Writing Prose Like a Human
Core Principle
AI writing has a statistical signature: regression to the mean. Models replace specifics with generalities, inflate importance with stock phrases, and smooth over the uneven texture that makes human writing feel real. The result reads like a press release about everything.
Human writing is specific, uneven, and comfortable with imperfection. A human writer says "the bridge opened in 1973" where an AI says "the bridge stands as a testament to the region's rich engineering heritage." A human writer says "I don't know" where an AI says "while specific details remain limited in available sources."
The antidote is concrete detail and restraint. Say what happened. Skip the commentary about why it matters. Trust the reader to draw their own conclusions.
The Five Rules
1. Be specific, not significant
State facts without editorializing their importance. Cut words that inflate: "pivotal", "crucial", "vital", "key" (as adjective), "testament", "watershed", "indelible mark", "deeply rooted", "groundbreaking" (figurative), "lasting legacy", "broader movement." Let facts carry their own weight.
Before:
The 1987 renovation played a pivotal role in shaping the building's enduring legacy, serving as a testament to the community's deeply rooted commitment to architectural preservation.
After:
The building was renovated in 1987. The city council funded the project after the roof collapsed during a storm.
The second version is more informative. The first version says the renovation was important without saying why.
2. Use plain verbs
Write "is", "are", "has" instead of "serves as", "stands as", "represents." Write "shows" not "showcases", "stresses" not "underscores", "has" not "boasts" or "features." Plain copulas are the backbone of clear prose. Don't replace them with verbs that sound more impressive but mean the same thing.
Better yet, find the active verb hiding inside the noun phrase. "The tool serves as a validation mechanism" becomes "The tool is a validation mechanism" (better), which becomes "The tool validates inputs" (best).
Before:
The museum showcases an extensive collection that encompasses works from diverse artistic movements, offering visitors a glimpse into the region's vibrant cultural tapestry.
After:
The museum has paintings from the 16th through 20th centuries, mostly Dutch and Flemish.
3. End sentences at the fact
Do not append participial commentary — those "-ing" phrases that editorialize after the main clause. "The population grew 12%, reflecting broader demographic trends" says less than "The population grew 12%." The participial phrase adds opinion disguised as analysis.
Watch for: "highlighting its importance", "reflecting broader trends", "underscoring the significance", "ensuring continued relevance", "emphasizing the need for", "solidifying its position as."
Before:
The company opened a second factory in 2019, highlighting its commitment to expanding operations and underscoring the region's growing economic significance.
After:
The company opened a second factory in 2019.
4. Vary your rhythm
Mix sentence lengths. Some sentences should be short. Others can run longer when the content demands it, but length should follow from the complexity of the idea, not from a habit of packing three clauses into every sentence.
Don't default to the rule of three. Two items or four items are fine. One is fine. Don't use "Not only X but Y" as a crutch — keep it to one per document at most, if at all. Don't open consecutive sentences with "Additionally," "Furthermore," or "Moreover."
Before:
Not only does the festival celebrate local traditions, but it also fosters community engagement, promotes cultural awareness, and attracts visitors from across the region. Additionally, it serves as a platform for emerging artists. Furthermore, it contributes to the local economy.
After:
The festival runs for three days each September. About 200 local vendors set up stalls. Attendance has been around 15,000 since 2018.
5. Earn every adjective
Cut "vibrant", "rich" (cultural), "profound", "intricate", "enduring", "bustling", "stunning", "breathtaking", "dynamic", "meticulous", "robust", "comprehensive", "seamless", "multifaceted" unless they carry specific, non-decorative meaning. If removing the adjective doesn't change the meaning, remove it.
The test: does the adjective tell the reader something they couldn't infer from the noun? "A tall building" works because not all buildings are tall. "A vibrant community" fails because the writer means "a community" — the adjective is decoration.
Before:
Nestled in the heart of the vibrant downtown district, the bustling market offers a rich tapestry of diverse culinary experiences.
After:
The market is on 4th Street between Pine and Oak. It has about 30 food stalls.
Vocabulary Watchlist
These words and phrases appear at statistically elevated rates in LLM output. Their presence alone doesn't prove AI authorship, but clusters of them are a strong signal. When you catch yourself reaching for one, pause and ask whether a plainer word works.
Significance inflation
| Avoid | Write instead | |-------|---------------| | pivotal, crucial, vital | important (or cut entirely) | | key (adjective) | main, or rephrase | | testament (to) | evidence, or cut | | watershed moment | (state what changed) | | indelible mark | (state the effect) | | deeply rooted | long-standing, or cut | | lasting/enduring legacy | (state what persists) | | broader movement | (name the movement) | | evolving landscape | (state what changed) | | focal point | center, focus | | tapestry (abstract) | (cut — describe the actual thing) | | groundbreaking (figurative) | new, first, original | | captivate | interest, draw | | plays a significant role | matters, affects | | reminder (as in "is a reminder") | evidence, sign, or cut | | key turning point | state what changed | | marks/represents a shift | state what changed | | contributing to the | state the contribution, or cut |
False sophistication
| Avoid | Write instead | |-------|---------------| | delve (into) | look at, examine, discuss | | intricate | detailed, complex | | interplay | relationship, interaction | | garner | get, receive, earn | | underscore (verb) | stress, show | | showcase | show, display, has | | foster | encourage, support | | encompass | include, cover | | align (with) | match, agree with, fit | | resonate (with) | appeal to, affect | | vibrant | (cut, or be specific) | | enduring | long-lasting, or cut | | enhance | improve | | nestled | located, situated, is in | | in the heart of | in, in central | | boasts | has | | navigate | handle, manage, deal with | | leverage | use | | elevate | raise, improve | | reimagine | redesign, rethink | | orchestrate | organize, arrange | | paradigm | model, approach | | robust | strong, reliable | | seamless | smooth | | meticulous | careful, thorough | | multifaceted | complex, varied | | bespoke | custom | | facilitate | help, enable, allow | | instrumental | important, useful | | highlight (verb) | show, point out | | exemplify | show, illustrate | | cultivate (figurative) | build, encourage | | intricacies | details, complexities | | valuable | useful, or cut | | renowned | well-known, or cut | | featuring | with, including, has |
Structural tics
| Avoid | Write instead | |-------|---------------| | Additionally, (sentence opener) | (cut, or restructure) | | Furthermore, | (cut, or restructure) | | Moreover, | (cut, or restructure) | | However, (overused) | but, or restructure | | Therefore, (overused) | so, or restructure | | It is worth noting | (just state the thing) | | It's important to remember | (just state the thing) | | Despite these challenges, | (state the challenge directly) | | reflects broader | (name what it reflects) | | setting the stage for | before, le