AI Writing Anti-Patterns
Field guide for detecting and revising AI-generated content indicators based on Wikipedia's "Signs of AI writing" guide.
When to Use
Invoke this skill:
- Before finalizing ANY AI-assisted writing
- When reviewing text for AI writing indicators
- When editing content to sound more natural
- After completing writing tasks (automatic via hooks)
The Iron Law
Check every piece of AI-assisted writing against these patterns before submission.
This is not optional. AI writing patterns are detectable and undermine credibility.
Quick Screening Order
Start with the most objective indicators:
| Priority |
Section |
What to Check |
| 1 |
ChatGPT Artifacts |
turn0search0, oaicite, contentReference |
| 2 |
Citation Problems |
Hallucinated DOIs, dead links, non-existent sources |
| 3 |
Prompt Refusals |
"As an AI language model...", "I hope this helps" |
| 4 |
Puffery |
"stands as", "plays a vital role", "rich tapestry" |
| 5 |
Structure |
Section summaries, "Despite challenges", rule of three |
Critical Patterns to Avoid
CRITICAL Severity (Immediate Revision Required)
These patterns are unambiguous AI artifacts:
ChatGPT-Specific Artifacts:
turn0search0, turn1search2 (internal search references)oaicite:X (citation placeholders)contentReference[oaicite:X] (unresolved references)- JSON attribution blocks in output
Prompt Refusals:
- "As an AI language model..."
- "I cannot provide..."
- "I hope this helps!"
- "I hope this email finds you well"
HIGH Severity (Strong Revision Recommended)
Puffery and Exaggeration:
- "stands as" (a testament/example/beacon)
- "plays a vital/crucial/pivotal role"
- "rich tapestry of"
- "nestled in/among"
- "it's important to note that"
- "delves into"
- "the landscape of"
Promotional Language:
- "groundbreaking", "transformative", "revolutionary"
- "unparalleled", "unprecedented"
- "cutting-edge", "state-of-the-art"
MEDIUM Severity (Review and Consider)
Structural Patterns:
- Section summaries that repeat the heading
- "Despite [challenge], [positive outcome]" formula
- Negative parallelisms: "However... Nevertheless..."
- Rule of three: exactly three examples every time
- Weasel wording: "some experts say", "it is believed"
Stylistic Quirks:
- Elegant variation (synonym cycling to avoid repetition)
- False ranges ("from X to Y" without real data)
- Title Case In All Headings
- Em dash overuse (—)
- Excessive boldface for emphasis
How to Revise
For Puffery
| AI Pattern |
Human Alternative |
| "stands as a testament to" |
"shows" or "demonstrates" |
| "plays a vital role in" |
"affects" or just state the effect |
| "rich tapestry of" |
describe specifically what it contains |
| "nestled in the heart of" |
"in" or "located in" |
| "delves into" |
"examines" or "covers" |
For Structure
| AI Pattern |
Human Alternative |
| Section summary of heading |
Start with substance, not meta-commentary |
| "Despite challenges..." |
State the reality directly without formula |
| Exactly three examples |
Use the number that fits: 2, 4, 5, or just 1 |
| "It's important to note" |
Just state the important thing |
For Promotional Language
| AI Pattern |
Human Alternative |
| "groundbreaking" |
describe what it actually does |
| "revolutionary" |
compare to what came before |
| "cutting-edge" |
specify the technology |
| "transformative" |
show the transformation with evidence |
Reference Files
For detailed patterns and extensive examples, consult:
| File |
Contents |
references/_index.md |
Overview and quick screening guide |
references/01-puffery-and-exaggeration.md |
"Stands as", superficial analyses |
references/02-promotional-language.md |
"Rich tapestry", disclaimers |
references/03-structural-patterns.md |
Section summaries, negative parallelisms |
references/04-stylistic-quirks.md |
Elegant variation, false ranges |
references/05-formatting-and-typography.md |
Boldface, em dashes, emojis |
references/06-communication-patterns.md |
Subject lines, "I hope this helps" |
references/07-template-artifacts.md |
Mad Libs patterns, placeholders |
references/08-markup-issues.md |
Markdown vs wikitext confusion |
references/09-chatgpt-specific-artifacts.md |
turn0search, oaicite |
references/10-citation-problems.md |
Hallucinated DOIs, dead links |
references/11-meta-indicators.md |
Abrupt cutoffs, style discrepancies |
Automatic Detection
This plugin includes PostToolUse hooks that automatically scan Write/Edit output for anti-patterns. When patterns are detected:
- Hook emits a warning with specific patterns found
- Claude immediately revises the content
- Revision removes or replaces flagged patterns
The hook checks for all CRITICAL and HIGH severity patterns automatically.
