De AI

de-ai

Remove AI writing patterns. Make text sound like a human wrote it.

Core Principle

Write like a human, not a language model. Vary sentence length. Be specific, not grandiose. If removing a word doesn't change the meaning, remove it.

Banned Words

Never use these - they immediately signal AI:

Buzzwords

delve, unlock, unleash, harness, elevate, foster, leverage, empower, transformative, groundbreaking, cutting-edge, supercharge, enhance, resonate, pivotal, crucial, vital, key (adj), landscape (abstract), tapestry (abstract), testament, underscore, showcase, garner, intricate, interplay, vibrant, enduring, invaluable, esteemed, renowned, remarkable, unprecedented, ever-evolving, bustling, meticulously, notably, excitingly

Dramatic Words

realm, beacon, journey, embark, navigate, unveil, unravel, nestled, breathtaking, stunning, profound, rich (figurative), groundbreaking (figurative)

Full Quick Reference

Hurdles, Bustling, Harnessing, Unveiling the power, Realm, Depicted,
Demystify, Insurmountable, New Era, Poised, Unravel, Entanglement,
Unprecedented, Eerie connection, Unliving, Beacon, Unleash, Delve,
Enrich, Multifaceted, Elevate, Discover, Supercharge, Unlock, Tailored,
Elegant, Dive, Ever-evolving, Pride, Meticulously, Grappling, Weighing,
Picture, Architect, Adventure, Journey, Embark, Navigate, Navigation,
Dazzle, Tapestry, Underscores, Invaluable, Relentless, Groundbreaking,
Endeavour, Enlightening, Testament, Insights, Esteemed, Shed light,
Empower, Excitingly, Crucial, Crucially, Resonate, Enhance, Expertise,
Offerings, Valuable, Leverage, Intricate, Interplay, Embarked, Deep understanding

Banned Phrases

Structure Phrases

• "This is about..." / "All about..." - be direct
• "Think of X as..." - just use the metaphor
• "Not only... but also..." - use "and"
• "In conclusion" - just conclude
• "Let's delve into..." - just start discussing
• "Let's not overlook" / "What's more" - delete

Hype Phrases

• "Revolutionize the way" - describe the specific change
• "Game-changer" - explain the actual impact
• "Push the boundaries" - state what was achieved
• "Exciting possibilities" - name the possibilities
• "Transformative power" - describe the transformation
• "Unlocking the potential" - state what was enabled
• "Paving the way" - describe what was built
• "The possibilities are endless" - name 2-3 actual possibilities

Filler Phrases

• "In the fast-paced world of..." - delete
• "It remains to be seen" / "Only time will tell" - delete
• "Have come a long way" - state where you are now
• "One thing is clear" - just state the clear thing
• "In order to" - use "To"
• "Due to the fact that" - use "Because"
• "At this point in time" - use "Now"
• "It is important to note that" - delete, just state it

Content Patterns to Fix

1. Inflated Significance

Watch for: stands/serves as, is a testament/reminder, vital/significant/crucial/pivotal role, underscores/highlights importance, reflects broader, symbolizing ongoing/enduring, setting the stage, marking/shaping, key turning point, evolving landscape, indelible mark

Fix: State facts without puffing up importance.

Before: "The institute was established in 1989, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of regional statistics." After: "The institute was established in 1989 to collect regional statistics."

2. Superficial -ing Analyses

Watch for: highlighting/underscoring/emphasizing..., ensuring..., reflecting/symbolizing..., contributing to..., cultivating/fostering..., showcasing...

Fix: Remove the -ing phrase or make it a separate sentence with actual content.

Before: "The color palette resonates with the region's natural beauty, symbolizing bluebonnets and reflecting the community's deep connection to the land." After: "The architect chose blue and green to reference local bluebonnets and the Gulf coast."

3. Promotional Language

Watch for: boasts a, vibrant, rich, profound, enhancing its, showcasing, exemplifies, commitment to, natural beauty, nestled, in the heart of, groundbreaking, renowned, breathtaking, stunning

Fix: Use neutral, factual language.

Before: "Nestled within the breathtaking region, the town stands as a vibrant community with rich cultural heritage." After: "The town is in the Gonder region, known for its weekly market and 18th-century church."

4. Vague Attributions

Watch for: Industry reports, Observers have cited, Experts argue, Some critics argue, several sources

Fix: Name specific sources or remove the claim.

Before: "Experts believe it plays a crucial role in the ecosystem." After: "A 2019 survey by the Chinese Academy of Sciences found it supports several endemic fish species."

5. Copula Avoidance

Watch for: serves as, stands as, marks, represents, boasts, features, offers

Fix: Use "is", "are", "has".

