Human Writing

Human Writing Guide

Write content that sounds authentically human by avoiding common AI writing tells. Based on Wikipedia's Signs of AI Writing.

When to Use

• Landing pages and marketing copy
• Blog posts and articles
• Email campaigns
• Social media content
• Any content that needs to sound natural and human

Banned Words (Never Use These)

These words are AI fingerprints. Replace or remove them entirely:

Banned Phrases (Never Use These)

Content Patterns to Avoid

1. Undue Emphasis on Symbolism/Legacy/Importance

AI constantly reminds readers how important things are. Cut these entirely.

BAD: "The founding of Idescat represented a significant shift toward
     regional statistical independence, enabling Catalonia to develop
     a statistical system tailored to its unique socio-economic context."

GOOD: "Idescat was founded in 1989 to produce regional statistics for Catalonia."

2. Superficial Analysis with "-ing" Endings

AI ends sentences with "-ing" phrases for fake depth.

BAD: "She won the award, cementing her legacy in the industry."
BAD: "The update includes new features, making it easier than ever."
BAD: "He founded the company, revolutionizing the market."

GOOD: "She won the award."
GOOD: "The update includes new features."
GOOD: "He founded the company."

3. Promotional/Advertisement Language

AI writes like marketing copy, not information.

BAD: "TTDC acts as the gateway to Tamil Nadu's diverse attractions,
     seamlessly connecting the beginning and end of every traveller's journey."

GOOD: "TTDC operates tourism services across Tamil Nadu."

4. "Challenges and Future Prospects" Sections

AI adds formulaic sections about challenges. Cut them.

BAD: "Despite its industrial and residential prosperity, Korattur faces
     challenges typical of urban areas... With its strategic location and
     ongoing initiatives, Korattur continues to thrive..."

GOOD: (Don't include vague challenge sections at all)

5. Generic Over Specific

AI replaces specific facts with vague positives.

BAD: "A visionary leader who transformed the industry."
GOOD: "She grew the team from 5 to 200 in 18 months."

BAD: "An innovative solution for modern businesses."
GOOD: "Cuts invoice processing from 2 hours to 10 minutes."

BAD: "Recognized for excellence in the field."
GOOD: "Won the 2024 Product Hunt #1 Product of the Day."

6. Vague Attribution of Opinion

AI attributes opinions to unnamed authorities.

BAD: "Industry reports suggest..."
BAD: "Observers have cited..."
BAD: "Experts argue..."
BAD: "Some critics argue..."

GOOD: (Either name the specific source or cut it)

Language Patterns to Avoid

The Rule of Three

AI groups things in threes obsessively. Vary your lists.

BAD: "Our platform is fast, reliable, and secure."
BAD: "We offer speed, simplicity, and scalability."
BAD: "Join marketers, developers, and designers."

GOOD: "Our platform is fast and reliable."
GOOD: "We built this for speed."
GOOD: "Built for developers."

Negative Parallelisms

AI uses "not only... but also" and "not just... it's..." constantly.

BAD: "Not only a work of self-representation, but a visual document
     of her obsessions."
BAD: "It's not just about the beat; it's part of the aggression."

GOOD: (Rewrite as a simple direct statement)

Elegant Variation

AI avoids repeating words by using synonyms excessively.

BAD: "Soviet artistic constraints... non-conformist artists... their
     creativity... this struggle... the constraints..."

GOOD: Just repeat the word if that's what you mean.

False Ranges

AI uses "from X to Y" with unrelated endpoints.

BAD: "From the singularity of the Big Bang to the grand cosmic web,
     from the birth and death of stars to the dance of dark matter..."

GOOD: (List items normally without fake ranges)

Style Rules

Never Use Title Case in Headings

BAD: ## Strategic Negotiations And Global Partnerships
GOOD: ## Strategic negotiations and global partnerships

Avoid Excessive Boldface

AI bolds every key term. Use bold sparingly.

BAD: "A **leveraged buyout (LBO)** is characterized by the extensive use
     of **debt financing** to acquire a company. This financing structure
     enables **private equity firms**..."

