I have been writing long before tools like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, or Gemini appeared.
Back then, an em dash (—), a colon (:), or a set of parentheses ( ) were simply punctuation. Nobody gave them a second thought.
Today, when readers spot those same marks or specific words, they are quick to conclude: “This looks AI-generated.”
There is no doubt that Large Language Models (LLMs) have transformed the way people read, write, and evaluate text.
Words such as realm, plethora, or delve are perfectly correct in English. The issue arises when they appear too frequently or without context, resulting in writing that is stiff and mechanical.
A friend of mine, who works in career placement, told me not too long ago that the first thing he checks in resumes and application letters is whether they show signs of being written by AI.
That habit alone shows how far the conversation has changed.
The concern goes deeper than style. When writing or speech comes across as artificial, your audience naturally tunes out.
In journalism, academia, PR, or leadership, that loss of trust can be costly.
Yes, some tools promise to “humanize” or “paraphrase” your text, such as AI Humanizer or QuillBot. Yet they, too, are not perfect and can never replace thoughtful editing.
This guide is based on my nine months of reviewing hundreds of AI-generated texts, comparing them with authentic ones, and identifying recurring patterns.
Once you learn to see those signs and clear them out, your work quickly regains its edge.
I employed a descriptive method to reach my conclusions, intending to raise awareness and help writers make informed choices.
1. The Cadence Problem
AI loves rhythm, short sentences, dramatic pauses, and one-line paragraphs.
It borrows all that from spoken transcripts of TED Talks, sermons, or YouTube clips. These are great for speeches, but they are not ideal choices for long-form articles.
AI example
“The algorithm changed. Traffic dropped. Panic spread. And the industry? It declared SEO dead — again.”
Humanized rewrite
“When the algorithm changed, many sites lost traffic. Panic was predictable. Within days, headlines declared SEO dead once again. The cycle repeats every few years.”
Fix: Save staccato cadence for ads or scripts. For essays, blogs, or reports, group related sentences. Readers can handle more than one thought per paragraph.
2. Overuse of “And” and “But”
AI leans on “And” and “But” as sentence starters. It thinks this makes writing conversational. Instead, it comes across as lazy and predictable.
AI example
“But this isn’t the end. And it could be the start of something new. But will you be ready?”
Humanized rewrite
“This isn’t the end. It could be the start of something new, if you are ready.”
Fix: Use “And” and “But” for genuine emphasis only. Don’t let them become crutches.
3. Inflation Words and Exaggerated Adjectives
When AI is unsure, it props up weak ideas with inflated adjectives.
Words to watch: profoundly, strategically, significantly, remarkably, vitally.
AI example
“This profoundly significant project will strategically transform healthcare.”
Humanized rewrite
“This project will transform healthcare in the way patients are treated every day.”
Fix: Cut the fluff. Replace inflated words with verbs + specifics. Instead of “profoundly impacted,” say: “reduced waiting times by half.”
4. Formulaic Transitions
AI loves academic-style transitions.
Words to watch: Moreover, However, In conclusion, On the other hand.
AI example
“Moreover, it is important to note that communication strategies must adapt to technology.”
Humanized rewrite
“Communication strategies evolve with technology, or they risk irrelevance. That is the choice leaders face.”
Fix: Trim the formula. Use natural connectors such as questions, contrasts, or short statements.
5. Clichés
AI leans on stale filler.
Words to watch: in today’s fast-paced world, more than ever before, not only…but also.
AI example
“In today’s world, storytelling is more important than ever.”
Humanized rewrite
“During the 1994 Rwandan genocide, radio broadcasts fueled division and nearly tore the country apart. In the aftermath, a small group of journalists turned to storytelling to help heal traumatized communities. That is why storytelling still matters.”
Fix: Replace clichés with lived stories, case studies, or real data.
6. The Em Dash Obsession
AI sprinkles em dashes everywhere, often where commas or full stops work better.
AI example
“This is important — profoundly important — for the future of our nation.”
Humanized rewrite
“This is important. It matters for the future of our nation.”
Fix: Use em dashes for genuine interruption or emphasis. Otherwise, stick to commas, colons, or full stops.
