Stop Sounding Like a Robot: The Full List of AI Writing Giveaways

Most people copy what AI writes and post it, and their readers can tell. This is the full list of giveaways I check my own copy for, plus a prompt that checks any copy for every one of them and fixes it.

A free guide by Zach Crawford

I use AI to write every day. I'm not telling you to stop.

But don't just copy what it gives you and post it. People can tell, even when they can't say why. And once they think a robot wrote it, they stop trusting the person who posted it.

Here's my full list of giveaways, and a prompt that checks any copy for every one of them.

Step 1. Learn the giveaways

There are two kinds. Always fix: these are AI almost every time. Look twice: AI loves them, but sometimes a real person talks that way too. If it's how you really talk, keep it.

Always fix

1. The flip. It's not this, it's that. Also not just X, but Y and not only X, but also Y. AI uses this one constantly.
2. Summary endings. That's the whole game. (Or the whole trick, the whole point, the whole thing.) That's the bar. Here's the kicker. The best part? Let that sink in. It's that simple. End on the point and stop.
3. A little fragment tacked on the end for drama. Every single time. Every. Single. Day.
4. The long dash. Real people barely use it. AI puts it in every other sentence. Same for the short dash. Use a full stop, a comma or a colon.
5. Curly quotes. Use the straight ones on your keyboard.
6. The AI words: delve, tapestry, testament, underscore, showcase, pivotal, robust, vibrant, crucial, meticulous, garner, realm, elevate, harness, enduring, boasts, foster, align with, rich history, vital role, lasting impact.
7. Essay words. Starting a sentence with however, therefore, moreover, furthermore, additionally, consequently, thus, hence, nevertheless or nonetheless. And in conclusion, to sum up, as a result, that being said, it's worth noting, it's important to note.
8. Chatbot leftovers. I hope this helps. Certainly! Great question. I'd be happy to. Let me know if you'd like... Would you like me to... As an AI. Anything about a knowledge cutoff. Placeholders like [Insert X] or [Your Name] left in.

Look twice

1. The hype words: leverage, seamless, unlock, unleash, empower, streamline, cutting-edge, game-changer, revolutionize, transformative, synergy, paradigm, supercharge, effortless, next-level, compelling, comprehensive, journey, curated, crafted, embark, dive in, level up, in today's, ever-evolving, fast-paced.
2. Softer flips: not X, but Y and X, rather than Y.
3. Openers that only fill space: whether you're just starting or you've been at it for years, that's where my program comes in, say goodbye to, picture this, when it comes to, at the end of the day, here's the thing, the truth is, the key is.
4. A question it answers itself in the next breath. The secret? Showing up. Just say it.
5. Groups of three, over and over. Three neat items, three clauses, three beats. Change the count.
6. Two soft words where one does the job: might perhaps, can often sometimes.
7. Vague sources: experts say, studies show, with no name behind them. Name the source or cut it.
8. The tidy wrap-up. An "and that's why it matters" line at the end. Let some lines just stop.
9. Fancy words for plain ones. If the word is "is", write "is". And swapping in synonyms just to avoid saying the same word twice. Repeating a word is human.
10. Formatting: bold on half the phrases, bullets that all start with a bold label, emoji used as bullets, Title Case On Every Word, semicolons.
11. Every single or each and every used only for weight. I use it every single day is fine if you'd say it out loud.

Step 2. Run the check on any copy

Open Claude Code and paste this. Before you send it, put your copy at the bottom. If you have them, paste 2 or 3 short samples of your own writing where it says [your samples]. If not, delete that line.

Check my copy for AI writing giveaways, then fix them.

Go through my copy at the bottom line by line, and look for everything on this list.

