AI Writing Avoidance

AI Writing Avoidance

Domain: Document quality assurance, policy writing, authentic voice preservation

Purpose

Help writers produce content that sounds genuinely human by avoiding the telltale patterns that make AI-generated text identifiable. Essential for policy documents, professional communications, and any writing that needs to carry authentic voice and credibility.

Quick Reference

The Big Five Categories

1. Vocabulary Tells — Overused "sophisticated" words
2. Structure Tells — Predictable organization patterns
3. Tone Tells — Hedging and over-qualification
4. Content Tells — Generic examples, missing specificity
5. Format Tells — Mechanical use of bullets and headers

Level 1: Vocabulary Tells (The Biggest Giveaway)

Red Flag Words

AI models consistently overuse these words regardless of context:

Replacement Strategy

Instead of: "It's crucial to delve into the multifaceted tapestry of..."

Write: "We need to examine the different aspects of..."

Rule: If a word sounds like it's trying too hard, it probably is.

Level 2: Structure Tells

The Preamble Problem

AI loves to announce what it's about to say:

❌ AI Pattern:

"In this document, we will explore the key aspects of our new policy, examining its implications and providing guidance for implementation."

✅ Human Pattern:

"Here's how the new policy works and what you need to do."

The Enumeration Addiction

AI compulsively numbers and lists things even when prose would work better:

❌ AI Pattern:

"There are three main benefits: 1) improved efficiency, 2) cost savings, and 3) better outcomes."

✅ Human Pattern:

"It's faster, cheaper, and actually works."

The Sandwich Structure

AI follows predictable patterns:

• Introduction that announces the topic
• Body with exactly 3-5 points
• Conclusion that restates everything

Fix: Vary your structure. Start in the middle. Skip the intro. End abruptly when you're done.

Level 3: Tone Tells

Hedging Language

AI is terrified of being wrong, so it qualifies everything:

Over-Qualification

❌ AI Pattern:

"While there are certainly many valid perspectives on this issue, and it would be presumptuous to claim definitive answers, it seems reasonable to suggest that..."

✅ Human Pattern:

"I think..."

The Neutral Voice Problem

AI writes like a diplomatic robot trying not to offend anyone:

• No strong opinions
• No personality
• No humor or frustration
• No admission of uncertainty

Fix: Have a point of view. Disagree with something. Acknowledge what you don't know.

Level 4: Phrase Tells

Overused Transitions

AI's Favorite Sentence Starters

• "It's worth mentioning..."
• "One of the key aspects..."
• "When we look at..."
• "Let's take a closer look at..."
• "It goes without saying..." (then why say it?)

Dead Giveaway Phrases

These almost never appear in natural human writing:

• "In the ever-evolving landscape of..."
• "Navigating the complexities of..."
• "Unlock the potential of..."
• "A testament to..."
• "Serves as a beacon..."
• "Resonates deeply with..."

Level 5: Content Tells

Missing Specificity

AI gives generic examples because it can't verify real ones:

❌ AI Pattern:

"Many companies have found success with this approach."

✅ Human Pattern:

"Acme Corp tried this last quarter and cut costs by 12%."

No Personal Experience

AI can't draw from lived experience:

❌ AI Pattern:

"Users often report feeling frustrated when..."

✅ Human Pattern:

"I've been stuck on hold with them three times this month."

Balanced to a Fault

AI presents perfectly balanced arguments on everything:

❌ AI Pattern:

"While some argue X, others contend Y. Both perspectives have merit."

✅ Human Pattern:

"X is correct. Here's why the Y argument doesn't hold up."

The "Comprehensive" Trap

AI tries to cover everything superficially rather than anything deeply:

• Lists every possible consideration
• Touches on all angles
• Never commits to priorities

Fix: Make choices. Prioritize ruthlessly. Leave things out intentionally.

Level 6: Format Tells

Bullet Point Addiction

AI reaches for bullets instantly:

❌ AI Pattern:

The benefits include:

• Improved efficiency
• Cost savings
• Better outcomes
• Enhanced collaboration
• Streamlined processes

✅ Human Pattern:

It saves time and money. That's really the main thing.

Predictable Headers

AI uses generic, parallel headers:

• Understanding the Challenge
• Exploring Solutions
• Implementing Changes
• Measuring Success

Fix: Use specific, interesting headers that could only apply to THIS content.

The Rule of Three (Overused)

AI loves groups of three:

• Three main points
• Three examples
• Three recommendations

Fix: Sometimes there are two things. Sometimes seven. Use the real number.

Document Audit Checklist

Run this checklist on any document to audit for AI tells:

Quick Scan (2 minutes)

• Ctrl+F test: Search for "delve", "myriad", "tapestry", "crucial", "landscape"
• Opening check: Does it announce what it will do instead of doing it?
• Closing check: Does it just restate the opening?
• Bullet count: More than 3 bulleted lists in a single page?

Deep Scan (10 minutes)

• Voice check: Could you identify the author by voice alone?
• Specificity check: Are examples real and verifiable?
• Opinion check: Does it take any actual positions?
• Structure check: Is the organization obvious/predictable?
• Transition check: Count instances of "moreover", "furthermore", "additionally"
• Hedge check: Count "it's important to", "it's worth noting", "one might argue"

Red Flag Scoring

Policy Writing Guidelines

For Official Documents

1. Lead with action: State what people must do, not what the document will cover
2. Use concrete language: Replace "stakeholders" with actual role names
3. Be direct: "You must" not "It is required that personnel shall"
4. Include real examples: Reference actual incidents, dates, names
5. Vary sentence length: Mix short punchy sentences with longer ones
6. Show personality: Policy can be clear without being robotic

Before/After Examples

❌ AI-Style Policy:

"It is essential for all employees to familiarize themselves with the multifaceted aspects of our comprehensive data security protocols. These guidelines serve as a beacon for maintaining robust protection of sensitive information in today's ever-evolving digital landscape."

✅ Human-Style Policy:

"Everyone must follow these data security rules. We've had two breaches this year—both from people ignoring password policies. Don't be the third."

Writing Tips to Sound Human

Do This

• Start sentences with "But", "And", "So"
• Use contractions (don't, won't, can't)
• Include personal observations
• Admit what you don't know
• Use real numbers and dates
• Reference specific people or events
• Break "rules" occasionally
• End some sentences with prepositions
• Use fragments. For emphasis.

Don't Do This

• Announce what you're about to say
• Use five words when two will do
• Hedge every claim
• Balance every argument perfectly
• Reach for impressive vocabulary
• Start every paragraph the same way
• Put everything in bullets
• End with a summary of what you just said

Resources

• AI-WRITING-TELLS.md — Background research on AI detection
• Plain Language Guidelines — Federal guidelines for clear writing
• Style guides: Strunk & White, AP Style, Chicago Manual

Related Skills

• When writing policies → Load this skill + documentation-quality-assurance
• When reviewing documents → Load this skill + code-review (for systematic review patterns)
• When teaching writing → Load this skill + bootstrap-learning

Skill Version: 1.0.0 | Created: 2026-03-05 | Category: Writing Quality