"Robotic writing" isn't just an AI problem. Corporate speak, academic conditioning, and fear of being informal can all strip the life out of human writing too. Here's how to identify if your text sounds like a machine.
Robotic / AI Style
"It utilizes a plethora of methodologies to ensure optimization."
- Passive voice ("It was decided")
- Big words where small ones work ("Utilize" vs "Use")
- Monotone rhythm
- No direct address to "You"
Human Style
"We use several ways to make sure it works."
- Active voice ("We decided")
- Conversational vocabulary
- Varied sentence length
- Talks directly to the reader
Developing a distinctive "Voice"
AI models are the average of everything they've read. To not sound like an AI, you must simply not be average.
The "Read Aloud" Test
If you trip over your own words while reading aloud, rewrite it. Human speech flows naturally. Artificial writing is clunky. If you wouldn't say it in a coffee shop, don't write it in a blog post.
Embrace Imperfection
AI is grammatically perfect. Humans break rules. Use a sentence fragment. Start with "And." Use slang. These "imperfections" are signals of humanity.
Quick Fixes to Remove Robotic Tone
Robotic: "The car that I drove was fast."
Human: "The car I drove was fast."
Robotic: "He ran quickly."
Human: "He sprinted."
Robotic: "It is not likely."
Human: "It's unlikely."
Conclusion
Removing robotic tone is about confidence. It's about ignoring the formal rules you learned in school and writing like a living, breathing person.
Struggling to find the right words? Humaneer can instantly rewrite your draft to sound more natural, engaging, and human.
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