ALWAYS FIX:
1. The flip: `it's not this, it's that`, `not just X, but Y`, `not only X, but also Y`.
2. Summary endings: `that's the whole game` (or the whole trick, point or thing), `that's the actual...`, `that's the bar`, `here's the kicker`, `the best part?`, `let that sink in`, `it's that simple`.
3. A little fragment tacked on the end for drama, like `Every single time.` or `Every. Single. Day.`
4. The long dash (em dash) and the short dash (en dash). Use a full stop, a comma or a colon.
5. Curly quotes. Use straight ones.
6. These words, in any form: `delve, tapestry, testament, underscore, showcase, pivotal, robust, vibrant, crucial, meticulous, garner, realm, elevate, harness, enduring, boasts, foster, align with, rich history, vital role, lasting impact`.
7. Sentences that start with however, therefore, moreover, furthermore, additionally, consequently, thus, hence, nevertheless or nonetheless. And these anywhere: `in conclusion`, `to sum up`, `as a result`, `that being said`, `it's worth noting`, `it's important to note`.
8. Chatbot leftovers: `I hope this helps`, `Certainly!`, `Great question`, `I'd be happy to`, `Let me know if you'd like`, `Would you like me to`, `As an AI`, lines about a knowledge cutoff, and placeholders like `[Insert X]` or `[Your Name]`.

LOOK TWICE (fix it, unless it's how I really talk):
9. These words: `leverage, seamless, unlock, unleash, empower, streamline, cutting-edge, game-changer, revolutionize, transformative, synergy, paradigm, supercharge, effortless, next-level, compelling, comprehensive, journey, curated, crafted, embark, dive in, level up, in today's, ever-evolving, fast-paced`.
10. `not X, but Y` and `X, rather than Y`.
11. Openers that only fill space: `whether you're just starting or you've been at it for years`, `that's where my program comes in`, `say goodbye to`, `picture this`, `when it comes to`, `at the end of the day`, `here's the thing`, `the truth is`, `the key is`.
12. A question it answers itself in the next breath, like `The secret? Showing up.` Just say it.
13. Groups of three: three neat items or clauses in a row, over and over.
14. Two soft words where one does the job: `might perhaps`, `can often sometimes`.
15. Vague sources: `experts say`, `studies show`, with no name behind them.
16. A tidy "and that's why it matters" ending. Let it stop on the point.
17. A fancy word where a plain one works, and swapping in synonyms just to avoid repeating a word.
18. Formatting: bold on half the phrases, bullets that all start with a bold label, emoji used as bullets, Title Case On Every Word, semicolons.
19. `every single` or `each and every` used only for weight.

Then give me:
1. A table: the line, which giveaway it is (use the number from the list), and the fix. Quote my words exactly.
2. The full rewrite with every fix made. Keep my meaning, my facts, my numbers and my call to action. Same length or shorter.
3. Anything you left alone on purpose, and why.

Rules:
- Never add facts, numbers, results, stories or quotes I didn't give you. If a line needs one, leave a blank like [your number] for me to fill in.
- Only flag what's on the list. Don't hunt for problems that aren't there. If my copy is clean, say so.
- Short sentences and plain words. It should sound like a person talking.

How I write (optional: paste 2 or 3 samples of your own writing here, or delete this line): [your samples]

My copy:
[paste your copy here]

You get a table of every giveaway it found, with the number from the list, then the rewrite. It keeps your facts and your numbers. If a line needs something only you know, it leaves a blank for you instead of making it up.

If your copy is already clean, it tells you so and changes nothing.

Step 3. Keep teaching it how you talk

Read the rewrite out loud. If a line doesn't sound like you, change it yourself. You're the last check, not the AI.

Save the prompt somewhere you can grab it fast. Every time you catch a new giveaway in your own copy, add it to the list. Every time it flags something you really say, take it off. After a few weeks, it's your list, not mine.

Want it built in, so you never paste it again? My MARKETER guide shows how to turn this into a skill (number 1, Human): https://zachcrawford.com/guides/marketer

The limits, honestly

• It checks for patterns. It can't tell if your copy is any good. A clean check on a boring post is still a boring post.
• It only knows your voice if you give it samples. Without them, the rewrite sounds clean but plain.
• "Look twice" means look twice. Some of those are how real people talk. Don't strip your copy until it sounds like nobody.
• Long copy works better in pieces. Check a long email or a sales page one section at a time.