Yes, we can tell you used AI (…and what to do instead)

I write and edit professionally, so I consume many words a day. I read a lot, I write a lot, I research a lot, I skim through things a lot, I proofread a lot… Many, many words. 

I’m active on a lot of platforms, too: Substack (🫶) and LinkedIn the most, but also Instagram, Reddit, and the dozens of newsletters I subscribe to. This is all besides the writing/editing work I do for clients. And without fail, across every platform and project I engage with, there’s AI content.

And, yes, it’s obvious. 

I’m not saying all AI-generated content is always terrible. I’m saying most of it usually is. 

Why? Because it sounds the same. It is: 

1. Excessively descriptive (I see this in the fiction books I edit for clients who are trying to self-publish. They use AI as a writing support and, well, it’s often obvious. Unfortunately, it can detract from an otherwise interesting and engaging plot. I do my best to edit it so it sounds more natural and human. 
2. Full of grammar quirks specific to AI (there are a lot of posts that summarize this, but I think this one does a good job). 
3. Bland. 

To prove my point, here are some screenshots from my collection of “AI writing” I now keep handy.

Yes, these are dating profiles. I say at LEAST 50% of what I see online is AI. Love it when they forget to delete the quotation marks. This is just not how people talk.

This is a small selection of AI writing that I found just in the course of my daily work and life. And maybe it’s because I read and write so much that I’m super tuned into how it sounds. Maybe most people don’t notice or don’t care.

But I think we all know that’s not true. If no one cared about it, “AI slop” wouldn’t be a term we’re all now super familiar with.

And if you don’t want to become part of the slop-fest, here are my recommendations as a content writer:

1. Be so, so thoughtful about how you use AI. People are very aware of what
2. Edit the heck out of everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. Hire someone to help you do 1 or 2 if you don’t want to.

I’m coming down hard on AI, and it’s not because I want to ruin your fun. It’s because I care about quality work, and I think you do, too. (Oh no, I just realized I used “it’s not X, it’s Y.” Am I a robot now? Or is this the tricky part — some common patterns found in AI are normal writing… Like that em dash I just used. Oh boy.)

If you’re looking to partner with a writer or editor who cares about getting your unique message across in a way that represents you well, let’s talk.