I keep a running list of the ways AI writing gives itself away in local context. I’d love to compare and add more - here’s the whole thing. The words that trip the detector delve, leverage, harness, unlock, unleash, seamless, robust, holistic, synergy, paradigm, tapestry, realm, landscape, elevate, empower, streamline, optimize, utilize (it’s “use”), cutting-edge, game-changer, supercharge, transformative, groundbreaking, revolutionize, “a testament to.” The filler phrases “it’s important to note,” “at the end of the day,” “in today’s fast-paced world,” “the reality is,” “let’s dive in,” “in the age of,” “navigate the landscape,” and the formal transitions no one uses out loud — “moreover,” “furthermore.” My two personal ones: “worth” as a hedge (“worth noting”) and “matters” (“what really matters”) — both are ways of not making your point. The empty intensifiers perfectly, simply, truly, effortlessly, seamlessly, incredibly, remarkably, essentially, arguably, notably, significantly. AI reaches for these to sound emphatic without adding anything — “perfectly captures,” “truly transformative,” “simply put.” Cut the adverb and the sentence almost always gets stronger. The bot scaffolding “Here’s the part nobody wants to say out loud,” “The uncomfortable truth is,” “Let that sink in,” “Plot twist.” Delete on sight. The sentence shapes (these survive a find-and-replace, so they’re the real tells) “It’s not X, it’s Y.” Once, on purpose, it has bite. Four times a paragraph, it’s a model. AI won’t just say “is” — it “serves as,” “stands as,” “represents,” “marks a.” The rule of three, every time: “faster, cleaner, smarter.” One-word fragments for fake drama: “Speed. Trust. Control.” Hollow symmetry that sounds balanced and says nothing. Title Case On Every Header, where a human writes sentence case. Every paragraph three medium sentences, no short punch, no long breath. That evenness is the biggest giveaway before you’ve read a word. The openers “Everyone’s racing to…” (manufactured hype) and “Most teams struggle with…” (a stat you invented). Both mean “I didn’t know how to start.” The fake manners “I hope this helps,” “Feel free to reach out,” “Great question!” — warmth bolted onto a machine. And the worst, “this isn’t a pitch, just genuinely curious,” which confirms it’s a pitch. Empty CTAs “Ready to transform your workflow?” Nobody is. The em dash The tell isn’t the character, it’s one in every sentence in the same setup-payoff beat. Once a paragraph is punctuation. Four is a confession. My personal house rules (not universal tells — just how I keep my own copy from drifting) No semicolons, an em dash instead—this is my personal style so not changing my humanness to avoid suspicion of being a machine. One exclamation point per paragraph, max. Rhetorical questions almost never. None of these are AI-specific, but holding to them keeps the machine cadence out and makes it sound more like me. What’s on your list? I want the ones I’m missing. submitted by /u/EcstaticRead9321
Originally posted by u/EcstaticRead9321 on r/ArtificialInteligence