How to Make AI Write Like a Human (10 Techniques)
You can usually spot AI writing within five seconds. Not because the grammar is wrong (AI grammar is perfect, and that's part of the problem). It's the uniformity. Every sentence is roughly the same length. Every paragraph follows the same structure. The vocabulary is oddly formal. And certain phrases appear with suspicious frequency. If you want to learn how to make AI write like a human, you need to understand what makes it sound robotic first.
Data from content detectors shows that words like "undeniably" appear in 25% of AI-generated texts versus just 5% in human writing. Phrases like "in the ever-evolving landscape" and "it's important to note that" are now practically AI signatures.
The good news: you can fix this. Here are 10 techniques that transform robotic AI output into writing that sounds like an actual person wrote it.
Feed It Your Writing Style to Make AI Write Like You
The biggest mistake people make is giving AI zero context about how they write. The model defaults to its training average, which sounds like a blend of Wikipedia, corporate blogs, and textbook introductions.
Instead, paste 300-500 words of your own writing into the prompt before asking AI to generate anything.
Here's an example of my writing style: [paste your own text]. Now write a [blog post/email/report] about [topic] matching this voice. Pay attention to: sentence length variation, vocabulary level, use of humor or directness, and how I structure arguments.
This single step eliminates most of the "AI voice" problem. The model has something specific to imitate instead of guessing.
Ban the AI Tell-Phrases
Certain words and phrases are dead giveaways. AI overuses them because they appear frequently in its training data, creating a feedback loop of generic language.
Phrases to explicitly ban in your prompts:
- "Delve" / "delve into"
- "In today's [fast-paced/digital/ever-changing] world"
- "It's important to note that"
- "This serves as a testament to"
- "Navigating the landscape"
- "Unlock your potential"
- "A game-changer"
- "At the end of the day"
- "Embark on a journey"
- "In conclusion"
- "Moreover" / "Furthermore" / "Additionally" (when starting sentences)
Add this line to your prompts: "Do not use the following phrases: [list them]. If you catch yourself defaulting to generic transitions, use a specific detail or example instead."
This forces the AI to find more original phrasing. It's a small constraint that produces noticeably better output.
The AI Academy walks through advanced prompting techniques like this in a structured format, so you can build a repeatable system rather than guessing each time.
Vary Sentence Structure Deliberately
Human writing has natural rhythm. Short sentences create impact. Then a longer sentence winds through an idea, adding nuance and qualification before arriving at its point. Then another short one.
AI tends to produce sentences that are all roughly 15-20 words. Every one follows subject-verb-object patterns. The result reads like a textbook.
Mix up your sentence lengths. Some sentences should be under 8 words. Others can be 30+. Start some sentences with "And" or "But." Use fragments occasionally for emphasis. Not every point needs a full paragraph.
Read the output aloud. If it sounds like someone reading a teleprompter, it needs more variation.
Add Specifics Instead of Generalities
AI gravitates toward abstract, general statements. "Many businesses are finding success with this approach." Which businesses? What kind of success? When?
Human writers use specifics because they've lived experiences and done research. You can steer AI toward specifics too.
Instead of: "Write about how remote work is changing team dynamics."
Try: "Write about how remote work is changing team dynamics. Include a specific example of a real company (with numbers). Mention a study or survey with actual data. Use a concrete anecdote, not a hypothetical 'imagine if' scenario."
The more you push for specifics, the less the output sounds like AI. If you're using AI for marketing content, this technique is especially valuable because vague marketing copy is the easiest type of AI content to spot.
Use the "Write It Wrong First" Technique
Counterintuitive, but effective: ask AI to write badly on purpose, then fix it.
Write a rough, unpolished first draft about [topic]. Don't worry about perfect grammar or transitions. Use casual language. Include half-formed thoughts. Write like you're explaining it to a friend over drinks, not giving a presentation.
This produces output that's messier but more human. The sentence-to-sentence variation is better. The voice is more natural. You'll need to edit, but you'd need to edit the polished version too, and the messy version gives you better raw material.
Give It a Persona With Flaws
AI writes like an all-knowing, perfectly balanced expert. Real humans have opinions, blind spots, and preferences.
Write as a senior marketing manager who's skeptical of new trends but has been won over by [topic] through personal experience. She prefers data over anecdotes, tends to be blunt, and sometimes uses dry humor. She'd never use phrases like "game-changer" or "paradigm shift."
The more specific the persona (including what they wouldn't say), the more human the output sounds.
Edit AI Writing in Passes, Not All at Once
Don't try to fix everything in one editing round. Professional writers use multiple passes, and you should too when editing AI output.
Pass 1: Cut the filler. Remove every sentence that restates the obvious or adds no new information. AI loves padding. "This is particularly important because..." Just state why and move on.
Pass 2: Replace generic examples with specific ones. Anywhere the AI says "for example, a business might..." replace it with a real company, real numbers, real situation.