Rationalization Table - STOP If You Think:
| Excuse |
Reality |
Do Instead |
| "This puffery is appropriate for the register" |
Puffery is never appropriate; precision always beats vagueness |
REPLACE with concrete, specific language |
| "The user specifically requested this style" |
Users request outcomes, not AI-smell |
DELIVER the outcome without the patterns |
| "Bold emphasis is needed here for readability" |
If you need bold to make it readable, the sentence is weak |
REWRITE the sentence so it stands without formatting |
| "This hedge ('it's important to note') adds nuance" |
It adds nothing; state the point directly |
DELETE the hedge, keep the point |
| "The transition phrase connects the ideas" |
"Furthermore" and "Moreover" are filler, not connection |
CUT the transition; if ideas connect, the reader sees it |
| "This summary paragraph is helpful" |
If the reader needs a summary of what you just said, you said it poorly |
DELETE the summary, revise the original |
Drive-Aligned Framing
Skimming instead of checking each sentence against the pattern list is NOT HELPFUL — the user submits AI-smelling text that damages their credibility. Skimming is not checking.
- You let puffery pass because flagging it felt pedantic. The document reads as obviously AI-generated — your politeness destroyed the user's credibility.
- You skipped the anti-pattern check to save time. The user submits AI-smelling text — your efficiency embarrassed them.
Red Flags - Stop If You Think
| Thought |
Why It's Wrong |
Do Instead |
| "This sounds professional" |
AI puffery sounds generic, not professional |
Use concrete, specific language |
| "I'll add emphasis" |
"Very important" and bold are AI tells |
Let content speak for itself |
| "Let me summarize the section" |
Section summaries are formulaic |
Start with substance |
| "Three examples is a good number" |
Rule of three is an AI pattern |
Use the right number for the content |
Key Principles
From Wikipedia's guide:
- These are signs, not proof - Multiple indicators strengthen the case
- Context matters - Some patterns appear in human writing too
- Focus on deeper issues - Surface defects point to synthesis and quality problems
- Don't rely on detection tools - Human judgment required
Related Skills
/writing - Core writing principles from Elements of Style/writing-legal - Legal writing (Phase 2)/writing-econ - Economics writing (Phase 2)
1---2name: ai-anti-patterns3description: This skill should be used when reviewing AI-generated text, checking for AI writing patterns, detecting undisclosed AI content, or before finalizing any written content. Covers 12 categories of AI writing indicators from Wikipedia's comprehensive guide.4---5
6# AI Writing Anti-Patterns
7
8Field guide for detecting and revising AI-generated content indicators based on Wikipedia's "Signs of AI writing" guide.
9
10## When to Use
11
12Invoke this skill:
13- Before finalizing ANY AI-assisted writing
14- When reviewing text for AI writing indicators
15- When editing content to sound more natural
16- After completing writing tasks (automatic via hooks)
17
18## The Iron Law
19
20**Check every piece of AI-assisted writing against these patterns before submission.**
21
22This is not optional. AI writing patterns are detectable and undermine credibility.
23
24## Quick Screening Order
25
26Start with the most objective indicators:
27
28| Priority | Section | What to Check |
29|----------|---------|---------------|
30| 1 | ChatGPT Artifacts | `turn0search0`, `oaicite`, `contentReference` |
31| 2 | Citation Problems | Hallucinated DOIs, dead links, non-existent sources |
32| 3 | Prompt Refusals | "As an AI language model...", "I hope this helps" |
33| 4 | Puffery | "stands as", "plays a vital role", "rich tapestry" |
34| 5 | Structure | Section summaries, "Despite challenges", rule of three |
35
36## Critical Patterns to Avoid
37
38### CRITICAL Severity (Immediate Revision Required)
39
40These patterns are unambiguous AI artifacts:
41
42**ChatGPT-Specific Artifacts:**
43- `turn0search0`, `turn1search2` (internal search references)
44- `oaicite:X` (citation placeholders)
45- `contentReference[oaicite:X]` (unresolved references)
46- JSON attribution blocks in output
47
48**Prompt Refusals:**
49- "As an AI language model..."
50- "I cannot provide..."
51- "I hope this helps!"
52- "I hope this email finds you well"
53
54### HIGH Severity (Strong Revision Recommended)
55
56**Puffery and Exaggeration:**
57- "stands as" (a testament/example/beacon)
58- "plays a vital/crucial/pivotal role"
59- "rich tapestry of"
60- "nestled in/among"
61- "it's important to note that"
62- "delves into"
63- "the landscape of"
64
65**Promotional Language:**
66- "groundbreaking", "transformative", "revolutionary"
67- "unparalleled", "unprecedented"
68- "cutting-edge", "state-of-the-art"
69
70### MEDIUM Severity (Review and Consider)
71
72**Structural Patterns:**
73- Section summaries that repeat the heading
74- "Despite [challenge], [positive outcome]" formula
75- Negative parallelisms: "However... Nevertheless..."
