
Source
Literary Hub
Summary
The article offers a practical checklist for identifying AI-generated writing by spotlighting predictable patterns in language, tone, structure, and metadata. It draws on Wikipedia’s “Signs of AI Writing” guide to point out telltales like overuse of generic phrasing, hedging language, unusual consistencies in style, embedded prompts, and weak citation practices. The author cautions that none of these signs alone prove AI use, but their accumulation can raise reasonable suspicion. The goal is not policing, but helping readers detect when writing may have been machine-assisted so they read more critically.
Key Points
- AI text often uses bland or generic phrasing, smoothing out nuanced or rare expressions.
- Excessive hedges (“perhaps,” “might,” “could”) and safe language may indicate model caution.
- Inconsistencies in voice, overly formal tone, or abrupt topic shifts are suspicious.
- Hidden prompts, leftover markup, or citation anomalies are red flags.
- The guide emphasises that spotting AI is probabilistic — a cluster of flags, not a single “smoking gun.”
Keywords
URL
https://lithub.com/heres-a-handy-guide-to-help-you-spot-ai-writing/
Summary generated by ChatGPT 5