Pass 3: Add your experience. Insert sentences that start with "In my experience..." or "I've seen this fail when..." AI can't generate genuine experience, so this is where you add what makes the writing distinctly yours.
Pass 4: Read aloud. If any sentence makes you wince or sounds like something you'd never say, rewrite it in your own words.
This approach works whether you're writing essays, books, or professional documents. The multi-pass method catches things that a single round of editing misses.
Developing a polished AI editing workflow is exactly the kind of skill our AI Academy teaches -- practical techniques you can apply immediately, not abstract theory.
Break Formatting Rules on Purpose
AI follows formatting conventions perfectly. Every list has the same number of items. Every section has the same structure. Every paragraph is 3-4 sentences.
Humans don't write like that.
Sometimes a one-sentence paragraph makes a stronger point than a four-sentence one.
Sometimes a list has two items. Sometimes seven.
Tell AI to break its own patterns:
Don't follow a rigid structure. Some sections can be one paragraph. Others might need five. Not every point needs a subheading. Let the content dictate the format, not the other way around.
Inject Opinions and Qualifications
AI hedges everything. "While there are pros and cons to this approach, it can potentially be beneficial in certain circumstances." That sentence says nothing.
Human writers commit to positions and add honest qualifications.
Take a clear position on [topic]. Don't hedge with "it depends" unless you explain exactly what it depends on and what you'd recommend in each case. If there's a popular opinion you disagree with, say so directly and explain why.
The difference is stark. Compare "AI can be useful for writing" (AI voice) with "AI is the best brainstorming partner I've found, but it writes terrible dialogue" (human voice). The second has a point of view.
Use the Two-Model Approach
One of the most effective techniques is using two AI models against each other.
Step 1: Generate your draft with ChatGPT or Claude.
Step 2: Paste the draft into the other model with this prompt:
This text was written by AI. Identify every sentence or phrase that sounds machine-generated and explain why. Then rewrite those specific parts to sound more natural, keeping the rest intact.
AI is surprisingly good at detecting its own patterns when explicitly asked to. Claude tends to catch different issues than ChatGPT, so using both gives you better coverage.
For a deeper dive into using ChatGPT specifically for content work, check out our guide on how to use ChatGPT for work, which covers the prompting foundations that make these techniques more effective. If you want to explore the specific AI writing tools beyond ChatGPT, our guide on how to use Jasper AI covers another popular option built specifically for marketing and brand content.
What About AI Detectors?
A quick note on detection tools like GPTZero, Originality.ai, and Turnitin. These tools measure two things:
- Perplexity: how predictable the word choices are (AI text is more predictable)
- Burstiness: how much sentence length and structure varies (AI text varies less)
If you follow the 10 techniques above, your text will naturally score lower on AI detection, not because you're trying to game the system, but because you're genuinely making the writing better. Writing that varies in rhythm, includes personal experience, and uses specific rather than generic language is both harder to detect and more pleasant to read.
The goal isn't to "fool" detectors. It's to produce writing that's actually good.
The Core Principle Behind Human-Sounding AI Writing
The techniques above share a common thread: they're all about adding what AI can't generate on its own. Personal experience. Specific opinions. Imperfect structure. Real examples.
AI gives you a foundation. Your job is to make it yours.
If you want to master these workflows end to end, the AI Academy breaks them down step by step with real-world writing examples.
FAQ
Why does AI writing sound so robotic?
AI defaults to its training average, which produces text with uniform sentence length, formal vocabulary, and predictable structure. It overuses certain phrases ("delve into," "it's important to note") and avoids taking strong positions. The result sounds like a blend of Wikipedia, corporate blogs, and textbook prose rather than natural human writing.
Can AI detectors tell if text was written by AI?
AI detectors measure perplexity (how predictable word choices are) and burstiness (how much sentence structure varies). They catch unedited AI text with reasonable accuracy, but text that has been substantially revised with personal experience, varied rhythm, and specific examples scores much lower on detection tools. No detector is 100% reliable.
What is the best AI model for human-sounding writing?
Claude tends to produce more naturally conversational output, while ChatGPT is more versatile across different writing styles. The model matters less than the prompting technique. Feeding the AI examples of your writing style, banning tell-phrases, and requesting varied sentence structure improves output from any model.
How do I make ChatGPT match my writing style?
Paste 300-500 words of your own writing into the prompt and ask ChatGPT to match your voice. Be specific about what to mimic: sentence length variation, vocabulary level, use of humor, and how you structure arguments. Then have it analyze your samples and create a reusable style guide you can reference in future prompts.
Should I edit AI-generated text or rewrite it from scratch?
Edit in multiple passes rather than rewriting. First cut the filler, then replace generic examples with specific ones, add your personal experience, and read aloud to catch anything unnatural. This is faster than writing from scratch and produces better results than single-pass editing.
Want to build a repeatable workflow for AI-assisted writing that sounds like you? Start your free 14-day trial →
