AI vs Human
How To Humanize AI Content: Tips for Authentic Writing
Author:
Jordan Blake
Jun 10, 2025
9 min
An experienced eye can spot AI-generated writing from a mile away. You'll notice that it's the kind of writing that says a lot without really saying anything at all. The sentences are clean and all the grammar rules are there, but it doesn't sound like a real human wrote them. And that's exactly the problem: AI tools are excellent at generating words. But they don't catch what makes writing feel honest and real.
This article will teach you some practical tips on how to humanize AI text so your content feels trustworthy. The blog will be particularly useful to you if you've been using an essay generating tool and want to take your writing a little bit further. And if you ever need a simple AI tool with a touch of real human help when you need it, EssayWriter’s reliable platform can give you writing support for all your papers.
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Why AI Text Feels Off
AI tools can string sentences together quickly, but they aren't intuitive, so they often miss what makes writing feel alive. They've never been in a real conversation, never been excited about an idea, or paused to think something through. That's why it can never fully replicate human-like writing. So what exactly makes AI-generated content sound robotic?
- Same patterns, over and over. AI text tools overuse repetitive sentence structures. After a while, everything feels a little too predictable.
- Too buttoned-up. The tone is often more formal than it needs to be. That can make even the most casual topics feel like corporate memos.
- No personality in sight. You don’t get any idea about who wrote it. The writing feels clean, but faceless.
- Forced transitions. You’ll see phrases like “moreover,” “thus,” or “in conclusion” pop up more than they should. They don’t sound natural in human-like writing.
- Flat emotion. AI avoids extremes. It rarely expresses excitement, frustration, or doubt, so the writing feels emotionally muted.
- No lived detail. AI tools also usually don't mention specific, human stuff that makes the text relatable.
- Everything feels too even. There's not much variation in sentence length or rhythm, which can make the text feel dry, even if the ideas are solid.
Characteristics of Humanized Content
You know that feeling when you read something and it just clicks, like the person who wrote it gets you? That's what makes the writing style feel human. Beyond handing you the facts, it actually speaks with you in a tone that feels personal. Here's what you'll always see in humanized text:
Tips on How to Humanize AI Text
It's completely fine to use AI to write your first draft. But it should never be the final version. Below are some tips on how you can make that content sound like a real human wrote it.
Say It How You’d Say It
Start by reading your content out loud. If a sentence sounds too polished or simply not like something a person would say, that's a definite sign that it needs tweaking. Imagine you're speaking to a friend; would you say, “Moreover, one must take into account…”? Probably not. You might say, “Also, it’s worth thinking about…” though. That small shift makes all the difference. Your goal is to sound human, not perfect, so you need to swap overly formal phrasing with language you use every day.
Shake Up the Structure
You'll notice that AI uses the same sentence structure over and over again. Those long, too-well-balanced sentences do read fine, but they don't feel natural because people write in different styles and structures. In authentic human writing, some sentences are short, others are questions, and sometimes, we pause to make a point. So, experiment with different sentence lengths and openings; don't start every paragraph the same way.
Add Real Examples or Details
AI also usually misses the little stuff, those specific examples that make your writing feel more grounded. You need to fix this if you want human-like content. For example, if you're talking about stress, mention staying up until 2 a.m. to finish a paper, don't just say that stress affects people. Those are the details that make the reader relate to your writing. Even one sentence can change the entire tone if done right.
Make Sure the Emotion Lands
It often sounds like AI is avoiding strong reactions and is trying to stay neutral. Real writing isn't neutral. If you're frustrated about something you're writing, let that show in your text. Excited? Make the reader feel that, too. This doesn't mean you need dramatic language throughout the entire content; just choose the right words that can help you explain the feelings behind what you're saying.
It is also completely natural to be concerned about your academic integrity when using AI for your assignments. Check out our article on whether is it plagiarism to use AI to find out more.
Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
It has rhythm | Some sentences are quick. Others take their time. The structure and rhythm change exactly like they would in a real conversation. |
You can feel the mood | There’s emotion behind the words. It doesn’t sound like a robot trying not to offend anyone. |
It sounds like someone talking | The phrasing is casual, not stiff or academic. You hear phrases you’d actually say out loud. |
The examples are specific | Instead of talking in general terms, it describes real-life situations that make the points all the more relatable. |
Ideas flow naturally | One thought leads to the next without overly formal transitions like “moreover” or “in conclusion.” |
There’s a voice behind it | You get a sense of the writer’s personality. The choices in tone and phrasing feel intentional, not generic. |
It’s a little imperfect | That’s a good thing. A sentence might start with “and.” A thought might trail off. That looseness makes the writing feel more like a conversation than a script. |
AI Content vs. Human-Touched Writing: A Side-by-Side Look
You can usually tell when something was written by AI: such content follows the rules but doesn't show any feeling. That will become a lot clearer when you take a side-by-side look at AI-generated text and the same content after you've humanized it.
Original AI Version:
"It is important for students to manage their time efficiently in order to achieve academic success and personal growth."
Humanized Version:
"When school deadlines start piling up, time management becomes less of a suggestion and more of a survival skill. Learning how to handle your schedule can take some of the pressure off and help you stay focused without burning out."
You'll notice that the first one sounds polished, but distant, like it was taken out of a brochure. The second version feels more like someone who's pulled an all-nighter offering advice.
Tools That Actually Help You Sound More Human
AI humanizer tools can help you polish the first draft so it reads more like human-like content. Use the apps below to bring voice back to your writing:
Tools | Description |
|---|---|
If you feel like your sentences are starting to go around in circles, Hemingway can help you turn those wordy thoughts into something a little easier to follow. | |
This one’s good for catching those little things you might miss: awkward wording, weird tone shifts, or phrases that sound way too formal. | |
Sometimes you know a sentence isn’t working, but you’re not sure how to fix it. Quillbot gives you several alternate ways to phrase your ideas, which can be really useful when your writing starts feeling too flat. | |
EssayWriter’s AI tool is trained on academic papers, so it can help you create polished essays in just a few minutes, but you can also get help from human professionals whenever you need an extra hand. If you need help with structure or are simply trying to figure out how long should an essay be, EssayWriter's platform can help you every step of the way. |
Wrapping It Up (Like Humans Do)
No AI tool can replace your voice. Sure, it can give you a decent starting point, and there's nothing wrong with beginning with an AI-generated text as your first draft. But don't forget that it's the human touch that makes writing relatable. Regardless of what you're writing, you need to bring in your own tone and perspective. Here's what you should keep in mind:
- AI-generated writing usually needs a rewrite if you want it to sound real
- Read everything out loud. It’s the easiest way to catch what feels off
- Break away from patterns and mix up your sentence lengths and openers
- Use real-world examples and emotional tone to keep readers engaged
- Don’t rely on generic transitions, write like you’re talking to someone
- When in doubt, a second set of (human) eyes can help bring it all together
If you’re looking for an AI tool that will help you with academic assignments, you can always rely on EssayWriter. Our AI was trained on academic papers, so it knows exactly how to create assignments that meet all the necessary guidelines. Our human professionals, on the other hand, can always give you some extra help when artificial intelligence won’t cut it.
FAQ
Why Is Humanizing AI Content Important?
Humanizing AI content is important because no one likes reading text that feels like it was copy-pasted from a machine. AI text feels robotic and impersonal, which is not something any professor is looking for.
How Do I Humanize ChatGPT Content?
Start by treating the AI output like a rough draft, not a final product. Read it out loud and see where it feels off or too formal. Once you catch those awkward words and phrases, you can start breaking up long sentences and swap formal writing for everyday language.
How to Make AI Text More Human?
Use a mix of sentence lengths and avoid overly polished phrasing that sounds like it came from a textbook. Add emotion where it fits, so the reader can feel what you felt while writing. Ask yourself, “Does this sound like me?” If it doesn’t, rewrite it until it does.
Sources
- Counts, L. (2024, July 11). To err is human. And in the age of AI, it may be humanizing. - Haas News | Berkeley Haas. Haas News | Berkeley Haas. https://newsroom.haas.berkeley.edu/research/to-err-is-human-and-in-the-age-of-ai-it-may-be-humanizing/
- Guides: Artificial Intelligence Tools for Detection, Research and Writing: AI Detection. (2023). Ttu.edu. https://guides.library.ttu.edu/artificialintelligencetools/detection
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