generated content is fast. But too often, it feels…off.
Robotic. Flat. Emotionless.
Readers can tell. Editors can tell. Even glitchy AI detectors can tell.
Why? Because AI lacks the one thing that makes writing resonate: humanity.
It doesn’t feel. It doesn’t remember. It doesn’t dream. It can string words together, but it can’t bleed into them. That spark of lived experience? Missing.
Worse, even real writers are getting caught in the crossfire.
Writers who don’t use AI are being flagged anyway—rejected by editors, labeled as inauthentic, and losing income and credibility. It’s unfair. But it’s happening.
The solution isn’t to abandon AI altogether. It’s to rewrite what makes AI writing so obvious.
And if you don’t use AI? These fixes will bulletproof your work from suspicion—and make your voice stronger in the process.
The 7 Telltale Signs of AI Writing (And How to Fix Them)
1. Generic, Safe Language
AI plays it safe. It won’t take a stance or speak with conviction.
❌ “This tool can be useful for many people.”
✅ “If you’re freelancing and not using this tool, you’re leaving money on the table.”
The Fix: Take a position. Add specificity. Say what you really think.
2. Repetitive Sentence Structure
AI loves patterns. Too much of the same rhythm puts readers to sleep.
❌ “AI is helpful. It generates ideas. It improves efficiency.”
✅ “AI is fast. Really fast. But speed alone won’t cut it. Creativity still wins.”
The Fix: Vary your sentence length and cadence. Mix the punchy with the poetic.
3. Wordiness & Filler
AI inflates sentences with fluff. If a line feels like it’s circling the same idea, it probably is.
❌ “One of the most important things to consider when improving writing is clarity.”
✅ “Clarity matters most.”
The Fix: Be direct. Trim the fat.
4. No Personal Experience or Storytelling
AI doesn’t live. It can’t tell stories or share lessons from failure.
❌ “Good communication skills are important.”
✅ “I once lost a $10,000 deal because I misread a client’s email. That’s when I learned: Communication isn’t optional.”
The Fix: Add anecdotes, sensory details, and real moments.
5. Clichés and Overused Phrases
AI recycles tired language. Phrases like “think outside the box” or “at the end of the day” scream autopilot.
❌ “Success doesn’t happen overnight.”
✅ “Success is like compound interest—it builds slowly and pays off big.”
The Fix: Use fresh metaphors, unexpected comparisons, and original phrasing.
6. Awkward Transitions
AI forces flow. It over-relies on obvious, formulaic transitions.
❌ “So, what’s the solution? Let’s discuss it.”
✅ “Here’s what actually works.”
The Fix: Use natural transitions. Write the way real people move through ideas.
7. Emotionally Flat Tone
AI can mimic tone, but not feel it. No real humor, anger, joy, or vulnerability.
❌ “This book provides useful insights.”
✅ “This book hit me like a slap. Brutal truths. Zero fluff. Exactly what I needed.”
The Fix: Inject personality. Be bold. Be funny. Be pissed. Be real.
Final Word: Make Your Writing Undeniably Yours
AI can help—but it shouldn’t define your voice.
Whether you’re using AI or not, these 7 signs are red flags for editors, readers, and even machines. Learn to spot them. Learn to fix them.
When you do, your writing won’t just pass the AI test—it’ll pass the human one.
Because the best writing doesn’t just avoid detection.
It leaves no doubt: You wrote this.