---
name: ai-isms
description: "Apply this skill when writing or reviewing ANY content and the goal is human-sounding, credible output. Triggers include: 'check for AI-isms,' 'does this sound AI-generated,' 'make this sound more human,' 'clean up the AI tells,' 'polish this,' or any time content will be published under a human's name and authenticity matters. Applies to blog posts, social captions, emails, proposals, Substack, website copy, bios, and any long-form written content. Not limited to sales copy."
---

# AI-Isms: Detection and Elimination

You are reviewing content for patterns that signal machine-generated writing. These patterns don't just sound bad — they erode credibility and trust, especially when content is published under a human's name.

**Core rule:** Direct, specific, human. If a phrase could be deleted without losing meaning, delete it. If a sentence is setting up its own importance rather than just stating the point, cut the setup.

---

## The Patterns

---

### 1. Negative Parallelisms

**What it is:** Using a negative construction to dismiss one idea, then pivoting to the "real" point.

**Core pattern and variants:**
- "X isn't just A — it's B"
- "This isn't about X, it's about Y"
- "Not only X, but also Y"
- "X doesn't merely do A, it does B"
- "It's not that X, it's that Y"
- "These aren't just X, they're Y"

**Warning signs:** Any sentence containing "isn't," "aren't," "doesn't," "don't," or "not" followed by a contrasting connector (but, rather, instead, however) or an em dash.

**Fix:** Make a direct positive statement. Never set up a negative to deliver the real point.

| Bad | Good |
|-----|------|
| "The number in your account is no longer a threat — it's just information." | "The number in your account becomes information. No threat. No emergency." |
| "These aren't just annoying moments — they're signals you need new tools." | "These 'annoying moments' are signals you need new tools." |
| "This isn't a course, it's a complete system." | "This is a complete system." |

---

### 2. Colon Headlines ("Title: Explanatory Subtitle")

**What it is:** Section headers formatted as "[Statement]: [Explanation]" — functioning as academic labels rather than narrative hooks.

**Examples to eliminate:**
- "The Science of Habit Formation: How Your Brain Creates Lasting Change"
- "From Chaos to Clarity: Organizing Your Digital Life in Three Simple Steps"
- "The Attention Economy: How Big Tech Monetizes Your Focus"
- "Beyond First Impressions: Developing Relationships That Last"

**Fix:** Write headlines as direct claims, specific scenarios, or questions. A headline should pull the reader forward, not label what's coming.

| Bad | Good |
|-----|------|
| "The Science of Habit Formation: How Your Brain Creates Lasting Change" | "Your brain physically changes every time you repeat a behavior" |
| "Financial Freedom Blueprint: The Step-by-Step System for Building Wealth" | "The $100K in my account wasn't an accident" |

---

### 3. Philosophical Thought-Piece Headlines

**What it is:** Abstract, essay-like headers that sound meaningful but describe no specific situation and advance nothing.

**Patterns to eliminate:**
- "The Journey From X to Y"
- "The Hidden Cost of Z"
- "When X Becomes Y"
- "The Nature of [Abstract Concept]"
- "The Space Between X and Y"
- "The False Promise of Z"
- "The Invisible [Metaphor] of Your [Area of Life]"

**Fix:** Replace with the specific experience, scenario, or direct claim you're actually making.

| Bad | Good |
|-----|------|
| "The Invisible Operating System Running Your Life" | "I can explain exactly why I keep sabotaging myself, but I still can't stop doing it" |
| "When Helping Others Becomes Self-Abandonment" | "You've cancelled your own plans to support someone else three times this month" |
| "The Undercurrent of Anxiety Beneath Modern Success" | "The promotion felt good for about a week" |

---

### 4. Buzzwords and Empty Marketing Language

**Banned words — delete on sight:**

leverage, unlock, holistic, methodology, actionable, insights, game-changer, game-changing, revolutionary, paradigm shift, synergistic, synergy, empower, empowering, unparalleled, transformational, seamless, innovative, cutting-edge, robust, scalable, dynamic, comprehensive, overarching, best-in-class, world-class, thought leader, disruptive

**Banned phrases:**
- "financial sovereignty"
- "unshakeable confidence"
- "take your power back"
- "in today's fast-paced world"
- "the future is now"
- "at the end of the day"
- "it goes without saying"
- "more than ever before"

**Fix:** Say the specific thing. "Actionable insights" → name the insight and what it allows you to do. "Holistic methodology" → name the components and why they work together.

---

### 5. Importance Inflation

**What it is:** A small vocabulary of phrases used to tell the reader something matters rather than letting the content demonstrate it.

**Patterns to eliminate:**
- "serves as a testament to"
- "plays a vital/significant/important role"
- "underscores its importance"
- "continues to captivate"
- "leaves a lasting impact"
- "watershed moment"
- "deeply rooted"
- "stands as a symbol of"
- "steadfast dedication"

**Fix:** Delete the phrase and let the statement stand alone. If it can't stand alone, strengthen the statement.

| Bad | Good |
|-----|------|
| "This approach serves as a testament to our commitment to quality." | "We built this over three years to solve this specific problem." |
| "Her work continues to leave a lasting impact on the field." | "Her framework is still taught in programs she's never heard of." |

---

### 6. The False Range

**What it is:** A "from X to Y" structure that sounds like it covers the full spectrum but actually says nothing specific.

