Stop Sounding Like a Robot
A quick guide to spotting (and fixing) machine-generated content.
54%
of LinkedIn posts are AI generated
30%
less reach
55%
less engagement
You're trading your voice for worse performance.
Sources: Originality.ai LinkedIn Study 2026, Autoposting.ai Algorithm Research 2025
1. Punctuation & Formatting
The stuff you can spot in 2 seconds.
Em dashes everywhere
The #1 giveaway. AI uses em dashes as a crutch instead of commas, periods, or conjunctions. It's called the "ChatGPT dash" now.
This is important — and here is why
This is important. Here is why.
Overuse of bold and markdown
Random bold text, markdown formatting, headers mid-post. Real folks don't bold every third phrase in natural writing.
Bullet lists mid-paragraph
Bullet points appearing in the middle of what should be flowing text. Humans rarely interrupt themselves with a formatted list.
Uniform paragraph length
Every paragraph is roughly the same size. Same sentence count, same visual weight. Humans are messy and lopsided.
Semicolons as connectors
AI connects simple phrases with semicolons instead of "and," "but," or "so." Kills the natural flow.
2. The AI Dictionary
Words no human actually says out loud.
The classics
These appear 2-5x more often in AI text than human text. Clusters of them are a red flag.
delve, leverage, utilize, robust, comprehensive, seamless, multifaceted
The journey words
AI loves sending everything on a journey through a landscape.
embark, navigate, landscape, realm, tapestry, rich tapestry
The promotion words
Even when not selling anything, AI writes like ad copy.
elevate, foster, harness, empower, illuminate, underscore, showcase
Formal transitions nobody says
Real people say "plus," "on top of that," or "also."
moreover, furthermore, consequently, additionally, nevertheless
No contractions
Writes "do not" instead of "don't." Reads like a legal doc vs a person.
Hedge phrases
Constant qualifiers that water down every statement.
"it's worth noting," "generally speaking," "arguably"
3. Structure Tells
The deeper patterns that make it feel "off."
The book report formula
Every paragraph = topic sentence, evidence, tidy conclusion. Real folks go deep on one thing and barely mention another.
Metronomic sentence rhythm
AI sentences average 15-25 words with almost zero variation. Humans mix short punches with long rambles. Two words.
The triple pattern
Constant grouping in threes. Real people don't structure every thought as a triad.
"fast, reliable, and scalable" then "clarity, consistency, commitment"
Mix it up. Two things. Five things. Whatever fits.
"From X to Y" constructions
AI uses this template constantly to show range or variety.
"From bustling cities to serene landscapes"
The -ing clause
Main clause, comma, present participle. AI uses this 2-5x more than humans.
The system processes data, revealing key insights
The system processes data. Here's what it found.
Formulaic closers
"In conclusion," "Overall," or "In summary" then repeating everything. Real endings just end.
4. Tone & Voice Tells
Why it sounds like nobody and everybody at once.
Forced optimism
Always lands positive even when the topic doesn't call for it. Every problem has a silver lining.
Never commits to an opinion
Presents "both sides" even when unnecessary. Real writing has conviction. AI is perpetually wishy-washy.
Autopilot openers
We can all smell these from a mile away.
"Let's dive in," "Here's the thing," "In today's fast-paced world"
Zero personal experience
Everything stays abstract. No stories, no mistakes, no lived details. AI can't tell you about the 2am deploy that broke prod.
Grammar is TOO perfect
No fragments, no broken rules for emphasis. Real writers break rules on purpose.
Promotional for no reason
Even mundane topics get the press-release treatment.
"This groundbreaking approach revolutionizes how we..."
5. The Subtle Tells
The ones only heavy AI users catch.
Avoids specifics and names
Defaults to generic references. No real names, places, or dates. 60-70% of AI fiction names are "Emily" or "Sarah."
Regresses to the mean
Averages millions of writing styles into one bland middle. Every interesting voice combined into one uninteresting average.
Same syntactic skeleton
Subject-verb-object, subject-verb-object, repeat. Humans invert, fragment, and surprise.
Sycophantic agreement
"Great question!" "Really insightful!" AI is trained to validate you. Humans push back.
No humor, slang, or personality
No sarcasm, no idioms, no regional flavor. The writing has no fingerprint because there's no person behind it.