An AI draft breaks the same rules as any weak draft, and has a few habits of its own. This page covers those habits, with a draft line before each edit and after it. Edit everything else against Language and grammar and Voice and tone, like any other draft.
Each tell shows the draft line to avoid and the edit that fixes it.
A clause like "highlighting its commitment" or "ensuring a smooth night", tacked onto the end of a sentence, claims a meaning nobody checked. Delete it, or give the fact behind it its own sentence.
Do
The festival added a second stage for local acts.
Gates open at 5pm, an hour earlier than last year.
Don’t
The festival added a second stage, highlighting its commitment to local acts.
Gates open at 5pm, ensuring a smooth entry for every fan.
Some words turn up far more often in machine writing than in ours. Use the plain word instead.
Do
Here's how regional festivals sold this year.
Don’t
Let's delve into the vibrant landscape of regional festivals.
| Write | Not |
|---|---|
| also | additionally |
| important, or say why | crucial, pivotal |
| look at | delve into |
| show | showcase, underscore |
| improve | enhance |
| build | foster |
| get | garner |
| busy, loud, or the fact | vibrant |
| market | landscape, as an idea |
| proof of | testament to |
| mix | tapestry, interplay |
"It's not just X, it's Y" sets up a claim nobody made so it can knock it down. Say the point.
Do
We run your ticketing, and we answer the phone on show day.
Don’t
It's not just a ticketing platform, it's a partner in your success.
List as many things as there are. A draft pads or trims ideas to three because three sounds finished.
Do
Scanning takes 2 seconds a ticket.
Don’t
Fast, simple, and seamless entry for every fan.
A bullet that opens with a bold label and a colon, then says the label again, is a tell. Write the sentence. A bold name that ends in a full stop and leads into new detail is fine, as in the second Do example.
Do
Scanning took 2 seconds a ticket, down from 5.
**Refunds.** We refund to the card you paid with.
Don’t
**Performance:** Performance improved across all venues.
**Refunds:** Refunds are handled by our team.
Code, Markdown, and AI drafts use straight quotes, so search and code read them. Rendered copy may use typographic quotes.
| Before | After |
|---|---|
title=‘Doors open’ | title='Doors open' |
Delete the assistant's side of the conversation, such as "Certainly!", "I hope this helps!", and "Let me know if you have any questions". A warm sign-off is fine only after a concrete next step.
Do
Gates open at 6pm. I'll send the run sheet by Thursday. Have a great show.
Don’t
Certainly! Here's the update. I hope this helps!
Answer the question. Don't praise it, or agree with the reader before you answer.
Do
Refunds go back to the card you paid with within 5 business days.
Don’t
Great question! You're absolutely right that refunds can be tricky.
Do
Say what happened and when the reader sees it.
Don’t
Don't ship the draft's cheer or the clause it tacks on the end.
A draft also breaks the rules on Language and grammar. These catch the most.
Adapted from unslop by Lauren Tan (pstack, MIT). The rules here are rewritten in Oztix wording, and the ones that apply to every writer live on Language and grammar.