whether a sharp person would write this, or whether it sounds like a machine imitating one.

Where this stops being a checklist

Reading a list and catching yourself mid-sentence are different skills, and the gap between them is where most copy quality actually lives. Any one page can be cleaned by hand. A business publishing every week across a site, a newsletter, and three social accounts cannot, which is the point where this has to stop being something you remember and start being something that runs automatically on every draft.

That wiring is the part I build for clients. The rules above are yours.