Magical Techniques To Sound Human When Using AI to Generate Your Content

Introduction

I hear a lot of folks saying how they can predict AI written content. A magical skill, isn’t it?

Yet others claim to have invented AI software that detects AI writing with unerring accuracy.

This is true only to an extent. Most of it is a load of poppycock!

AI is getting increasingly better at writing content, so it’s just a matter of time, before it becomes undetectable by humans, or machines.

As of now, smart writers can and do escape detection because they know how to do it.

Both smart writers and AI Writing detection systems rely on the same thing – repeating patterns that are generated by AI that includes words, phrases and punctuations.

You can avoid these pattern errors and sound more human if you are aware of these two key aspects of writing with AI:

1. How to vary style and tone of your writing – these have to do more with the techniques of writing.
2. How to avoid certain things – words, phrases, punctuations in your output – these have to do with the algorithms that AI has been trained on so they keep repeating these often and hence form a recognizable, detectable pattern.

Let’s understand both of these.

Styles of Writing

There are a few points on writing styles that you should keep in mind when writing with AI.

Think of your writing style with AI as a unique recipe. Just like cooking, you can mix different ingredients to create something special.

Here are the some of the ingredients you can play with.

Tone: This is how you come across to your readers. Are you being friendly or assertive? Humble or confident? It’s like choosing between a warm hug or a firm handshake in your writing.

Tone exists on a continuum, with each piece of writing falling somewhere between these extremes:

• Friendly <–> Assertive
• Humble <–> Confident
• Respectful <–> Challenging
• Encouraging <–> Critical
• Optimistic <–> Realistic
• Supportive <–> Objective

Register & Formality: Think of this as your writing outfit. Sometimes you need a suit (formal), sometimes business casual (semi-formal), and other times, your comfy pajamas (casual). Pick what fits the occasion!

• Formal: Suited for academic or professional contexts
• Semi-formal: Appropriate for business communication or informative writing
• Casual: Used in personal communication or informal online content

Attitude & Emotional Coloring: This is the mood of your writing. Are you being serious or playful? Sincere or a bit ironic? It’s like choosing the background music for your words.

The attitude conveyed in your writing can significantly impact reader engagement:

• Serious <–> Lighthearted
• Sincere <–> Ironic
• Inspirational <–> Pragmatic
• Whimsical <–> Matter-of-fact

Communication Style: This is how you deliver your message. Are you being direct or subtle? Persuasive or just informative? It’s like choosing between a straight path or a scenic route to your point.

• Direct <–> Indirect
• Persuasive <–> Informative
• Adaptable <–> Consistent
• Engaging <–> Detached
• Empathetic <–> Neutral

Writing Techniques

= [Tone + Register & Formality + Attitude & Emotional Coloring + Communication Style] – ideally combine 3 of these together

These are your special tools. Use clear, vivid language to paint pictures in your reader’s mind. Mix up your sentence lengths for a nice rhythm. Throw in some metaphors for extra flavor.

When you sit down to write, ask yourself:

1. Who am I writing for?
2. What do I want to achieve?
3. Where will this be read?

Your answers to these questions will help you pick the right mix of ingredients from the styles we discussed above.

For example, if you’re writing a business proposal, you might go for a formal, confident, and persuasive style.

For a personal blog, you might choose a casual, sincere, and engaging approach.

I have illustrated this with a few examples below. These examples cover a wider range of writing samples, demonstrating how different tones, formality levels, attitudes, and communication styles can be combined in various contexts.

You usually combine three styles together in one technique.

Some Challenges With AI-Generated Content

Where do I start?

AI writing can be like that one friend who always shows up to parties wearing mismatched socks – sometimes endearing, often awkward.

It might churn out sentences smoother than butter, but then hit you with a phrase so bizarre it makes you wonder if it’s been hanging out with aliens.

For example, an AI might write: “The cat sat on the mat, contemplating the existential crisis of its feline existence while simultaneously solving differential equations.”

Umm, what?

That tells you that it’s important to humanize the content outputted by AI.

Let’s face it, you don’t want your readers to feel like they’re chatting with a particularly eloquent toaster.

Humanizing AI content is like giving your robot writer a crash course in being a person.

It’s the difference between “Greetings, human. I hope your day has been satisfactory” and “Hey there! How’s your day going?”

