authentic-voice

What this skill does

# Authentic Voice

Write like a human, not a language model. This skill eliminates the telltale patterns that make AI writing detectable.

## Core Principle

LLMs regress to the mean—replacing specific, unusual facts (statistically rare) with generic, positive descriptions (statistically common). The result: shouting louder that something matters while the actual content fades from sharp photograph to blurry sketch. Human writing does the opposite.

## Before Writing

1. Read `references/ai-tells.md` for the complete catalog of patterns to avoid
2. Choose a specific angle rather than comprehensive coverage
3. Identify concrete details, not abstract claims

## The Five Deadly Patterns

### 1. Puffing Importance

LLMs insert claims about significance, legacy, and symbolism constantly. Delete these unless you can show evidence.

**Words to watch:** stands/serves as, is a testament/reminder, plays a vital/significant/crucial/pivotal role, underscores/highlights its importance, reflects broader, symbolizing its ongoing/enduring impact, key turning point, indelible mark, profound heritage

**AI:** "The founding represented a significant shift toward regional independence, enabling Catalonia to develop a system tailored to its unique socio-economic context. This initiative was part of a broader movement across Spain to decentralize administrative functions."

**Human:** "The 1989 law gave Catalonia its own census bureau."

### 2. Tailing Participles

Sentences that end with "-ing" phrases claiming what something means. Cut these entirely.

**Words to watch:** ensuring..., highlighting..., emphasizing..., reflecting..., underscoring..., showcasing..., contributing to..., cultivating...

**AI:** "The civil rights movement emerged as a powerful continuation of this struggle, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and collective action in the fight for justice."

**Human:** "The civil rights movement continued that fight."

### 3. Negative Parallelism

"Not X, but Y" constructions that try to sound balanced. Just say Y.

**Patterns:** "It's not just about X, it's about Y" / "Not only does it X, but it also Y" / "This is not merely X—it's Y"

**AI:** "The 'Black Hole Edition' is not just a meme—it's a celebration of grassroots car culture."

**Human:** "The 'Black Hole Edition' became a running joke in car forums."

### 4. Ghost Language

AI is obsessed with the spectral. Everything is quiet, soft, a whisper, a shadow, a memory. Sensory language gets attached to abstract concepts.

**AI:** "Thursday is a liminal day that tastes of almost-Friday. Grief has a color. Sorrow tastes of metal."

**Human:** (Just don't write like this)

### 5. Promotional Puffery

LLMs write like TV commercials, especially about places and cultural heritage.

**Words to watch:** continues to captivate, stunning natural beauty, enduring/lasting legacy, nestled, in the heart of, boasts a..., breathtaking, vibrant, diverse tapestry

**AI:** "Nestled within the breathtaking region of Gonder in Ethiopia, Alamata Raya Kobo stands as a vibrant town with a rich cultural heritage."

**Human:** "Alamata Raya Kobo is a market town in Gonder, about three hours from the regional capital."

## Quick Reference Table

| Pattern | Example | Fix |
|---------|---------|-----|
| Tailing participles | "...highlighting the significance of..." | Delete |
| Negative parallelism | "It's not just X, it's Y" | Say Y directly |
| Em dash overuse | "The policy—which changed everything—was controversial" | Use commas or periods |
| Hedged importance | "It's important to note that..." | Just state it |
| Rule of three | "fast, efficient, and reliable" | Pick one or two |
| Weasel attribution | "Many experts believe..." | Name sources or own the claim |
| Media listing | "Featured in Wired, Vogue, and CNN" | Only if genuinely relevant |
| Social media mention | "maintains an active social media presence" | Delete (obvious for anyone alive) |

## Vocabulary Swaps

See `references/ai-tells.md` for the complete list. Quick substitutions:

- delve → look at, examine, dig into
- leverage/utilize → use
- landscape → field, area, market
- tapestry → mix, blend
- pivotal/crucial → (show why it matters instead)
- comprehensive → thorough, full
- nuanced → subtle, detailed
- foster → build, encourage
- navigate → handle, work through
- showcase → show, display
- underscore → (delete—facts don't underscore things)

## Voice Checklist

Before finalizing:

- [ ] No sentence claims importance without evidence
- [ ] Specific details outnumber abstract descriptions
- [ ] Sentence lengths vary dramatically
- [ ] No more than one em dash per paragraph
- [ ] Opening doesn't start with "In today's..." or "In the realm of..."
- [ ] No sycophantic openers ("Certainly!", "Great question!")
- [ ] Lists avoid exactly three items
- [ ] No "-ing" phrases at the end claiming significance
- [ ] Nothing "stands as a testament" to anything

## What's NOT an AI Tell

Don't overcorrect. These are NOT reliable indicators:

- Sophisticated vocabulary (AI actually avoids rare words)
- Starting sentences with conjunctions
- Mixed formal/casual registers
- "Bland" prose (AI tends toward effusive, not robotic)
- Perfect grammar (many humans write correctly too)

## Format Notes

**Short-form:** Personality first. Contractions. Start mid-thought. End without wrapping up.

**Long-form:** Lead with your sharpest specific insight. Broad context can wait—or be cut.

**Professional:** "Use" not "utilize." "Help" not "facilitate." Fewest words possible.