Before: "Gallery 825 serves as LAAA's exhibition space. The gallery features four separate spaces." After: "Gallery 825 is LAAA's exhibition space. The gallery has four rooms."

6. Negative Parallelisms

Watch for: "Not only...but...", "It's not just about..., it's...", "It's not merely X, it's Y"

Fix: Make a direct statement.

Before: "It's not just about the beat; it's part of the aggression. It's not merely a song, it's a statement." After: "The heavy beat adds to the aggressive tone."

7. Rule of Three

Watch for: Lists of exactly three things, especially abstract concepts.

Fix: Use the actual number needed, or be specific.

Before: "The event features keynote sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities." After: "The event includes talks and panels. There's time for informal networking between sessions."

8. Elegant Variation (Synonym Cycling)

Watch for: protagonist/main character/central figure/hero all in one paragraph

Fix: Pick one term and repeat it. Repetition is fine.

Before: "The protagonist faces challenges. The main character must overcome obstacles. The central figure triumphs." After: "The protagonist faces challenges but eventually triumphs."

Style Patterns to Fix

Em Dash Overuse

Rule: Max 1 em-dash per sentence. Prefer commas, periods, colons.

Before: "The term is promoted by Dutch institutions—not by the people themselves. You don't say 'Netherlands, Europe'—yet this continues—even in official documents." After: "The term is promoted by Dutch institutions, not by the people themselves. You don't say 'Netherlands, Europe,' yet this continues in official documents."

Boldface Overuse

Fix: Remove mechanical bolding of terms.

Before: "It blends OKRs, KPIs, and tools like the Business Model Canvas." After: "It blends OKRs, KPIs, and tools like the Business Model Canvas."

Inline-Header Lists

Fix: Convert to prose or use simpler bullets.

Before:

• User Experience: The interface has been improved.
• Performance: Algorithms are optimized.

After: "The update improves the interface and speeds up load times through optimized algorithms."

Curly Quotes

Fix: Use straight quotes ("...") not curly ("...").

Communication Patterns to Fix

Chatbot Artifacts

Remove: "I hope this helps", "Of course!", "Certainly!", "You're absolutely right!", "Would you like...", "let me know", "here is a..."

Sycophantic Tone

Remove: "Great question!", "That's an excellent point", excessive praise

Before: "Great question! You're absolutely right that this is complex." After: "The economic factors you mentioned are relevant."

Knowledge-Cutoff Disclaimers

Remove: "as of [date]", "Up to my last training update", "While specific details are limited..."

Adding Soul

Avoiding patterns is half the job. Sterile, voiceless writing is also obvious.

Signs of soulless writing:

• Every sentence is the same length
• No opinions, just neutral reporting
• No acknowledgment of uncertainty or mixed feelings
• No first-person when appropriate
• No humor, no edge, no personality

How to add voice:

Have opinions. "I genuinely don't know how to feel about this" is more human than neutrally listing pros and cons.

Vary rhythm. Short sentences. Then longer ones that take their time. Mix it up.

Acknowledge complexity. "This is impressive but also unsettling" beats "This is impressive."

Use "I" when it fits. "I keep coming back to..." signals a real person thinking.

Let mess in. Perfect structure feels algorithmic. Tangents and asides are human.

Be specific about feelings. Not "this is concerning" but "there's something unsettling about agents working at 3am while nobody watches."

Before (clean but soulless):

The experiment produced interesting results. The agents generated 3 million lines of code. Some were impressed while others were skeptical.

After (has a pulse):

I don't know how to feel about this one. 3 million lines of code, generated while humans slept. Half the dev community is losing their minds, half are explaining why it doesn't count. I keep thinking about those agents working through the night.

Sentence Length Variation

AI writes monotonous, same-length sentences.

Bad:

"The project was successful. We delivered on time. The client was satisfied. We exceeded expectations."

Good:

"The project shipped early. We came in 15% under budget while adding two features they hadn't asked for. That contract renewed."

Be Specific, Not Grand

Show, Don't Tell

The Human Test

1. Read it out loud. If it sounds like a corporate brochure, rewrite.
2. The coffee test: Does it sound like explaining your work to a colleague over coffee?
3. Cut 20%. AI overexplains. Humans are concise.

Process

When humanizing text:

1. Scan for banned words and phrases - replace or remove each
2. Check sentence lengths - break up same-length sentences
3. Replace vague claims with specific numbers/examples
4. Remove chatbot artifacts and sycophantic tone
5. Add voice: opinions, varied rhythm, acknowledgment of complexity
6. Read aloud - if robotic, rewrite
7. Cut 20% - remove anything that doesn't change the meaning