The Pattern Encyclopedia
Every signature tell of AI writing, named and fixable. No probability scores, no accusations — just patterns you can see, with evidence and repairs.
Binary contrast
The binary contrast is the signature rhetorical tic of AI writing: negate a strawman, then reveal the real point. Learn to spot and fix it in seconds.
Colon reveal
“The best part: it scales.” AI drafts manufacture suspense with a noun phrase, a colon, and a lowercase reveal. Here's how to spot and cut the tic.
Superficial analysis
“…highlighting the team's commitment to quality.” The trailing participle clause is AI's favorite way to fake analysis. Learn the fix.
Faux-insight setup
“Here's what nobody tells you…” AI drafts flatter the author as the lone truth-teller. Learn to cut the setup and let the claim stand.
Weasel attribution
“Studies show that…” with no study in sight. Weasel attribution borrows authority without earning it — here's how to cut or source it.
Metadiscourse
“That last point matters more than it sounds.” AI drafts keep telling readers how to read. Learn to cut the commentary and keep the content.
Dramatic fragment
“That's it. That's the whole pitch.” Staccato fragments are AI's borrowed social-media rhythm. Here's when they work and how to fix the rest.
Em-dash overuse
Four, six, eight em dashes per draft — AI leans on the dash as a universal connector. Learn the budget and the alternatives.
Warm-up intro
“In today's fast-paced world…” — the classic AI warm-up intro buries your first real point three sentences deep. Cut it and hook readers instantly.
Recap conclusion
“In conclusion, as we've seen…” — AI drafts end by re-reading themselves to you. Learn to end on your last real point instead.
AI cliché
Delve, tapestry, testament, game-changer, supercharge — the vocabulary tells of AI writing, cataloged with plain-English replacements.
Hedge & filler
Arguably, fundamentally, it's worth noting that — hedges and filler soften every claim into mush. Learn what to cut and what to keep.