7. Ellipses and Colons
Two more quirks:
Words to watch:
- Ellipses (…) → for mystery or suspense.
- Colons (:) → for dramatic reveals.
AI example
“There’s one thing you must do: believe.”
Humanized rewrite
“There’s one thing you must do. Believe.”
Fix: Use colons only when they clarify meaning. You can avoid ellipses unless you are writing dialogue or showing unfinished speech.
8. Over-Reliance on Parallelism
AI loves symmetry.
Words to watch: Not only…but also, No … no … just …, It is not just about … it’s …
AI example
“Success is not only about talent, it is also about discipline.”
Humanized rewrite
“Talent may open the door. Discipline keeps you in the room.”
Fix: Break symmetry. Humans use metaphors, contrast, or unpredictability to convey meaning.
9. Stacked Adverbs
AI piles adverbs.
Words to watch: deeply, profoundly, truly, remarkably.
AI example
“We were deeply, profoundly, truly grateful.”
Humanized rewrite
“We were grateful in ways words could not capture.”
Fix: Keep one if necessary. Replace the rest with stronger verbs or imagery.
10. Vague Authorities
AI relies on fuzzy attributions.
Words to watch: Research shows, Experts agree, Studies suggest.
AI example
“Studies suggest teamwork improves productivity.”
Humanized rewrite
“In a study of 180 teams, Google found that psychological safety was the strongest driver of success.”
Fix: Replace vagueness with specific studies, names, or lived experience.
11. Absolutes
AI likes absolutes.
Words to watch: always, never, everyone, no one.
AI example
“Everyone knows communication is the key to success.”
Humanized rewrite
“Many leaders know communication shapes success, but only a few practice it daily.”
Fix: Absolutes kill nuance. Use measured claims unless the fact is airtight.
12. Empty Rhetorical Questions
Words to watch: But what does this really mean? Can we afford to ignore this?
AI example
“But what does this really mean?”
Humanized rewrite
“But what does this really mean? It means leaders must stop hiding behind jargon and start speaking in plain language.”
Fix: If you ask, answer it.
13. Over-Structuring with Numbers
AI loves neat lists.
Words to watch: 5 reasons why, 3 key steps, Top 10 ways
AI example
“Here are 5 ways to succeed: work hard, stay focused, be consistent, never give up, and adapt.”
Humanized rewrite
“Most success stories rest on two habits: focus and adaptability. The rest follows.”
Fix: Use lists only when they fit. Flow before format.
14. “In Conclusion” Endings
Words to watch: In conclusion, To sum up, It is clear that …
AI example
“In conclusion, it is clear that teamwork is important.”
Humanized rewrite
“Teamwork shows its value when a colleague stays late to cover your shift.”
Fix: End with a story, question, or call to action.
15. Repetition for Filler
AI repeats the same idea in new words.
AI example
“Teamwork is important because it brings people together. When people come together as a team, they achieve more.”
Humanized rewrite
“Teamwork turns individual effort into collective achievement.”
Fix: Trim ruthlessly. Every sentence must earn its place.
16. Superficial Analyses
Words to watch: ensuring, highlighting, emphasizing, reflecting, underscoring.
AI example
“The College digitized admissions and exams, ensuring efficiency, highlighting transparency, and underscoring its commitment to progress.”
Humanized rewrite
“The College digitized admissions and exams, allowing students to register online, pay fees within minutes, and access their results right away. The long queues are now a thing of the past.”
Fix: Replace vague analysis with observable results.
17. Vague Attributions
Words to watch: Industry reports, Observers have cited, Some critics argue …
These are weasel phrases. They weaken credibility.
Fix: Attribute clearly: “A 2024 McKinsey report found …”
18. Undue Emphasis on Symbolism
Words to watch: stands as, serves as, is a testament, plays a vital role, watershed moment, lasting impact, profound heritage, steadfast dedication.
Fix: Avoid puffery. Let specifics prove importance.
19. Promotional Language
Words to watch: rich/vibrant cultural heritage, breathtaking, must-visit, stunning natural beauty, nestled in the heart of.