GOOD: "A leveraged buyout (LBO) uses debt financing to acquire a company..."

Limit Em Dashes

AI overuses em dashes (—). Use one per paragraph maximum. Prefer commas and periods.

BAD: "Our tool—designed for teams—helps you ship faster—without complexity."
GOOD: "Our tool helps teams ship faster. No complexity."

Never Use Emojis in Professional Content

AI loves decorating with emojis. Don't.

Format Rules

Headlines

BAD: "Unlock the Power of Seamless Integration"
GOOD: "Connect your tools in 5 minutes"

BAD: "Revolutionizing the Way Teams Collaborate"
GOOD: "Your team, one inbox"

BAD: "The Future of Customer Engagement"
GOOD: "Reply to customers 3x faster"

Opening Lines

Never start with:

• "In today's..."
• "In an era of..."
• "Are you tired of..."
• "Imagine a world where..."
• "What if you could..."

Start with:

• A specific fact
• A direct statement
• The user's problem
• What your product does

BAD: "In today's competitive landscape, businesses need..."
GOOD: "Your competitors respond to leads in 5 minutes. You take 5 hours."

BAD: "Imagine a world where your data is always secure..."
GOOD: "Your data is encrypted. Always."

Calls to Action

BAD: "Embark on your journey today"
BAD: "Unlock your potential now"
BAD: "Transform your workflow"

GOOD: "Start free"
GOOD: "Try it now"
GOOD: "Get started"

Self-Check Checklist

Before submitting content, verify:

• No words from the "Banned Words" list
• No phrases from the "Banned Phrases" list
• No sentences ending in "-ing" phrases for fake depth
• No "not only... but also" constructions
• No lists of exactly three (vary: 1, 2, 4, or more)
• No "Moreover/Furthermore/Additionally" chains
• No unattributed claims about importance/significance
• All claims are specific, not generic
• No more than one em dash per paragraph
• No emojis
• Headlines are sentence case, not Title Case
• Opening line is direct, not scene-setting
• No "challenges and future outlook" sections
• No excessive boldface

Quick Reference

AI Voice vs Human Voice

Sentence Starters to Avoid

• "This..." (as first word)
• "It is..."
• "There are..."
• "Moreover..."
• "Furthermore..."
• "Additionally..."
• "In order to..."

Sentence Starters That Work

• Direct subject: "Sales grew..."
• Command: "Start with..."
• Question: "Need faster deploys?"
• Specific number: "47% of teams..."
• Name: "Stripe uses..."

Examples

Landing Page Hero

BAD:
Unlock the Power of Seamless Collaboration
In today's fast-paced business environment, teams need robust
tools that streamline workflows and foster innovation. Our
cutting-edge platform leverages AI to transform how you work.

GOOD:
Ship 2x faster with your team
Stop waiting for feedback. Get instant comments on any file.
Used by teams at Stripe, Notion, and Linear.

Email Subject Lines

BAD: "Unlock Your Exclusive Invitation to Transform Your Business"
GOOD: "Your invite to early access"

BAD: "Don't Miss Out on This Game-Changing Opportunity"
GOOD: "Spots left: 12"

BAD: "Discover How Our Innovative Solution Can Elevate Your Strategy"
GOOD: "How Buffer grew 40% using this"

Blog Intro

BAD:
In an era of digital transformation, businesses are increasingly
seeking innovative solutions to stay competitive. This comprehensive
guide delves into the fascinating world of productivity tools,
exploring how cutting-edge technology is revolutionizing the way
teams collaborate.

GOOD:
Your team wastes 5 hours a week in status meetings.
Here's how to get that time back.

Product Description

BAD:
Our groundbreaking platform seamlessly integrates with your existing
workflow, empowering teams to unlock their full potential. With our
robust suite of features, you'll transform the way you collaborate,
fostering innovation and driving unprecedented growth.

GOOD:
Connect to Slack, GitHub, and Figma in one click.
See all your team's work in one place.
No setup. No training. Just open it.