alenazaharovaux/ai-writing-detox

AI writing detox

Good writing is invisible. If readers notice the writing style, it's distracting from the content. AI patterns are noticeable—they break trust.

When to use

• Writing or editing any journalism content
• Creating press releases or media advisories
• Drafting documentation or reports
• Writing social media posts
• Reviewing any AI-assisted text before publication

Banned words (delete or replace)

| Word | Why it's bad | Alternative | |------|--------------|-------------| | delve | AI signature word | explore, examine, look at | | realm | Pretentious | area, field | | tapestry | Purple prose | (delete entirely) | | landscape | Corporate speak | situation, environment | | leverage | Jargon | use | | utilize | Jargon | use | | robust | Meaningless | strong, reliable | | seamless | Almost always false | smooth, easy | | comprehensive | Rarely necessary | full, complete | | cutting-edge | Cliché | modern, new | | holistic | Corporate | complete, full | | synergy | Corporate | (delete, rewrite) | | paradigm | Overused | model, approach | | empower | Vague | (be specific about what capability) | | innovative | Empty praise | (describe what's new) | | transformative | Hyperbolic | changed, improved | | rich | (as modifier) | (delete or be specific) |

Banned phrases

Throat-clearing (delete entirely)

• "It's important to note that..."
• "In today's [X] landscape..."
• "Let's dive/delve into..."
• "Without further ado..."
• "In this article, we will..."
• "It's worth mentioning that..."
• "It goes without saying..."
• "As we all know..."

Empty hedges

• "To be fair..." / "To be honest..."
• "At the end of the day..."
• "When it comes to..."
• "In terms of..."
• "With respect to..."

AI enthusiasm

• "This is a game-changer"
• "...and that's a good thing!"
• "Here's the thing:"
• "...and that's okay!"
• "...and I'm here for it"

Corporate buzzwords

• "Moving forward..."
• "Going forward..."
• "At this point in time..."
• "Due to the fact that..."
• "In order to..."

Banned rhythm patterns (AI staccato)

The most recognizable AI writing pattern is choppy dramatic fragments — short sentence followed by a contradicting fragment, used for rhetorical punch. Humans don't write this way. It reads as artificial and manipulative.

The contrast fragment

❌ "Police estimated fifty victims. The court proved two. Not a series." ❌ "He was arrested. Tried. Convicted. Not as a serial killer." ❌ "Cases exist. Data exists. A system does not."

✅ Weave the contrast into a flowing sentence: "Police estimated fifty victims, but the court proved only two." "He was arrested, tried, and convicted — though not as a serial killer, because the category didn't exist."

The punch-line fragment

❌ "She sold poison for decades. To women who wanted their husbands dead." ❌ "Two investigations. Same region. Neither knew about the other."

✅ Complete the sentence: "She sold poison for decades to women who wanted to be rid of their husbands." "Two investigations ran in parallel in the same region, and neither knew about the other."

The staccato list

❌ "No definition. No unit. No database. No research program."

✅ Use a proper sentence with a list: "There was no definition, no specialized unit, no database, and no research program."

Why this matters

This pattern is the #1 tell that text was AI-generated. Readers recognize it instantly — even if they can't name it. It feels like a screenplay, not journalism. Real journalists write flowing sentences with natural rhythm variation. Short sentences are fine — but fragments used for dramatic effect are not.

Banned structures

Don't start sentences with:

• "So," or "Well,"
• "Now," (when not about time)
• "Look," or "Listen,"
• "Basically," or "Essentially,"

Don't end sentences with:

• "...right?"
• "...you know?"
• "...if you will"

The substitution table

| If you wrote | Write instead | |--------------|---------------| | utilize | use | | facilitate | help | | implement | build, add, create | | leverage | use | | functionality | feature | | methodology | method | | in order to | to | | due to the fact that | because | | at this point in time | now | | a large number of | many | | in the event that | if | | prior to | before | | subsequent to | after | | in close proximity to | near | | has the ability to | can |

Case sensitivity

Always use sentence case for headings, not title case.

| Wrong | Right | |-------|-------| | Getting Started With Your Project | Getting started with your project | | How To Use The Tool | How to use the tool | | Best Practices For Journalism | Best practices for journalism |

Journalism-specific patterns to avoid

"Not just X—it's Y" pattern

❌ "This isn't just a news story—it's a wake-up call" ❌ "This wasn't just a press conference—it was a turning point"

✅ State the thing directly without dramatic framing

"Fundamentally transforms" pattern

❌ "This fundamentally transforms how newsrooms operate" ❌ "This represents a fundamental shift in journalism"

✅ Describe the actual change without hyperbole

Inflated claims in reporting

❌ "A bombshell revelation" ❌ "A major milestone" ❌ "A groundbreaking investigation"

✅ Let the facts speak. Readers judge significance.

Empty transitions

❌ "With that in mind..." ❌ "Building on this foundation..." ❌ "Taking this a step further..."

✅ Just make the next point

Before and after examples

Example 1: General prose

AI slop:

In today's rapidly evolving media landscape, it's crucial to understand the multifaceted nature of AI tools. Let's delve into how these robust solutions can help journalists leverage cutting-edge technology.

Human writing:

AI tools do three things well: drafting, research, and analysis. Here's when to use each.

Example 2: News lede

AI slop:

The city council meeting was a comprehensive and transformative discussion that fundamentally addressed key issues affecting residents in a meaningful way.

Human writing:

The city council voted 5-2 Tuesday to raise property taxes by 3 percent.

Example 3: Feature intro

AI slop:

In the rich tapestry of American journalism, few stories are as compelling as the one about to unfold. This isn't just a profile—it's a journey into the heart of what makes local news truly matter.

Human writing:

Maria Rodriguez has published a newspaper for 47 years. She's never missed an issue.

Example 4: Analysis piece

AI slop:

Moving forward, stakeholders must leverage innovative approaches to navigate the challenging landscape of digital transformation in the journalism ecosystem.

Human writing:

Local papers that want to survive need to find digital revenue. Most haven't.

The verbal tic test

Read your text aloud. Does it sound like:

• A TED talk introduction? Rewrite.
• A LinkedIn post? Rewrite.
• A press release? Rewrite.
• Corporate communications? Rewrite.
• How you'd explain it to a colleague? Keep it.

Quick self-check before publishing

Search your text for:

1. "delve" → delete or replace
2. "landscape" → delete or replace
3. "crucial" → is it actually crucial?
4. "robust" → what does this mean here?
5. "leverage" → just say "use"
6. "comprehensive" → is this word doing any work?
7. Starting "So," → delete

Found any? Your writing needs another pass.

Red flags in technical/analysis writing

1. Lists of near-synonyms: "comprehensive, sophisticated, and robust" (pick one or none)
2. Excessive hedging: "may potentially be able to possibly..."
3. Noun stacking: "production-ready deployment system infrastructure"
4. Passive voice hiding agency: "It was determined that..." (by whom?)
5. Circular definitions: "The system enables users to use the functionality"

The ultimate test

Before accepting any AI-assisted text, ask:

1. Can I delete this word/phrase without losing meaning? → Delete it
2. Is this the simplest way to say this? → Simplify
3. Would I say this out loud to a colleague? → If not, rewrite
4. Does this add information or just sound impressive? → If the latter, cut it

Remember: If readers think "AI wrote this," you've already lost their trust.

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Good writing is invisible. If readers notice the writing, it's getting in the way of the content.