Write like a human, not a language model. Avoid AI-tell vocabulary, formulaic structures, and hollow emphasis. Apply to ALL written output including prose, documentation, comments, and communication...
LLMs produce statistically average text. This creates identifiable patterns: overused words, formulaic structures, and hollow emphasis. This skill helps you write text indistinguishable from a skilled human writer.
Specific beats generic. Facts beat significance claims. Direct beats hedged.
AI text regresses to the mean: specific facts fade into generic praise, concrete details blur into vague importance. Fight this by being concrete and direct.
These words appear far more frequently in AI text than human text. One or two is fine; clustering several is a tell.
Avoid or use sparingly: delve, tapestry, vibrant, landscape (metaphorical), nuanced, multifaceted, pivotal, crucial, foster, underscore, highlight, showcase, leverage, navigate, realm, intricate, comprehensive, robust, seamless, cutting-edge, game-changing, groundbreaking
Cut or replace: Additionally, Furthermore, Moreover, It's worth noting, It's important to remember, Interestingly
Never use: testament to, speaks volumes, indelible mark, rich tapestry, stands as a reminder, plays a vital/crucial/pivotal role, underscores the importance
For complete word lists organized by part of speech, see references/phrases-to-avoid.md.
AI loves "not only X but also Y" and "it's not just X, it's Y" constructions.
BAD: "It's not just a tool, it's a paradigm shift."
BAD: "Not only does it improve performance, but it also enhances readability."
GOOD: "It improves performance and readability."
GOOD: "The tool changed how we approach the problem."
AI defaults to triple-adjective and triple-phrase patterns.
BAD: "A powerful, flexible, and intuitive solution."
BAD: "It enables collaboration, innovation, and growth."
GOOD: "A flexible solution." (pick the most accurate one)
GOOD: "It enables better collaboration."
AI attaches vague significance via participle phrases.
BAD: "The API returns JSON, enabling seamless integration."
BAD: "She won the award, cementing her legacy in the field."
GOOD: "The API returns JSON."
GOOD: "She won the award."
If the significance is real and non-obvious, state it directly as its own sentence with specifics.
AI loves concluding with "Despite challenges..." or "Looking ahead..." sections.
BAD: "Despite these challenges, the project continues to evolve."
BAD: "The future holds exciting possibilities for..."
GOOD: (Just end. Or state specific next steps if relevant.)
AI uses "from X to Y" where X and Y aren't endpoints of a real scale.
BAD: "From authentication to deployment, the platform handles everything."
BAD: "From technical skills to soft skills, she excels in all areas."
GOOD: "The platform handles authentication, testing, and deployment."
GOOD: "She has strong technical and communication skills."
AI avoids repeating words by swapping in synonyms that create confusion.
BAD: "The function processes data. The method then validates the information.
This procedure ensures the content is correct."
(function/method/procedure and data/information/content mean the same thing)
GOOD: "The function processes data, validates it, and returns the result."
Repeat words when they refer to the same thing. Clarity beats variety.
AI compensates for lack of specific information by asserting importance.
BAD: "This represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of..."
BAD: "The findings underscore the enduring significance of..."
BAD: "Her work continues to shape the landscape of..."
GOOD: State what actually happened. Let readers judge significance.
BAD: "Experts argue that..."
BAD: "It has been widely recognized that..."
BAD: "Industry observers note..."
GOOD: Name the source or cut the claim.
BAD: "A stunning achievement that captivates audiences."
BAD: "Nestled in the heart of the valley..."
BAD: "Boasts an impressive array of features."
GOOD: Describe what it actually is/does.
Before finalizing text, scan for:
If you spot these patterns, revise. Cut the filler. Add specifics or remove the claim.
One "crucial" is fine. "Crucial", "pivotal", "testament", and "landscape" in the same paragraph is a tell.