LLMs over-romanticize.
Fix: Maintain a neutral and factual tone.
20. Editorializing
Words to watch: It’s important to note, it is worth remembering, no discussion would be complete without.
AI sneaks commentary into neutral writing.
Fix: Strip out. Let evidence speak.
21. Outline-Like Conclusions
Words to watch: Despite its…, faces several challenges…, Despite these challenges…, Future outlook.
These make conclusions sound like a policy document.
Fix: End with insight or a story, rather than an outline.
22. Overuse of Passive Voice
AI leans heavily on passive constructions because they sound formal. Humans, however, usually prefer active, direct phrasing.
Words to watch: is argued, it has been suggested, it is believed, it was decided, it is being done.
AI example
“It has been suggested that communication is improved when meetings are shorter.”
Humanized rewrite
“Many managers found that shorter meetings improved communication.”
Fix: Use the active voice whenever possible. Use the passive voice only when the actor is unknown or irrelevant.
23. Unnatural Sentence Balance
AI often produces text where every sentence feels the same length, giving it a robotic rhythm. Humans naturally vary in sentence length – some short, some long, some conversational.
Words to watch: overly uniform sentence structures, repeated patterns like “X is…, Y is…, Z is…”
AI example
“The project is important. The team is dedicated. The results are significant. The impact is clear.”
Humanized rewrite
“The project matters. The team poured in their time and energy, often staying past midnight. Results followed.”
Fix: Mix short, medium, and long sentences. Vary the rhythm to match the tone and emphasis.
24. Emotional Flatness vs Forced Emotion
AI often either underplays emotion or overshoots with stacked intensifiers. Human writing strikes a balance between genuine emotional weight and restraint.
Words to watch: we were deeply, profoundly, truly, remarkably moved, or emotionless, with flat lines like “people felt sad.”
AI example (flat)
“People felt sad about the loss.”
AI example (forced)
“People were deeply, profoundly, truly devastated by the loss.”
Humanized rewrite
“People wept openly. For days, the village square was silent.”
Fix: Replace either flatness or overstatement with specific, sensory detail that conveys genuine emotion.
25. Hallucinated Authority and Misquotes
AI sometimes fabricates studies, misattributes quotes, or inflates one person’s view into a general consensus.
Words to watch: research confirms, experts say, reports indicate, according to leading scientists, most scholars agree.
AI example
“Experts say that 85% of productivity comes from communication, according to a Harvard study.” (no such study exists)
Humanized rewrite
“In 2015, Google studied 180 teams and found psychological safety was the top factor behind success.”
Fix: Always fact-check. Attribute to named, verifiable sources. If no source exists, rewrite with lived or observed evidence.
Quick Cleaning Guide
At a glance
- Break rhythm, vary length.
- Trim “And/But” starters.
- Cut inflated adjectives.
- Replace clichés with lived examples.
- Balance punctuation: limit dashes, colons, and ellipses.
- Break symmetry.
- Kill stacked adverbs.
- Replace vague “studies show” with named sources.
- Avoid absolutes unless factual.
- Answer rhetorical questions.
- Don’t force listicles.
- End with a punch, not “In conclusion.”
- Trim repetition.
Why the Human Touch Still Wins
AI is a fast drafter. But only humans bring:
- Voice → your rhythm, your perspective.
- Vulnerability → the stories only you can tell.
- Specificity → details that anchor trust.
At Hezron Insights, I remind writers that AI can help with drafting, yet only a human writer can give words real meaning and life. What truly matters is whether the writing feels intentional and authentic, rather than generic.”
Final Thoughts
Spotting AI fingerprints should never be seen as rejecting technology. The real goal is to protect the craft of writing.
Tools can help speed up drafts, yet they will never match the rhythm of lived experience, the weight of a personal story, or the credibility of precise details.
For writers, the task is straightforward: stay mindful, edit, and let your own voice guide the message.
What AI fingerprints have you spotted lately? How do you keep your writing sounding unmistakably human?
The writer is a Strategic Communications Expert, a best-selling author, and the Founder of Hezron Insights.