As a Pro Editor, These Phrases Give Away AI-Written Content

AI or Human? 7 Phrases That Reveal ChatGPT-Written Content

AI-Written Content Is Hidden in Plain Sight: These Small Changes Can Reveal It Straight Away

Thanks to the rise of AI writing tools like ChatGPT, it’s never been easier to generate content quickly. But as a professional editor I can usually spot AI writing on a dime. Even the best tools leave traces of their artificiality give away phrases and patterns that shout “machine-written.”


If you’re using AI as a writing crutch, by all means, do so! Knowing what marks it as such, however helps you edit better so you make your content sound 100% human. These are common phrases and oddities that set off my editorial radar:

1.In conclusion

This one is a dead giveaway. There’s nothing wrong with concluding an article, but AI tools often default to “In conclusion” in a stiff, formulaic way. Human writers also more frequently employ natural transitions such as “So, what does this mean? or “Here’s the bottom line.”

2.It should be emphasized that

This is the phrase that is used too much in AI created content. It’s the type of vague, backfill language that tries to sound academic but really has no personality. Instead, a human might add, “You’ll want to remember this” or “Here’s why this matters.”

3.Over-Explaining the Obvious

ChatGPT tends to over explain things  explaining the basics that your target audience probably already knows. For instance, writing about mobile apps and explaining what a smartphone is unnecessary and somewhat robotic.

4.Repetitive Sentence Structures Use.

AI content seems repetitive, “the reason, this is due to..." "This means that" "This helps you to” While not factually inaccurate, the repetition exactly doesn’t have the natural lilt and variance you’d hear in a human voice. That’s something editors are attuned to right away.

5.Feature-Bores Like “In today’s world

If I could get a dollar for every time I read an article that started with “In today’s world,” I’d probably be able to afford to hire me a full-time copywriter. This kind of opening comes off as stilted and stale. Instead, grab the reader with a question, stat, or bold statement.

6.Excessive Politeness or Formality

AI has a tendency to write with a very formal and very polite tone even when the audience or topic does not warrant such tonal choices. Being professional is perfectly fine, but using stiff language such as “It’s advisable to consider” can give your content a detached feel.

7.Perfectly Balanced Paragraphs

Ironically, one of A.I.’s telltale signs is how perfect it wants to be. All paragraphs are neatly structured, and all points evenly spaced. Actual human writing is messier, some paragraphs full-length, some short and punchy. That variability is not only what makes content feel alive.

Final Thoughts

AI tools such as ChatGPT are fantastic, and I use them myself as a professional editor — for brainstorming, drafting and idea generation. But in order to stand out, you still need a human touch.

If you are reliant on A.I., don’t stop with that. Read your piece aloud, cut the fluff, swap out the phrasing, and double check that it sounds like you. 

That’s the secret to translating AI-optimized copy into something that resonates, something that feels truly human.

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