Why does AI writing sound so formal?

AI models are trained on formal text sources like Wikipedia, academic papers, and professional documents. This training bias causes them to default to corporate-speak with complex vocabulary and stiff sentence structures.

How do I make AI writing less formal?

Use contractions, shorter sentences, conversational transitions, personal pronouns, and informal vocabulary. Or use Humaneer to automatically adjust the tone from formal to natural and conversational.

What words make AI writing sound formal?

Common AI formal tells include 'utilize' instead of 'use,' 'furthermore' instead of 'also,' 'commence' instead of 'start,' and phrases like 'it is important to note that' instead of just stating the point.

Why AI Writing Sounds Too Formal (And How to Fix It)

AI models are trained on formal text — academic papers, corporate websites, Wikipedia. The result? Everything sounds like a corporate memo. Here's why it happens and 6 ways to fix it.

The Formal Patterns AI Uses

“Utilize” instead of “use” — AI loves unnecessarily complex words
“It is important to note that” — filler that adds nothing
Passive voice everywhere: “It was determined that” instead of “We found”
No contractions: “It is” instead of “It's,” “do not” instead of “don't”

6 Fixes for Formal AI Text

1. Use Contractions

Replace “do not” with “don't,” “it is” with “it's.” This single change makes text feel 50% more casual.

2. Swap Complex Words for Simple Ones

“Utilize” → “use.” “Facilitate” → “help.” “Implement” → “do.” Simple words are more human.

3. Switch to Active Voice

“The report was written by the team” → “The team wrote the report.” Active voice is direct and human.

4. Add Conversational Elements

Rhetorical questions, asides, and direct address (“you”) make text feel like a conversation, not a lecture.

5. Delete Filler Phrases

Remove “It is important to note,” “In order to,” and “It should be mentioned.” Just say the thing.

6. Use Humaneer

Humaneer applies all these fixes automatically, transforming stiff AI text into natural, conversational writing in seconds.

Before & After

❌ Too Formal

“It is imperative that organizations implement comprehensive strategies to facilitate the optimization of their digital marketing endeavors in order to achieve sustainable growth.”

✓ Natural

“Want your marketing to actually work? Stop overthinking it. Pick a strategy, test it, and double down on what gets results. That's it.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make ChatGPT write less formally?

You can try prompting with “write casually” or “write like you're texting a friend,” but AI still defaults to formal patterns. For consistent results, use Humaneer to fix the output.

Is formal AI writing always bad?

Not always. Legal documents, academic papers, and official communications benefit from formal tone. But for blogs, emails, social media, and marketing — casual wins.