Techniques for Humanizing AI Content

• Customize yourAI prompts: Think of this as giving your AI a personality makeover. Instead of asking it to “Write about dogs,” try : “Imagine you’re a dog lover writing a letter to your furry best friend. What would you say?”
• Add personal anecdotes and experiences: This is where you sprinkle in some of that human magic. Remember that time you tried to bake a cake and ended up with a charcoal briquette?

  Throw that in there! It’s like seasoning your AI-generated content with a dash of “been there, done that, got the t-shirt.”

• Incorporate emotional language: Time to give your AI writing some feels! Instead of “The movie was good,” try “The movie had me laughing so hard I nearly choked on my popcorn!”

  See? Doesn’t that just make you want to grab some kernels and hit the theater?

• Use specific and vivid details: This is where you paint a picture so vivid, your readers can practically smell it. Instead of “The flower was pretty,” go for “The rose’s velvety petals unfurled like a crimson sunset, its fragrance a sweet whisper of summer.”

  Suddenly, you’re not just reading about a flower – you’re practically frolicking in a garden!

• Vary sentence structure and length: Mix it up, folks! Short sentences. Long, winding sentences that meander through the countryside of your imagination, pausing here and there to admire the view, before finally coming to rest at the period. See what I did there?

So to sum up, add these to your prompts. along with your tone and style:

• Write like a human
• Use Active Voice, Present Tense
• Address the Reader [You]
• Add Personality
• Sprinkle Anecdotes
• Add Emotion
• Make it vivid
• Vary the sentence lengths

Post-Editing AI-Generated Content

Think of this as giving your AI’s homework a once-over before turning it in.

You wouldn’t let your kid submit an essay without checking for spelling errors and making sure they didn’t accidentally claim that Abraham Lincoln invented the internet, would you? The same principle applies here!

Mastering these elements is like learning to juggle swords while riding a unicycle.

It takes practice, a bit of insanity, and possibly a helmet. But once you’ve got it down, oh boy, your writing will sing, dance, and maybe even do backflips!

Now, go forth and wield your newfound power responsibly.

Given below are some examples of writing styles for commonly used content formats. Take it away.

Website Copy Writing Styles

1. Welcoming, Informative, Trust-building
   Welcome to ABC Consulting. With over 20 years of experience, we provide tailored solutions to help your business thrive. Learn more about our services and success stories.
2. Clear, Benefit-oriented, Engaging
   Why Choose XYZ Software? Our intuitive platform streamlines your workflow, boosts productivity, and offers 24/7 support. See how we can transform your business.
3. Concise, Persuasive, Customer-focused
   Join Our Fitness Community. Our state-of-the-art facilities, expert trainers, and supportive environment help you achieve your health goals. Sign up for a free trial today!

Landing Pages

1. Benefit-focused, Persuasive, Clear
   Unlock Your Potential with Our Online Courses. Sign up today and gain access to expert-led tutorials, interactive assignments, and a supportive community. Start your learning journey now!
2. Visual, Engaging, Direct
   Discover the Future of Home Automation. Our smart home devices offer unparalleled convenience and security. Learn more and get started with a free consultation.
3. Urgent, Compelling, Action-oriented
   Limited Time Offer: Save 50% on Premium Membership. Join our community of professionals and access exclusive resources. Sign up before the offer ends!

Personal Blog

1. Casual, Sincere, Engaging
   I’m super excited to share my latest travel adventures with you.
2. Informal, Humorous, Relatable
   Ever tried to pack for a month-long trip in a carry-on? Spoiler alert: it involves wearing three layers of clothes on the plane!
3. Reflective, Inspirational, Intimate
   As I stood atop the mountain, watching the sunrise paint the sky, I realized that sometimes the hardest journeys lead to the most beautiful destinations.

Marketing Email

1. Friendly, Persuasive, Urgent
   Don’t miss out on this exclusive offer! For the next 24 hours, enjoy a 50% discount on all our premium products. Click now to transform your life!
2. Casual, Engaging, Time-sensitive
   Just a heads-up, our biggest sale of the year ends tonight. Grab your favorites at half price before they’re gone!
3. Professional, Direct, Compelling
   Unlock incredible savings with our limited-time offer. Save 40% on your next purchase by using the code SAVE40 at checkout. Act fast—this deal won’t last long!

