Four tips for humanizing AI content

If you’re a frequent user of artificial intelligence (AI), you might have noticed that the written content it produces can be bland and generic. Maybe the content sounds hollow or has a weak argument. That’s why a human is needed behind every piece of writing to make sure it connects with audiences—and that includes AI-generated content. Put these four tips to use to help humanize AI content and create engaging writing that stands out from the rest.

White notebook on a table with a pen resting on it

1. Avoid following formulaic sentence structure

AI tends to rely on formulaic sentence structures, often producing complex sentences. A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. This isn’t to say avoid complex sentences at all costs (because that would be very difficult) but to veer away from the mechanical rhythm they can create.

For example, instead of writing “Because it was pouring, the event was postponed,” try, “The event was postponed because it was pouring.” It’s concise and conveys the same meaning as the original sentence more naturally.

And who’s to say you have to follow basic grammatical rules in your writing? If you’re writing creatively, venture outside of English writing norms and experiment with run-on sentences, fragments, deliberate repetition, playing with punctuation like dashes and semicolons, and more.

Get the most out of your documents with Word

Elevate your writing and collaborate with others - anywhere, anytime

Learn more

2. Watch out for words and phrases overused by AI

Have you noticed that AI tends to prefer certain words? Whether it’s a beautiful “tapestry” metaphor or “robust,” you’ve probably noticed that AI has a preference for certain words. Catching these words and phrases requires a lot of exposure to AI content and a keen eye for repetition. A lot of times, these words aren’t commonly used in spoken human language. For example, AI enjoys using formal words like “utilize.” Instead, you can simply say “use.” If you see a word like “ensure” or “elevate,” try asking AI for alternative words or refer to a thesaurus of your choice to expand your vocabulary.

3. Invite your readers in

AI-generated content can come across as impersonal and cold to audiences. Unless you’re writing a research paper or something that requires a formal, objective tone, use secondary pronouns like you/us/we/ours to acknowledge the reader and engage them more. Also, use active voice instead of passive voice and pose rhetorical questions wherever possible for a more interactive experience.

“That’s why a human is needed behind every piece of writing to make sure it connects with audiences—and that includes AI-generated content.”

4. Identify and fix vacuous truths

AI likes to make statements without backing them up. These vacuous truths come across as authoritative but lack substance. For example, in an argument, AI may say, “It can be difficult to…” or “It is crucial to understand how AI works…” None of these answer the “so what?”

Create a convincing argument by pausing to think critically about vacuous truths and turning them into true claims. For example, if you’re trying to argue, “It is important that you learn how to rewrite human content,” follow up with, “because content that feels AI-generated doesn’t resonate as well with audiences.”

Need a helping hand with your next writing project? Try Copilot or learn more about the ways AI can help strengthen your skills as a writer.