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)

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 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

Case sensitivity

Always use sentence case for headings, not title case.

Journalism-specific patterns to avoid

"Not just X—it's Y" pattern

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

Do instead: State the thing directly without dramatic framing

"Fundamentally transforms" pattern

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

Do instead: Describe the actual change without hyperbole

Inflated claims in reporting

Avoid: "A bombshell revelation" Avoid: "A major milestone" Avoid: "A groundbreaking investigation"

Do instead: Let the facts speak. Readers judge significance.

Empty transitions

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

Do instead: Just make the next point

"It's not about X, it's about Y" pattern

Avoid: "It's not about the technology, it's about the people" Avoid: "This isn't about clicks. It's about trust."

Do instead: State the actual point without rhetorical setup. The X-not-Y construction is the dominant 2025-2026 ChatGPT/Claude rhetorical signature.

Em-dash overuse between independent clauses

Avoid: "The vote was close — only three council members opposed it — but the measure passed." Avoid: "Reporters arrived early — the press conference was already underway."

Do instead: Use commas, periods, or semicolons. Em-dashes are fine in moderation; reflexive use across every paragraph is a tell.

"The reality is..." / "The truth is..." openers

Avoid: "The reality is, most newsrooms can't afford this." Avoid: "The truth is, readers don't trust anonymous sources."

Do instead: Just state the claim. The opener adds words and signals AI-generated framing.

Tricolon abuse (reflexive three-item lists)

Avoid: "Clear, concise, and compelling reporting." Avoid: "Trust is built through accuracy, transparency, and consistency."

Do instead: Use one or two specific points. Three-item parallel lists are an AI rhythm pattern that reads as filler when used reflexively.