Social Media Post

1. Casual, Trendy, Concise
   OMG! 😍 Our new collection just dropped, and it’s giving main character energy! Tag a friend who needs this in their life. #FashionGoals #NewArrivals
2. Engaging, Fun, Interactive
   Guess what? Our summer sale is live! 🌞 Comment with your favorite emoji if you’re ready to shop till you drop! #SummerSale #ShopNow
3. Informative, Visual, Shareable
   Check out our latest blog post on healthy eating tips! 🍏 Click the link in our bio to read more and start your journey to a healthier you. #HealthyLiving #BlogPost

White Papers

1. In-depth, Analytical, Professional
   The Future of Renewable Energy: An In-depth Analysis. This white paper explores the latest advancements in renewable energy technologies, market trends, and policy implications.
2. Research-based, Comprehensive, Informative
   Cybersecurity in the Digital Age: Challenges and Solutions. Our white paper provides a thorough examination of current cybersecurity threats and effective strategies to mitigate risks.
3. Authoritative, Data-driven, Insightful
   AI in Healthcare: Transforming Patient Care. This white paper delves into the impact of artificial intelligence on healthcare, showcasing case studies, data analysis, and future projections.

eBooks

1. Educational, Engaging, Practical
   Mastering Digital Marketing: A Comprehensive Guide. This eBook covers everything from SEO and social media to content marketing and analytics, providing actionable tips and strategies.
2. Inspirational, Informative, Accessible
   The Entrepreneur’s Handbook: From Idea to Success. Learn from successful entrepreneurs and gain insights into starting and growing your own business.
3. Detailed, Visual, Interactive
   The Ultimate Guide to Home Renovation. Packed with expert advice, step-by-step instructions, and interactive tools, this eBook helps you plan and execute your home improvement projects.

Quizzes

1. Engaging, Fun, Insightful
   Which Marketing Strategy Suits Your Business? Take our quiz to discover the best marketing approach for your unique business needs and goals.
2. Educational, Interactive, Personalized
   Test Your Knowledge: Cybersecurity Basics. Challenge yourself with our quiz and see how well you understand the fundamentals of cybersecurity.
3. Entertaining, Informative, Shareable
   What’s Your Leadership Style? Find out if you’re a visionary, a strategist, or a coach with our quick and fun quiz.

Case Studies

1. Formal, Objective, Analytical
   This study examines the correlation between sleep patterns and cognitive performance in undergraduate students, utilizing a mixed-methods approach to data collection and analysis.
2. Detailed, Narrative, Data-driven
   Our case study on Company X explores how implementing our software solution reduced their operational costs by 25% over six months. Through a combination of employee interviews and financial data analysis, we provide a comprehensive overview of the transformation.
3. Customer-focused, Storytelling, Results-oriented
   When ABC Corp faced declining sales, they turned to our marketing strategy. This case study details their journey from a 15% sales drop to a 30% increase in just one quarter, highlighting key strategies and customer testimonials.

FAQs

1. Concise, User-friendly, Organized
   Q: How do I reset my password?
   A: Click on ‘Forgot Password’ on the login page, enter your registered email, and follow the instructions sent to your inbox.
2. Detailed, Helpful, Structured
   Q: What is your return policy?
   A: We offer a 30-day return policy for all products. Items must be in their original condition and packaging. Please visit our Returns page for more details.
3. Engaging, Clear, Informative
   Q: How can I track my order?
   A: Once your order is shipped, you will receive an email with a tracking number. You can use this number on our website to check the status of your delivery.

Customer Service Response

1. Professional, Empathetic, Solution-focused
   We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you’ve experienced. Our team is committed to resolving this issue promptly. Here are the steps we’re taking to ensure your satisfaction…
2. Friendly, Understanding, Reassuring
   I’m really sorry to hear about the trouble you’ve had. Let’s get this sorted out for you right away. Please follow these steps, and we’ll make sure everything is back on track.
3. Polite, Helpful, Detailed
   Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We understand how frustrating this must be. To resolve the issue, please follow the instructions below, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need further assistance.

Product Description

1. Engaging, Informative, Persuasive
   Elevate your culinary experience with our state-of-the-art food processor. Featuring 10 versatile attachments and a powerful 1000W motor, it’s your perfect kitchen companion for creating gourmet meals effortlessly.
2. Descriptive, Enthusiastic, Detailed
   Discover the ultimate comfort with our new memory foam mattress. Designed to contour to your body, it provides unparalleled support and a restful night’s sleep. Try it risk-free for 100 nights!
3. Compelling, Visual, Benefit-focused
   Transform your home office with our ergonomic chair. With adjustable height, lumbar support, and breathable mesh, it ensures you stay comfortable and productive all day long.

