AI-powered writing tools have become the secret sauce for getting words down fast—no more staring blankly at a page wondering what to say.
But there’s a catch: as helpful as AI is, the resulting text can sometimes feel about as lively as a robot reading a phonebook.
Don’t worry, though. With a few easy tweaks, you can turn that stiff, mechanical prose into writing that sounds warm, authentic, and even a little bit fun.
Shake Up the Sentence Structure
AI tends to spit out sentences like a machine on autopilot—predictable and uniform.
Humans, on the other hand, mix it up.
By combining shorter, punchy sentences with longer, more descriptive ones, you create a natural rhythm that keeps readers awake.
Instead of, “We will delve into the topic of climate change,” try something like, “Climate change—yep, it’s a pretty big deal, and we really need to talk about it.”
Simplify the Language
No one casually says, “I shall endeavour to utilise this methodology.” We say, “I’m gonna try this idea” because we’re not robots.
Replacing overly formal words with simpler alternatives makes your text sound more like you just stepped out of a café conversation and less like you’re defending a PhD thesis.
Add Personality and a Wink
Don’t be afraid to show a bit of your personality. Throw in a quick anecdote, a touch of humor, or a hint of emotion. Instead of, “Teamwork is important,” you might say, “I saw it myself—without a decent team, I was as lost as a puppy in a library.”
A personal vibe can make your readers feel like they’re chatting with a real person rather than playing a text-based guessing game with a supercomputer.
Talk Like a Human, Not a Textbook
Humans use contractions, slang, and quirky turns of phrase. We say, “it’s” not “it is” (unless you’re really trying to sound fancy). And if a phrase like “delve into” makes you sound like a detective in a 1940s noir film, consider “look at” or “check out.” You’re not writing a legal contract—you’re having a conversation.
Read It Aloud and Listen for Awkwardness
Ever try reading your writing out loud? It’s like a magic trick that makes weird sentences glow in the dark.
If you stumble on a phrase or it feels as smooth as gravel, tweak it.
Another option is text-to-speech: let a robot read it to you. Ironically, a robot voice will reveal just how not-human your text sounds. Take notes and revise until it flows naturally.
Give the AI Better Directions from the Start
If you can, tell the AI right away,
“Write this as if you’re my cool friend who happens to know a lot about economics” or “Pretend you’re explaining this to my grandma—she’s hip, but she’s not a big fan of jargon.”
Clear instructions can help the AI produce text that’s closer to what you want, saving you some editing time.
By mixing up your sentences, simplifying your word choices, and sprinkling a bit of personality and humor into the mix, you can transform that AI-generated text from cold and robotic to friendly and human.
Who knew that all it took to outsmart a super-intelligent machine was a few well-chosen words and a wink?
