/x-writing

AI Writing Patterns to Avoid

A guide for writing content that reads as natural and human rather than AI-generated. These patterns are organized into five categories: Language, Tone, Flow, Patterns, and Document Structure.

Language

Vocabulary and word choice are the most reliable indicators of AI-generated content.

High-Certainty AI Words

These words are strong indicators of AI writing. Avoid them entirely:

• delve, delves, delving
• showcasing
• underscore, underscores, underscoring
• intricate, intricacies
• meticulous, meticulously
• commendable
• realm
• pivotal
• noteworthy
• versatile
• robust
• seamless, seamlessly
• invaluable
• groundbreaking
• multifaceted
• bespoke
• unprecedented
• transformative

Overused Abstract Nouns

Replace these with concrete, specific alternatives:

• journey
• tapestry
• landscape
• beacon
• endeavor
• testament
• symphony
• kaleidoscope
• interplay
• nuance
• facet
• prowess
• treasure trove

Overused Abstract Verbs

Choose simpler, more direct verbs:

• embark
• illuminate
• harness
• foster, fostering
• navigate
• leverage
• unravel
• transcend
• resonate
• catalyze
• unleash
• unlock
• elevate

Excessive Adverbs

Cut these intensifiers; they weaken your writing:

• profoundly
• remarkably
• notably
• crucially
• innovatively
• methodically
• tirelessly

Tone

Voice markers that distinguish human from AI writing.

Hedging Language

AI tends to over-qualify statements. Be direct instead of using:

• may, might, could
• possibly, potentially
• likely
• "it is likely that"
• "there is a possibility that"
• "research suggests"
• "studies show"

Qualifiers and Intensifiers

Cut or minimize these filler words:

• very
• quite
• rather
• somewhat
• extremely
• particularly
• fairly
• highly
• significantly
• absolutely
• completely

Use Contractions

Natural writing includes contractions. Use them freely:

• don't, can't, won't
• isn't, aren't, wasn't, weren't
• haven't, hasn't, hadn't
• shouldn't, wouldn't, couldn't
• we'll, we're, you're, they're
• I'm, it's, that's
• there's, here's, what's, who's
• let's

Flow

Transitions and sentence patterns that signal AI writing.

Formal Transitions to Avoid

These feel stiff and over-structured:

• furthermore
• moreover
• additionally
• "it's important to note that"
• "it's worth mentioning that"
• "it's worth noting"
• "that being said"
• "with this in mind"
• firstly, secondly, thirdly, lastly

Generic AI Phrases

Cliches that AI overuses:

• "at the end of the day"
• "dive into"
• "let's unpack"
• "game-changer"
• "cutting-edge"
• "plays a vital role"
• "plays a crucial role"
• "stands as"
• "serves as"

Structural Patterns to Fix

Em dashes: Don't use em dashes (—). Replace with commas, periods, or parentheses.

-ing phrase endings: Avoid trailing participial phrases like:

• "...ensuring success"
• "...highlighting growth"
• "...showcasing excellence"
• "...fostering innovation"

"Not only...but also": Rewrite these parallelisms more naturally.

Dual adjective constructions: Avoid phrases like "innovative and comprehensive approach" or "dynamic and robust solution."

Reframing cliches: Don't use the "It's not X, it's Y" pattern.

Also avoid the two-sentence version:

• "It's not X. It's Y."
• "This isn't about X. It's about Y."

Say the positive claim directly.

Bad: "It's not about the words. It's about the patterns." Better: "The patterns are the problem, not individual words."

Patterns

Statistical patterns in sentence and paragraph structure.

Sentence Length Variety

AI writing tends to have uniform sentence lengths. Fix this by:

• Mixing short punchy sentences with longer, more complex ones
• Varying sentence structure throughout
• Avoiding the same rhythm paragraph after paragraph
• Targeting a standard deviation of 10+ words in sentence length

Paragraph Length Variety

• Some paragraphs should be short (2-3 sentences)
• Others can be longer and more developed
• Avoid all paragraphs being the same approximate length
• Don't start consecutive sentences the same way

Document Structure

Document-level patterns that indicate AI generation.

Opening Cliches

Never start with:

• "In today's fast-paced world"
• "In today's digital world"
• "In today's rapidly evolving world"
• "In the ever-evolving landscape"
• "In the dynamic landscape"
• "In the realm of"
• "Have you ever wondered"
• "Picture this"
• "Let's delve into"
• "As we embark on this journey"
• "Here's the thing"
• "Here's the deal"
• "The thing is"
• "The truth is"
• "Let me be clear"
• "Look,"

Closing Cliches

Never end with:

• "In conclusion"
• "In summary"
• "To summarize"
• "The possibilities are endless"
• "Only time will tell"
• "Looking ahead"

Conclusion Length

Keep conclusions proportionate. If your conclusion is more than 15-20% of the total document, it's likely too long and summary-heavy (a common AI pattern).

Summary

Write like you're explaining to a smart friend, not presenting to a committee:

1. Be direct: Cut hedging and qualifiers
2. Be specific: Replace abstract words with concrete ones
3. Be natural: Use contractions and varied sentence structures
4. Be original: Avoid cliched openings, closings, and transitions
5. Be varied: Mix up sentence and paragraph lengths