Press Releases

1. Product Launch: Exciting, Informative, Newsworthy
   XYZ Tech Unveils Revolutionary AI-Powered Smartphone. The new device, featuring cutting-edge AI capabilities, promises to redefine user experience with its advanced features and sleek design.
2. Event Announcement: Engaging, Clear, Inviting
   Join Us for the Annual Tech Innovators Conference 2024! Discover the latest trends in technology, network with industry leaders, and gain insights from keynote speakers.
3. Company Milestone: Proud, Credible, Celebratory
   ABC Corp Celebrates 50 Years of Innovation and Excellence. Reflecting on half a century of groundbreaking achievements, the company announces a series of events and initiatives to mark this significant milestone.

Business Proposal

1. Formal, Confident, Persuasive
   We are confident that our solution will meet your needs and exceed your expectations.
2. Semi-formal, Enthusiastic, Direct
   Our team is excited to present a game-changing proposal that will boost your revenue by 30% within the first quarter.
3. Professional, Empathetic, Solution-oriented
   Understanding the challenges your industry faces, we’ve developed a tailored approach to address your specific pain points and drive sustainable growth.

Instructional Content

1. Semi-formal, Direct, Informative
   To get started, first log in to your account. Then, navigate to the settings page.
2. Casual, Encouraging, Step-by-step
   Don’t worry, creating your first website is easier than you think! Let’s break it down into simple steps. Ready to dive in?
3. Professional, Concise, Action-oriented
   Optimize your workflow with these three key strategies: prioritize tasks, eliminate distractions, and leverage automation tools.

Academic Paper

1. Formal, Objective, Analytical
   This study examines the correlation between sleep patterns and cognitive performance in undergraduate students, utilizing a mixed-methods approach to data collection and analysis.
2. Formal, Impersonal, Detailed
   The research investigates the impact of dietary habits on the academic performance of high school students, employing a longitudinal study design to track changes over a two-year period.
3. Formal, Precise, Evidence-based
   An analysis of the effects of remote learning on student engagement and retention rates was conducted, using a combination of quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to gather comprehensive data.

Technical Documentation

1. Precise, Neutral, Comprehensive
   The API supports both GET and POST requests. Responses are returned in JSON format, with error codes and descriptions provided for unsuccessful calls.
2. Clear, Detailed, Step-by-step
   To install the software, first download the installer from our website. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup. Refer to the troubleshooting section if you encounter any issues.
3. Concise, Informative, User-focused
   To reset your password, click on ‘Forgot Password’ on the login page. Enter your registered email address, and you will receive a link to create a new password.

Now for the words, phrases and puncutations you should avoid, or edit out from your outputs, when generating content with AI.

Cliched words to avoid with AI Content

Spearheading, Embarking, Compelling, Delving, Essential, Empowering, Forefront, Encompassing, Elevate, Comprehensively, Effectively, Multifaceted, Unleash, Game-changer, Tapestry, Symphony, Sentinel, Symbolizes, Resonates with, Testament, As an AI language model, Needless to say, For all intents and purposes, Stuff, Thing, A while, Always, never, Perfect, Really, so, super, Beautiful, ugly, wonderful, horrible, great, boring, Obviously, naturally, of course, Feeling and thinking words (felt, feel, think, thought, wonder, ponder, understand, realize, believe), Breathing words (breathe, breath, inhale, exhale), Shrug, nod, smile, reach, Big, small, short, tall, Currently, First created, Have got, Literally, Totally, completely, absolutely, Armed gunman, Brief moment, Amazing, Interesting, Nice, Hard, Change, Important, Actually, Unique, Incredible, Immersive, Basically, Essentially, Had, Even, That, Irregardless, Like, Okay, Proactive, Proverbial, Rhetoric, Seems, Addictive, Learnings, Net-net, Ecosystem, Guesstimate, Ideation, Incentivize, Impactful, Influencer, Onboarding, Optics, Rightsizing, Silo, Synergize, Thought leader, Unpack, Wellness

