Ever clicked a blog post, read a bit, and felt that the writing was a bit off? Or that feeling you've read these exact words, this precise tone, a hundred times before Odds are, you've hit content fresh from an AI generator, published without a human editor.
AI tools like ChatGPT are amazing for quick content creation—brainstorming, outlining, even drafting full articles. But they have a style.
They pick certain words and phrases, a specific rhythm, that make your content sound… well, mechanical. It's a giveaway, screaming "low effort," pushing readers away, and it's not always great for reputation.
Nobody wants their brand to sound like every other AI-spun article online. Your voice, your unique view, is your biggest asset.
So, how do we make sure our AI co-pilot helps us, without taking over the wheel?
The "AI-isms" to Watch Out For
Let's point out those common hints that give away AI authorship. If you spot these in your drafts, think of it as a nudge to add your personal touch:
- Stiff Language: AI often sounds formal, a bit detached.
- Repeated Connectors: Words linking paragraphs or sentences, when used too often, create a dull rhythm.
- Fancy, General Phrases: "Unpack," "richness," "urban sprawl," "domain," "start a journey," "proof of," "the playing field..."—these often hide a lack of specific detail.
- Predictable Summary Openings: Phrases to wrap things up, used too often, make transitions feel forced.
- Common Comparisons: The "conductor and orchestra" or "unlocking potential" comparisons show up a lot.
- Colon Overuse: Titles and lists sometimes get too many colons.
- Too Many Adverbs: Words ending in "-ly" can be overused, adding little meaning.
These aren't banned words. But they are signals the AI might be relying on patterns instead of true meaning.
Reddit's Growing List of Most Used AI Words
While researching this article, I stumbled upon a Reddit discussion where users of AI generators like ChatGPT shared a massive list of overused words. They also talked about simple ways they avoid sounding like a robot. I was surprised to find 153 terms, but I can definitely relate to the problem.
Firstly
Moreover
Furthermore
However
Therefore
Additionally
Specifically
Generally
Consequently
Importantly
Similarly
Nonetheless
As a result
Indeed
Thus
Alternatively
Notably
As well as
Despite
Essentially
While
Unless
Also
Even though
Because
In contrast
Although
In order to
Due to
Even if
Given that
Arguably
To consider
Ensure
Vibrant
Bustling
Essential
Vital
Out of the box
Underscores
Landscape
Tapestry
Soul
Crucible
It depends on
That being said
You may want to
It's important to note
This is not an exhaustive list
You could consider
In summary
On the other hand
As previously mentioned
It's worth noting that
In conclusion
To summarize
In contrast
Ultimately
To put it simply
Pesky
Promptly
Dive into
In today's digital era
Importantly
Reverberate
Enhance
Emphasise
Ensure
Enable
Delve
Hustle and bustle
Revolutionize
Folks
Foster
Sure
Labyrinthine
Moist
Remnant
As a professional
Subsequently
Nestled
Game changer
Symphony
Labyrinth
Gossamer
Enigma
Whispering
Sights unseen
Sounds unheard
A testament to...
Dance
Metamorphosis
Indelible
How to Bring Your Content to Life
Once you see these AI traits, it's time to add your personal touch. Here's how to make those AI drafts really engaging:
- Use Your Own Voice: Read your AI-generated text aloud. Does it sound like you? Your natural speaking style? If not, rewrite parts until it does. Change formal words to casual ones if that fits your brand, or sharpen technical terms if precision matters most.
- Be Specific, Not Broad: Instead of saying "unpack the difficulties," tell your reader what you're exploring and why it's hard. Replace "urban sprawl" with a specific detail: "the street art of Shoreditch" or "the constant hum of Tokyo's Shibuya crossing."
- Mix Up Your Sentences: AI often produces sentences of similar length and structure. Change that. Use short, sharp sentences next to longer, more descriptive ones. This creates a natural flow that keeps readers hooked.
- Cut the Extra Words: Many AI-generated phrases are just filler. Some openings can simply be cut if the meaning is clear without them. Look for ways to tighten and simplify.
- Add Real Stories and Examples: Nothing makes content more human than a personal story or a specific, real-world example. How has this topic affected you? What have you learned from a client or your own experience? These details make your content relatable and easy to recall.
