AI Writing Anti-Patterns
Field guide for detecting and revising AI-generated content indicators based on Wikipedia's "Signs of AI writing" guide.
When to Use
Invoke this skill:
- Before finalizing ANY AI-assisted writing
- When reviewing text for AI writing indicators
- When editing content to sound more natural
- After completing writing tasks (automatic via hooks)
The Iron Law
Check every piece of AI-assisted writing against these patterns before submission.
This is not optional. AI writing patterns are detectable and undermine credibility.
Quick Screening Order
Start with the most objective indicators:
| Priority | Section | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ChatGPT Artifacts | turn0search0, oaicite, contentReference |
| 2 | Citation Problems | Hallucinated DOIs, dead links, non-existent sources |
| 3 | Prompt Refusals | "As an AI language model...", "I hope this helps" |
| 4 | Puffery | "stands as", "plays a vital role", "rich tapestry" |
| 5 | Structure | Section summaries, "Despite challenges", rule of three |
Critical Patterns to Avoid
CRITICAL Severity (Immediate Revision Required)
These patterns are unambiguous AI artifacts:
ChatGPT-Specific Artifacts:
turn0search0,turn1search2(internal search references)oaicite:X(citation placeholders)contentReference[oaicite:X](unresolved references)- JSON attribution blocks in output
Prompt Refusals:
- "As an AI language model..."
- "I cannot provide..."
- "I hope this helps!"
- "I hope this email finds you well"
HIGH Severity (Strong Revision Recommended)
Puffery and Exaggeration:
- "stands as" (a testament/example/beacon)
- "plays a vital/crucial/pivotal role"
- "rich tapestry of"
- "nestled in/among"
- "it's important to note that"
- "delves into"
- "the landscape of"
Promotional Language:
- "groundbreaking", "transformative", "revolutionary"
- "unparalleled", "unprecedented"
- "cutting-edge", "state-of-the-art"
MEDIUM Severity (Review and Consider)
Structural Patterns:
- Section summaries that repeat the heading
- "Despite [challenge], [positive outcome]" formula
- Negative parallelisms: "However... Nevertheless..."
- Rule of three: exactly three examples every time
- Weasel wording: "some experts say", "it is believed"
Stylistic Quirks:
- Elegant variation (synonym cycling to avoid repetition)
- False ranges ("from X to Y" without real data)
- Title Case In All Headings
- Em dash overuse (—)
- Excessive boldface for emphasis
User-Voice Lint (legal drafting)
Words/phrases the model reaches for that don't match the user's voice:
- "has bite" / "bites" / "with bite" — model-reach for "has real effect." User never writes it. Replace with the specific effect: "raises the cost of X," "triggers quorum failure," "deters Y."
- Caveat phrasings (candidates to replace with
To be sure,):admittedly,granted,,of course,,that said,,to be clear,,no doubt,,we acknowledge that. UseTo be sure,*only* when the next sentence rebuts the concession (concede-then-rebut). If the next sentence extends the disclaimer or frames scope, leave the original phrasing or rewrite without a caveat word at all. - Bridge repetitions — when writing the first paragraph of a new section, check whether it restates the thesis from the prior section. Rewrite to advance the argument. See
writing-review/scripts/bridge_repetition_check.pyfor the detector.
How to Revise
For Puffery
| AI Pattern | Human Alternative |
|---|---|
| "stands as a testament to" | "shows" or "demonstrates" |
| "plays a vital role in" | "affects" or just state the effect |
| "rich tapestry of" | describe specifically what it contains |
| "nestled in the heart of" | "in" or "located in" |
| "delves into" | "examines" or "covers" |
For Structure
| AI Pattern | Human Alternative |
|---|---|
| Section summary of heading | Start with substance, not meta-commentary |
| "Despite challenges..." | State the reality directly without formula |
| Exactly three examples | Use the number that fits: 2, 4, 5, or just 1 |
| "It's important to note" | Just state the important thing |
For Promotional Language
| AI Pattern | Human Alternative |
|---|---|
| "groundbreaking" | describe what it actually does |
| "revolutionary" | compare to what came before |
| "cutting-edge" | specify the technology |
| "transformative" | show the transformation with evidence |
Reference Files
For detailed patterns and extensive examples, consult:
| File | Contents |
|---|---|
references/_index.md | Overview and quick screening guide |
references/01-puffery-and-exaggeration.md | "Stands as", superficial analyses |
references/02-promotional-language.md | "Rich tapestry", disclaimers |
references/03-structural-patterns.md | Section summaries, negative parallelisms |
references/04-stylistic-quirks.md | Elegant variation, false ranges |
references/05-formatting-and-typography.md | Boldface, em dashes, emojis |
references/06-communication-patterns.md | Subject lines, "I hope this helps" |
references/07-template-artifacts.md | Mad Libs patterns, placeholders |
references/08-markup-issues.md | Markdown vs wikitext confusion |
references/09-chatgpt-specific-artifacts.md | turn0search, oaicite |
references/10-citation-problems.md | Hallucinated DOIs, dead links |
references/11-meta-indicators.md | Abrupt cutoffs, style discrepancies |
Automatic Detection
This plugin includes PostToolUse hooks that automatically scan Write/Edit output for anti-patterns. When patterns are detected:
- Hook emits a warning with specific patterns found
- Claude immediately revises the content
- Revision removes or replaces flagged patterns
The hook checks for all CRITICAL and HIGH severity patterns automatically.
Rationalization Table - STOP If You Think:
| Excuse | Reality | Do Instead |
|---|---|---|
| "This puffery is appropriate for the register" | Puffery is never appropriate; precision always beats vagueness | REPLACE with concrete, specific language |
| "The user specifically requested this style" | Users request outcomes, not AI-smell | DELIVER the outcome without the patterns |
| "Bold emphasis is needed here for readability" | If you need bold to make it readable, the sentence is weak | REWRITE the sentence so it stands without formatting |
| "This hedge ('it's important to note') adds nuance" | It adds nothing; state the point directly | DELETE the hedge, keep the point |
| "The transition phrase connects the ideas" | "Furthermore" and "Moreover" are filler, not connection | CUT the transition; if ideas connect, the reader sees it |
| "This summary paragraph is helpful" | If the reader needs a summary of what you just said, you said it poorly | DELETE the summary, revise the original |
Drive-Aligned Framing
Skimming instead of checking each sentence against the pattern list is NOT HELPFUL — the user submits AI-smelling text that damages their credibility. Skimming is not checking.
- You let puffery pass because flagging it felt pedantic. The document reads as obviously AI-generated — your politeness destroyed the user's credibility.
- You skipped the anti-pattern check to save time. The user submits AI-smelling text — your efficiency embarrassed them.
Red Flags - Stop If You Think
| Thought | Why It's Wrong | Do Instead |
|---|---|---|
| "This sounds professional" | AI puffery sounds generic, not professional | Use concrete, specific language |
| "I'll add emphasis" | "Very important" and bold are AI tells | Let content speak for itself |
| "Let me summarize the section" | Section summaries are formulaic | Start with substance |
| "Three examples is a good number" | Rule of three is an AI pattern | Use the right number for the content |
Key Principles
From Wikipedia's guide:
- These are signs, not proof - Multiple indicators strengthen the case
- Context matters - Some patterns appear in human writing too
- Focus on deeper issues - Surface defects point to synthesis and quality problems
- Don't rely on detection tools - Human judgment required
Related Skills
/writing- Core writing principles from Elements of Style/writing-legal- Legal writing (Phase 2)/writing-econ- Economics writing (Phase 2)