# LLM writing tells (2026) Companion to `jacks-writing-style`. The SKILL.md is the voice. This file is the search list. Tells move. GPT-5.1 suppressed em dashes. Current Claude trained out "delve" / "tapestry" / "vibrant" / "myriad". A draft that avoids the 2024 word list can still read as a model. **Shape is the tell now.** Dash-free is not proof of a human. Sources this catalog was compressed from (Aug 2026): Wikipedia "Signs of AI writing"; [Will Francis](https://willfrancis.com/how-to-stop-claude-writing-like-an-ai/) (Wikipedia + GPTZero + Grammarly); [anti-slop-writing](https://github.com/adenaufal/anti-slop-writing) AGENTS.md (corpus notes: Opus 4.5 em dash ~16.9x human, colon ~4.1x, semicolon ~3.1x); Economist-cited 2026 journalism comparison (uniform cadence, "Not X but Y", tricolons); Nathan Fennel cleanup notes. Do not copy those documents into a Jack draft. Use them as a denylist. --- ## 30-second eye tests 1. First word of each sentence in a paragraph. If more than half are "The", "This", "It", or "In", rewrite. 2. Sentence length. Three or more consecutive sentences in the 17-23 word band: rewrite. 3. Count `—` and `–`. Target: 0. 4. Count colons outside lists. More than about one per 300 words: most of them want to be periods. 5. Last paragraph. Does it restate the first? Delete it. --- ## Punctuation | Tell | Notes | |---|---| | Em dash `—` | Worst Claude tell in 2026. Mid-sentence qualifier bolt-on. Zero. | | En dash `–` | Same family. Zero. | | Spaced `--` | Em-dash dodge. Zero. | | Colon cadence | Claude ~4x human. One definitional colon is fine. A colon every other sentence is dash-substitution. | | Semicolon stacks | ~3x. Rare in Jack's blog register. Prefer a period. | | Perfect punctuation | Uniform comma discipline across a casual post reads machine. Fragments and a parenthetical aside are normal. | Hyphens in compounds and ranges stay (`real-time`, `2024-2026`). --- ## Formula sentences (never) ``` It's not just X, it's Y It's not about X, it's about Y Not only X, but also Y No X. No Y. Just Z. Whether you're X or Y... From X to Y, [sweeping claim] Most people think X. The reality is Y. Forget X. Focus on Y. ``` Jack may knock down a framing he actually disagrees with. Once per piece, max, and only if it's the argument. Do not add one because a checklist asked for a "reframe". --- ## Cadence and layout - **Metronome:** sentences clustered at 18-24 words. - **Seesaw:** fragment, then a 40-word sentence, repeat. Newer Claude fakes burstiness this way. - **The/This/It/In openers** clustered. - **Rule of three** on every list, adjective stack, or example set. - **Bold term: explanation** bullets in prose. - **Participial tack-on:** ", highlighting the importance of...", ", underscoring...", ", ensuring that...", ", reflecting a broader trend..." - **Four-beat paragraph:** claim → expansion → contrast → tidy resolution. Break it. End a section on a fact or an unresolved tension. - **Over-fragmentation:** many 1-2 sentence paragraphs plus bullet spam (newer-model overcorrection). - **Uniform 3-4 sentence blocks** (older-model default). - **Signposting:** "Let's explore", "Now let's turn to", "Let's unpack", "Let's dive in", "First / Second / Finally". - **Recap closer:** "In conclusion", "In summary", "Overall", "The key takeaway", "One thing is clear", "As X continues to evolve..." --- ## Vocabulary Don't synonym-swap. Restructure. **Inflated verbs:** delve, dive into, unpack, foster, harness, facilitate, utilize, underscore, bolster, showcase, navigate (figurative), embark, illuminate, streamline, galvanize, spearhead, cultivate, elucidate, encompass, exemplify, embody, transcend **Poetic nouns (figurative):** tapestry, landscape, realm, paradigm, journey, cornerstone, beacon, mosaic, nexus, fabric (of), odyssey, confluence, linchpin, crucible, pillar, catalyst, hallmark, underpinning, trajectory **Promotional adjectives:** vibrant, robust, seamless, comprehensive, nuanced (empty praise), groundbreaking, cutting-edge, transformative, holistic, multifaceted, pivotal, meticulous, intricate, innovative, dynamic, compelling, stunning, breathtaking, nestled, renowned **Puffery adverbs:** seamlessly, meticulously, profoundly, intrinsically, fundamentally, remarkably, notably, crucially, undeniably, inherently, vividly **Significance puffers:** crucial, vital, essential (as hype), groundbreaking, remarkable, testament, paramount, indispensable, invaluable, quintessential **Formal connectives:** furthermore, moreover, additionally, consequently, accordingly, nonetheless, nevertheless, thus, hence **Copula dodges:** serves as, stands as, marks a, boasts, constitutes, holds the distinction of, emerged as, features (meaning "has") **2026 padding verbs:** ensures / ensuring (strongest single AI word in that corpus), highlights, supports, reflects (as empty verbs), "plays a [crucial/critical/important] role in shaping" **Throat-clearing:** "it's worth noting", "it's important to note", "it's important to remember", "it should be noted", "it cannot be overstated", "when it comes to", "at its core", "in today's [fast-paced/digital] world", "in an era of", "as we navigate the complexities", "in the realm of", "in essence", "essentially", "in order to", "needless to say", "it goes without saying", "without further ado", "last but not least", "the bottom line is" **Fake authenticity:** "Here's the thing:", "Here's the truth:", "Let me be clear:", "But honestly?", "But here's where it gets interesting...", "Think about it this way...", "Let me break this down..." **Chat artifacts:** "Hope this helps!", "I'd be happy to", "Great question!", "Certainly!", "Of course!", "You're absolutely right!", "Would you like me to", "Is there anything else", "Let me know if", "As an AI" **Vague attribution:** "studies show" / "research suggests" with no named study; "experts agree"; "observers note"; "industry reports suggest"; "many believe" **Hedge stacks:** "While this may vary, generally speaking, in most cases, it's worth noting that..." One hedge max per claim, or none. Hedging outcomes is Jack. Stacking hedges before a claim is Claude. **Empathetic autopilot (Claude):** "understandably, many people feel...", "this can be frustrating for..." --- ## Model dialects (useful when the draft still "sounds like a model") **Claude (Philosopher):** em dashes, colon density, "worth noting", "nuanced", "comprehensive", "fundamentally", "paradigm", "in essence", "inherent tensions", "this raises important questions", hedge-then-reassure, essayistic both-sides, "And"/"But" as a system every other paragraph. **ChatGPT / GPT-5.x (Motivator):** dashes may be gone; negated contrast one per paragraph instead; "ensures"; "plays a role in shaping"; "rather than"; "capable of X"; two-clause hooks ("Most people think X. The reality is Y."); "Here's the truth about Z."; sanitized smoothness; "one thing is clear" endings. **Gemini:** purple adjectives, moralizing, explicit theme statements, textbook educator tone. Jack is none of these. He is a specific person with numbers, code, and people he names. --- ## What not to do with this list This is a denylist for drafts under Jack's name. It is not a "humanizer" recipe. Do not: - Sprinkle fake typos - Add "gonna" / "wanna" to perform humanity - Alternate short/long on purpose as a trick - Force a contrast-reframe, a fragment quota, or a discourse-marker quota - Run the draft through a humanizer tool (those have their own fingerprint) If a sentence is true, specific, and sounds like him out loud, keep it even if a word on this list appears in a technical sense ("the test is robust to X" in an audit is not "robust" as marketing). When in doubt, read it out loud. Press-release cadence loses.