**Examples:**
- "You'll learn everything from mindset shifts to tactical scripts."
- "We cover everything from beginner concepts to advanced strategies."
- "Topics range from personal development to professional growth."

**Fix:** Name the specific things. If there are two things, say both. If there are many, pick the two most interesting.

| Bad | Good |
|-----|------|
| "You'll learn everything from mindset shifts to tactical email scripts." | "You'll learn the one mindset shift that makes writing emails easy, and you'll get 15 scripts to prove it." |

---

### 7. The Rule of Three (Overused)

**What it is:** Grouping adjectives or items in trios to create artificial completeness. Not always wrong, but its overuse is a clear AI tell.

**Examples:**
- "faster, smarter, and stronger"
- "keynote sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities"
- "clarity, confidence, and control"
- "bold, beautiful, and unapologetically you"

**Fix:** Use one strong descriptor instead of three weak ones. Or use two. The number three has become a cliché of AI-generated copy.

---

### 8. Unnecessary Qualification Phrases

**What it is:** Preamble that delays the point and signals the writer isn't confident enough to just state it.

**Patterns to delete entirely:**
- "It's worth noting that..."
- "It should be mentioned that..."
- "One important point is that..."
- "What's particularly interesting is..."
- "It is important to understand that..."
- "It bears mentioning that..."

**Fix:** Delete the phrase. Start with the point.

| Bad | Good |
|-----|------|
| "It's worth noting that consistency is the key to results." | "Consistency is the key to results." |
| "What's particularly interesting is that most founders skip this step." | "Most founders skip this step." |

---

### 9. Authorial Interjection

**What it is:** The writing narrating its own importance or telling the reader how to feel about what they just read.

**Patterns to eliminate:**
- "It's important to note..."
- "It is worth remembering..."
- "It is crucial to consider..."
- "No discussion would be complete without..."
- "This is a critical point..."
- "What follows is perhaps the most important part..."

**Fix:** Trust the reader. State the point and move on.

---

### 10. Section Summaries

**What it is:** Ending a section by restating what was just said, academic-essay style.

**Patterns to eliminate:**
- "In conclusion..."
- "In summary..."
- "Overall..."
- "To sum up..."
- "As we've seen..."
- "This demonstrates that..."

**Fix:** Every section should end with forward momentum — a transition, an open loop, or a high point that pulls the reader to the next section. Never a restatement.

---

### 11. Tacked-On "-ing" Clauses

**What it is:** Ending a sentence with a participial phrase that states an obvious implication or adds fake analytical weight.

**Patterns to watch:**
- "..., ensuring [obvious outcome]"
- "..., highlighting the fact that..."
- "..., emphasizing the importance of..."
- "..., reflecting the growing trend of..."
- "..., demonstrating that..."
- "..., underscoring the need for..."

**Fix:** Delete the clause entirely. If the point matters, give it its own sentence.

| Bad | Good |
|-----|------|
| "The program includes weekly coaching calls, ensuring you get personalized support." | "You get personalized support on the weekly coaching calls." |
| "She negotiated a $20,000 raise, highlighting the power of the script." | "The script was so powerful she negotiated a $20,000 raise." |

---

### 12. Conjunctive Throat-Clearing

**What it is:** Overusing transition words in an essay-like, stilted way that feels mechanical rather than conversational.

**Overused words:** moreover, furthermore, additionally, in addition, consequently, thus, therefore, hence, notwithstanding

**Fix:** Use these sparingly. Most of the time, a period and a new sentence reads more naturally.

---

### 13. Formatting Tells

Small punctuation and formatting habits that collectively signal unedited AI output:

**Title Case in Headers**
AIs default to capitalizing every major word. Sentence case is more human and more direct for most content.

| AI default | Human |
|------------|-------|
| "The Most Important Lesson I Learned From Failure" | "The most important lesson I learned from failure" |

**Mechanical Bolding**
Bolding keywords and definitions like a textbook. Bold emotional hooks, surprising claims, or critical points — not every term being introduced.

**Em Dash Overuse**
Em dashes appear constantly in AI output. Humans rarely use them. If there are more than two per page, cut some. Use a comma, colon, or period instead.

**Curly vs. Straight Quotes**
AI outputs curly "smart" quotes (`" "`). Most web publishing uses straight quotes (`" "`). Inconsistency — especially in testimonials — is a subtle trust signal.

---

## Quick-Pass Checklist

Run this before publishing anything:

- [ ] No negative parallelisms ("isn't just," "not X — it's Y")
- [ ] No colon headlines
- [ ] No thought-piece abstract headers
- [ ] No banned buzzwords
- [ ] No importance inflation phrases
- [ ] No false range constructions
- [ ] No unnecessary qualification preamble
- [ ] No authorial interjection
- [ ] No section summaries
- [ ] No tacked-on "-ing" clauses
- [ ] Conjunction words (moreover, furthermore) used max once per piece
- [ ] Headers in sentence case
- [ ] Em dashes used sparingly
- [ ] Quotes consistent throughout

---

## Output Format When Reviewing Content

**AI-ism count** — Total number found and a severity rating (low / medium / high).

**Flagged passages** — Each instance with: the original / the pattern it is / a rewrite.

**Verdict** — "Reads human" / "Borderline" / "Clearly AI-generated."