- Challenge the Obvious: AI loves stating what's already clear. Can you make your summary more impactful or offer a new thought instead?
- Guide Your AI Better: Don't just ask AI to "write a blog post." Tell it: "Write a friendly, helpful blog post for small business owners, in an encouraging tone. Skip jargon and common clichés. Add a short personal story about [topic]." The more specific your instructions, the better the output.
Use These Prompts to Make Your AI Content More Natural Sounding
Here are some prompt strategies and examples to help your AI content sound less like it came from a machine:
1. Define Your Persona & Tone
Tell the AI who it should sound like. This is one of the most powerful ways to inject a unique voice.
- Prompt Idea: "Act as a [specific profession/personality, e.g., friendly local barista, seasoned tech reviewer, empathetic financial advisor, quirky travel blogger]. Write about [topic]."
- Prompt Idea: "Adopt a [tone, e.g., conversational, witty, authoritative but approachable, casual and humorous, deeply reflective] tone. Discuss [topic]."
- Example: "Act as a slightly cynical but ultimately helpful marketing consultant. Write a blog post about common content mistakes, using a straightforward, no-fluff tone."
- Example: "Write a short social media caption about spring flowers in the voice of a slightly overwhelmed, but joyful, gardener."
2. Set Clear Style Constraints
Directly instruct the AI on sentence structure, word choice, and overall flow.
- Prompt Idea: "Write [content type] using short, punchy sentences. Avoid jargon."
- Prompt Idea: "Craft a [content type] with a natural, flowing rhythm, as if you're speaking directly to a friend."
- Prompt Idea: "Use active voice predominantly. Limit adverbs ending in '-ly'."
- Example: "Write an email announcing a new product, keeping sentences concise and conversational. No overly formal language."
- Example: "Generate a paragraph explaining quantum physics in simple, everyday language, avoiding technical terms where possible. Focus on clear, direct sentences."
3. Explicitly Ban "AI-isms" & Clichés
Leverage your existing list! Tell the AI what not to use.
- Prompt Idea: "Write about [topic]. Do not use phrases like 'delve into,' 'tapestry,' 'it's important to note,' or 'in conclusion.' Avoid corporate jargon."
- Prompt Idea: "Create a [content type] that avoids common clichés. Be original in your phrasing."
- Example: "Draft an introduction for a blog post on remote work challenges. Make sure it doesn't use 'new normal,' 'landscape,' or 'paradigm shift'."
- Example: "Describe the feeling of success without using 'a testament to,' 'journey,' or 'unleash potential'."
4. Request Specific Human Elements
Ask the AI to include elements that naturally make content sound more human.
- Prompt Idea: "Weave in a [brief anecdote, rhetorical question, personal reflection] related to [topic]."
- Prompt Idea: "Address the reader directly, using 'you' and 'your,' and pose a question that encourages interaction."
- Prompt Idea: "Use a [metaphor, analogy, specific example] that hasn't been overused. Think outside the box."
- Example: "Write a paragraph about overcoming writer's block. Start with a relatable personal struggle, then offer a practical tip."
- Example: "Create a concluding paragraph for an article about small business growth. End with a thought-provoking question for the reader."
5. Provide Examples (Few-Shot Prompting)
Show, don't just tell. Give the AI a small example of the writing style you want.
- Prompt Idea: "Here's an example of the writing style I like: '[Paste 2-3 sentences of human-written text].' Now, write about [topic] in a similar style."
- Example: "Here’s how I want this to sound: 'Forget the complex charts and fancy jargon. We're cutting through the noise to tell you what really matters.' Now, write three bullet points about key investment strategies in that tone."
Wrapping Up
Well, that's all I got for today. While AI is an undeniable force in content creation, it's merely a tool.
As with any tool, an over-reliance may weaken efforts to provide the best content and drives down a desire to write all together. Hoping the prompts above help clear things up a bit.
As you can imagine, this trend can be disappointing from a large scale perspective. Readers, in turn, are forced to find people who still write like...well, people.
I can go on and on but I think you get the picture here.
If you've grown an audience and have a following, consider yourself lucky. Not many people can grow an audience. That said, your readers want your unique voice, your specific insights, and the authentic stories only you can tell.
At least, we know what words to avoid as needed.
Until next time...