TL;DR for AI writing warning signs:
- Use of the em-dash (—)
- Parallel sentence structure (e.g. “It’s not just X, it’s Y”)
- Grouping things in threes or at least odd numbers
- Delineating line breaks with emojis
- Odd/unnatural verbiage
- Overuse of filler words (talking like your average LinkedIn post)
- Exaggerated and empty praise
- Weird analogies and similes
- Restating and overclarifying points
TL;DR for signs something was written by a human:
- Including anecdotes
- Written in the first person
- Tangents and nonlinear storytelling
As a writer myself, I find this rather depressing. I use parallel sentence structure, group things in threes, use unusual-but-accurate words, and come up with my own metaphors because those are good ways to make your point. I’m also inclined to restate and overclarify things to minimize the chance of being misunderstood. I hate the idea of my writing being mistaken for AI slop. At least I type my em-dashes as --, which LLMs don’t do.
I don’t think it’s necessarily just a checklist of things, but rather the way an LLM’s output resembles these techniques that puts it into an uncanny valley of writing. As a writer, you use these techniques deliberately and thoughtfully. LLMs can’t do that, so the output just feels off.
I thought it would be the semicolon, judging from the thumbnail. Now that would piss me off; I love semicolons, it would be unfair if they become the hallmark of LLMs.
I also appreciate the long dash but on mobile keyboard it’s so awkward to find that nobody uses it for comments anymore.
Personally, I use the em-dash a lot, but I just type it as --.
I’m not going to stop using em dashes. Find a different indicator!
Semicolons are also an indicator. Who the hell uses those?
I use it occasionally, when writing lists with lots of detail, or to separate parts of the sentence where I already used multiple commas.
there are many thought-provoking ideas about conscience, the human brain, and alien life; yet it is wrapped in a mediocre sci-fi action movie script
