Here’s the thing about AI-generated writing—it’s fast. Like, really fast. Freakishly so. And, sure, speed is great, fantastic even. But the problem, the deeper, less-obvious-to-some-than-others issue, is this: AI writing usually sounds as though it emerged from something profoundly, depressingly mechanical. Robotic. Soulless.
Readers notice this stuff immediately, trust me. Editors notice it. Even those tragically imperfect “AI detectors” notice it (at least sometimes). And why? Because AI, for all its prodigious pattern recognition and syntactical gymnastics, utterly lacks that ineffable, slippery thing—call it humanity, lived experience, soul—that seeps into our language whether we want it to or not. Without this, writing becomes flat and flavorless, a beige sea of clichés. And here’s the kicker: when people read this low-quality AI drivel, they recoil, dismiss all AI-written content as garbage, and move on. Which wouldn’t matter quite so much except, inevitably, actual human writers get caught up in the collateral damage.
This collateral damage isn’t trivial. Imagine, for a minute, being an honest-to-God human writer accused of “using AI” when you actually poured real sweat and tears into your words. Imagine those words getting tossed out by skeptical editors, leaving you to defend your very existence—professional, financial, existential. It’s infuriating. It’s unjust. It’s happening.
But here’s the good news: none of this is inevitable.
If you use AI, fine—no judgment. Just don’t accept its soulless default. Learn to see the wires, snip them, and inject your human DNA back into your text. If you’re not using AI (which, great, I salute your integrity), learn these markers anyway so no one ever wrongly accuses you again.
There are exactly seven giveaways that scream “AI writing.” Internalize them, and your writing will never be doubted again.
Why AI Writing Sounds "Off"
First: AI has no experience. No life, no regrets, no bizarre dreams. Zero emotional scars. Its output inevitably drifts toward bland, predictable generalities. Safe choices. Vanilla GPT with vanilla prompts spits out writing that, sure, looks like writing—but feels hollow. This isn't exclusive to AI, of course. New writers, students of academia, and cautious corporate bloggers all fall into similar traps. It's no crime, just a risk: predictable prose, indistinguishable from generic AI-generated content. And that's where accusations fly. But, happily, all is fixable.
7 AI Writing Tells (and How to Fix Them)
1. Generic, Cowardly Language
AI tiptoes carefully around opinions. It’s noncommittal by default.
The fix: Be bold. Commit. Say something distinctly you.
Instead of “This tool can be useful for many people,” say, “Honestly, if you’re a freelancer ignoring this tool, you’re lighting money on fire.”
2. Tediously Repetitive Structures
AI writing loves rhythm. A little too much. It drones. Patterns emerge and annoy.
The fix: Vary sentence length—short, sharp shocks alongside sprawling, reflective sentences. Write like you’re speaking (or even better, thinking).
Instead of: “AI is helpful. It creates ideas quickly. It improves efficiency.” Try: “AI is fast. Scary fast. But speed alone won’t cut it—you need ideas that pulse.”
3. Fluff and Pointless Wordiness
AI pads word counts like a desperate freshman with a midnight deadline. It circles ideas without landing.
The fix: Be ruthless. Trim relentlessly. Less fluff equals fewer AI accusations.
Instead of: “Clarity is one of the most important aspects of good writing.” Say simply: “Clarity is everything.”
4. Lack of Personal Stories or Experience
AI doesn’t have memories. It fakes specifics, but never convincingly.
The fix: Weave in genuine personal anecdotes. Specificity is truth.
Instead of: “Good communication is essential.” Say: “I once botched a $10,000 deal because I misread an email’s tone—lesson painfully learned.”
5. Stale Clichés
AI regurgitates phrases like “Think outside the box,” or “Now more than ever.” Tiresome.
The fix: Forge fresh metaphors. Invent, remix, borrow from unexpected places.
Instead of: “Success doesn’t happen overnight.” Try: “Success compounds slowly, like interest—or mold, if that’s your jam.”
6. Clunky, Mechanical Transitions
AI loves weird question-and-answer transitions, borrowed from shallow LinkedIn posts.
The fix: Transition naturally, conversationally.
Instead of: “So, what’s the solution? Let’s dive in.” Say simply: “Here’s what works.”
7. Flat, Emotionless Tone
AI mimics, but never feels. Zero humor, sarcasm, irony, warmth.
The fix: Infuse real personality—yours, explicitly. Write exactly how you’d talk to a friend who actually enjoys hearing from you.
Instead of: “This book provides helpful insights.” Say: “Reading this book felt like a cosmic slap upside my head—and I needed it.”
Never Again Doubt Your Writing
The machine can assist, sure. But it cannot replace your voice, your weirdness, your humanity. The best AI-enhanced writing feels unmistakably human.
Even if AI isn’t your jam, beware these seven tells—they’ll keep your writing fresh, alive, and most importantly, undeniably yours.