Clichéd phrases to avoid

Let us embark on a journey of…, In the vast tapestry of life…, I hope this email finds you well…, In conclusion…, It is important to note that…, During the course of…, At the end of the day, Get your ducks in a row, Content is king, Get granular, Think outside the box, Low-hanging fruit, Paradigm shift, Take it to the next level, Win-win situation, Move the needle, In the ever evolving landscape of…, In the realm of…, The fact of the matter is…, At this point in time, The long and the short of it, When all is said and done, It goes without saying, The bottom line, Push the envelope, Raise the bar, Giving 110%, Put your best foot forward, Go the extra mile, Leave no stone unturned, Pull out all the stops, By the same token, The writing is on the wall, A perfect storm, Drill down, Gain traction, Circle back, Touch base, Take a deep dive, Shift gears, On the same page, Synergy, Disrupt, Bleeding edge, Cutting edge, State of the art, Best practice, Core competency, Leverage, Robust, Scalable, Streamline, Optimize, Seamless integration, User-friendly, Next generation, Mission critical, Best-in-class, World-class, At the speed of light, The 800-pound gorilla, Throw under the bus, Open the kimono, Lots of moving parts, Drink the Kool-Aid, Skin in the game, Bio break, Hardball, Bandwidth, Ping me, It’s on my radar, Pain point, Value-add, Reach out, Deep dive, Quick win, Boil the ocean, Elevator pitch, Corporate synergy, Bleeding edge, Empower, Deliverables, Drill down, Ducks in a row, When it comes to, Each and every, In order to, As to whether, Owing to the fact that, In spite of the fact that, Point in time, At the present time,

Punctuations to avoid or replace

1. Overuse of semicolons – replace with dashes or separate sentences
2. Overuse of exclamation points
3. Inconsistent use of Oxford comma
4. Overuse of ellipses (…)
5. Misplaced apostrophes
6. Misuse of “it’s” vs “its”
7. Incorrect quotation marks
8. Periods in the wrong place with quotation marks
9. Misplaced or overused commas
10. Mixing American and British spelling and punctuation
11. Unnecessary quotation marks
12. Overuse of dashes

When generating AI content, include these expanded lists in your prompt to guide the AI to avoid these overused words, clichéd phrases and common punctuation errors.

How To Instruct AI

You can instruct the AI to use more precise, powerful and original language

Use active voice, be concise and avoid jargon, making the writing short and descriptive. Use simple language that even an 8th grader can understand. Avoid generic content, add unique value. Demonstrate experience and expertise with personal stories, images, videos.

Ask AI for suggestions on how to further humanize and optimize your content.

Sample AI Recipe For Good Writing

Write a 1000 word blog post on [topic]. Do not use any of the following overused words: [insert expanded word list]. Avoid clichéd phrases like: [insert phrase list].

For punctuation, use semicolons sparingly, limit exclamation points to one per 500 words, use the Oxford comma, restrict ellipses to omitted text, place apostrophes correctly, and use double quotation marks.

Avoid overused cliches and phrases.

Aim for clear, concise, engaging writing in a natural, human-like style, using active voice and simple language.

By providing these detailed instructions, you can steer AI to generate fresh, impactful content free of common writing pitfalls.

You’d need to continually refine and add to these lists based on AI-generated output to further improve the writing quality.

You can use this list for any type of writing that you do: Landing Pages, Blog Content, Email Copy, Social Media Posts…

Conclusion

As you have seen, writing with AI is manageable.

Think of it as a collaborative effort. Let AI handle the logic, the outline, the ideas and the grunt work.

You handle the anecdotes, the flavoring and the final styling.

AI doesn’t do away with a writer. At least, not yet. However, it puts the abilities of a good writer on steroids. Equally, it accentuates the faults of a bad one.

Having said that, AI is getting smarter and better all the time.

And this human intervention that I speak of, is getting less and less consequential, even as I write this piece. So by the time you read this it may well be history. Who knows?

Till then, keep writing. It’s a small window for us writers to keep at an ancient, hard won, patiently-cultivated profession.

AI Tools that you can use

The prompts on Phewture are AI tool agnostic.

They should work on GeminiPro, ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity. Even on free tools such as llama3 by Meta which you can install on your desktop.

• ChatGPT and Gemini Pro can read Google Files by way of attachment
• Claude can read PDFs.
• Perplexity can read text files and PDFs.

Use these capabilities to upload your prompts and get the best out of these tools.

Next Steps

1. To help you find your way around Phewture, I have put together a set of articles under Wayfinding. Do go through these and you’ll navigate like a pro through this stream of consciousness. 😄
2. The Learning Methods are exercises that I’d recommend if you wish to wrap your head around the possibilities of AI at work, or play.
3. Don’t forget to leave your comments below and share your joy with your friends on social media. Use the share icons below this post to gain some good karma.

Wish to train your in-house team on AI techniques?

Phewture offers AI-spurred training for teams. Do check out the Training Services.