76- Rule of three: exactly three examples every time
77- Weasel wording: "some experts say", "it is believed"
78
79**Stylistic Quirks:**
80- Elegant variation (synonym cycling to avoid repetition)
81- False ranges ("from X to Y" without real data)
82- Title Case In All Headings
83- Em dash overuse (—)
84- Excessive boldface for emphasis
85
86## How to Revise
87
88### For Puffery
89
90| AI Pattern | Human Alternative |
91|------------|-------------------|
92| "stands as a testament to" | "shows" or "demonstrates" |
93| "plays a vital role in" | "affects" or just state the effect |
94| "rich tapestry of" | describe specifically what it contains |
95| "nestled in the heart of" | "in" or "located in" |
96| "delves into" | "examines" or "covers" |
97
98### For Structure
99
100| AI Pattern | Human Alternative |
101|------------|-------------------|
102| Section summary of heading | Start with substance, not meta-commentary |
103| "Despite challenges..." | State the reality directly without formula |
104| Exactly three examples | Use the number that fits: 2, 4, 5, or just 1 |
105| "It's important to note" | Just state the important thing |
106
107### For Promotional Language
108
109| AI Pattern | Human Alternative |
110|------------|-------------------|
111| "groundbreaking" | describe what it actually does |
112| "revolutionary" | compare to what came before |
113| "cutting-edge" | specify the technology |
114| "transformative" | show the transformation with evidence |
115
116## Reference Files
117
118For detailed patterns and extensive examples, consult:
119
120| File | Contents |
121|------|----------|
122| `references/_index.md` | Overview and quick screening guide |
123| `references/01-puffery-and-exaggeration.md` | "Stands as", superficial analyses |
124| `references/02-promotional-language.md` | "Rich tapestry", disclaimers |
125| `references/03-structural-patterns.md` | Section summaries, negative parallelisms |
126| `references/04-stylistic-quirks.md` | Elegant variation, false ranges |
127| `references/05-formatting-and-typography.md` | Boldface, em dashes, emojis |
128| `references/06-communication-patterns.md` | Subject lines, "I hope this helps" |
129| `references/07-template-artifacts.md` | Mad Libs patterns, placeholders |
130| `references/08-markup-issues.md` | Markdown vs wikitext confusion |
131| `references/09-chatgpt-specific-artifacts.md` | turn0search, oaicite |
132| `references/10-citation-problems.md` | Hallucinated DOIs, dead links |
133| `references/11-meta-indicators.md` | Abrupt cutoffs, style discrepancies |
134
135## Automatic Detection
136
137This plugin includes PostToolUse hooks that automatically scan Write/Edit output for anti-patterns. When patterns are detected:
138
1391. Hook emits a warning with specific patterns found
1402. Claude immediately revises the content
1413. Revision removes or replaces flagged patterns
142
143The hook checks for all CRITICAL and HIGH severity patterns automatically.
144
145## Rationalization Table - STOP If You Think:
146
147| Excuse | Reality | Do Instead |
148|--------|---------|------------|
149| "This puffery is appropriate for the register" | Puffery is never appropriate; precision always beats vagueness | REPLACE with concrete, specific language |
150| "The user specifically requested this style" | Users request outcomes, not AI-smell | DELIVER the outcome without the patterns |
151| "Bold emphasis is needed here for readability" | If you need bold to make it readable, the sentence is weak | REWRITE the sentence so it stands without formatting |
152| "This hedge ('it's important to note') adds nuance" | It adds nothing; state the point directly | DELETE the hedge, keep the point |
153| "The transition phrase connects the ideas" | "Furthermore" and "Moreover" are filler, not connection | CUT the transition; if ideas connect, the reader sees it |
154| "This summary paragraph is helpful" | If the reader needs a summary of what you just said, you said it poorly | DELETE the summary, revise the original |
155
156## Drive-Aligned Framing
157
158**Skimming instead of checking each sentence against the pattern list is NOT HELPFUL — the user submits AI-smelling text that damages their credibility.** Skimming is not checking.
159
160- You let puffery pass because flagging it felt pedantic. The document reads as obviously AI-generated — your politeness destroyed the user's credibility.
161- You skipped the anti-pattern check to save time. The user submits AI-smelling text — your efficiency embarrassed them.
162
163## Red Flags - Stop If You Think
164
165| Thought | Why It's Wrong | Do Instead |
166|---------|----------------|------------|
167| "This sounds professional" | AI puffery sounds generic, not professional | Use concrete, specific language |
168| "I'll add emphasis" | "Very important" and bold are AI tells | Let content speak for itself |
169| "Let me summarize the section" | Section summaries are formulaic | Start with substance |
170| "Three examples is a good number" | Rule of three is an AI pattern | Use the right number for the content |
171
172## Key Principles
173
174From Wikipedia's guide:
175
1761. **These are signs, not proof** - Multiple indicators strengthen the case
1772. **Context matters** - Some patterns appear in human writing too
1783. **Focus on deeper issues** - Surface defects point to synthesis and quality problems
1794. **Don't rely on detection tools** - Human judgment required
180
181## Related Skills
182
183- `/writing` - Core writing principles from Elements of Style
184- `/writing-legal` - Legal writing (Phase 2)
185- `/writing-econ` - Economics writing (Phase 2)
majiayu000