TL;DR: Make AI Sound Human

Problem: ChatGPT sounds generic, corporate, obviously AI Main causes: Default patterns, no personality, AI-style phrases Quick fix: Add "write like a human, not AI" + your voice sample Better fix: 8 specific techniques in this guideReality: Takes 2 extra minutes per prompt, worth it

You can spot AI writing immediately. Generic. Corporate. No personality. Obviously written by algorithm.

Here's how to fix it.

Why ChatGPT Sounds Robotic

Default AI patterns:

• Starts everything with "In today's world" or "It's important to note"

• Uses words like "delve," "leverage," "robust"

• Perfect grammar, zero personality

• Same sentence structure every time

• Balanced viewpoint on everything (no strong opinions)

The fix: Break these patterns intentionally.

Technique 1: The Anti-Pattern List

Tell ChatGPT what NOT to sound like.

Add to your prompts:

Example:

Before (robotic): "In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, it's important to note that leveraging AI tools can help you optimize your workflow and enhance productivity moving forward."

After (human): "AI tools save you time. That's it. No jargon, no buzzwords. They do the boring stuff faster so you can focus on what matters."

Why this works: Explicitly blocking AI patterns forces different writing style.

Technique 2: Show Your Actual Voice

Give ChatGPT example of how you actually write.

Add to prompt:

Write matching this voice:

[Paste 2-3 paragraphs you wrote]

Notice how I:
- Use short punchy sentences sometimes
- Have [your characteristic - sarcasm/directness/enthusiasm]
- Say [phrases you use]
- Never say [things you hate]

Example:

Why this works: Shows specific voice characteristics ChatGPT should copy.

Technique 3: Vary Sentence Length

AI loves medium-length sentences. Humans vary wildly.

Add:

Before (robotic): "AI tools are becoming increasingly popular in business settings. They help teams work more efficiently. Many companies are adopting them. The results have been positive."

After (human): "AI tools? Everywhere now. Teams use them because they work. Simple as that. Companies that haven't adopted them are behind, and they're starting to notice."

Why this works: Rhythm variation sounds natural, not algorithmic.

Technique 4: Add Actual Opinions

AI hedges everything. Humans have views.

Add:

Before (robotic): "While some users find ChatGPT helpful, others have raised concerns. Both perspectives have merit and should be considered carefully."

After (human): "ChatGPT isn't perfect. It makes mistakes. Says stupid stuff confidently. But for 80% of tasks? Way faster than doing it yourself. That's why people use it despite the flaws."

Why this works: Opinions sound human. Hedging sounds corporate.

Technique 5: Use Contractions and Casual Language

AI defaults formal. Humans are casual.

Add:

Before (robotic): "One should consider utilizing AI tools if one wishes to improve one's productivity. It is advisable to begin with simple tasks."

After (human): "You should use AI if you want to work faster. Start with easy stuff. Don't overthink it."

Why this works: Contractions and casual tone immediately sound more human.

Technique 6: Include Specific Examples (Not Generic Ones)

AI loves generic examples. Humans use specific ones.

Add:

Before (robotic): "This approach can save time on various tasks throughout your workday."

After (human): "Saved me 3 hours yesterday. Had to write 10 customer emails. Used ChatGPT for drafts, personalized them in 15 minutes. Done before lunch."

Why this works: Specific details sound real, generic sounds fake.

Technique 7: Ask Questions Like Humans Do

AI makes statements. Humans ask questions.

Add:

Before (robotic): "This technique is useful because it saves time and improves results."

After (human): "Why use this? Two reasons. Saves time. Gets better results. What else do you need?"

Why this works: Questions create conversational feel.

Technique 8: The "Rewrite This" Method

Get draft, then fix it.

Two-step process:

Step 1: Get initial draft

Write [whatever you need]

Step 2: Make it human

Why this works: Easier to fix robotic draft than get perfect output first try.

The Complete Anti-Robot Prompt Template

Copy this:

[Your task description]

Write this in human voice, not AI voice.

DO:
- Write like talking to friend
- Use contractions (don't, isn't, you're)  
- Vary sentence length dramatically (short, medium, long)
- Have strong opinions
- Use specific examples
- Ask rhetorical questions
- Start sentences with And, But, or So when natural
- Be direct and blunt

DON'T:
- Use "delve," "leverage," "robust," "utilize," "comprehensive"
- Start with "In today's world" or "It's important to note"
- Balance everything with "on the other hand"
- Write in perfect formal grammar
- Use corporate speak or jargon
- Hedge opinions constantly

Tone: [Describe your actual style - direct, sarcastic, enthusiastic, etc]

Example of my voice: [Paste 2-3 sentences you wrote]

Customize: Task, tone description, voice example

Quick Fixes for Common Robot Phrases

Replace these immediately:

❌ "In today's digital landscape"
✅ "Right now" or just cut it entirely

❌ "Leverage AI tools to optimize"
✅ "Use AI to work faster"

❌ "It's important to note that"
✅ Delete this. Just state the point.

❌ "Moving forward"
✅ "Next" or "From now on"

❌ "At the end of the day"
✅ "Basically" or just cut it

❌ "Delve into the complexities"
✅ "Look at" or "Examine"

❌ "One should consider"
✅ "You should" or "Consider"

❌ "In conclusion" or "To summarize"
✅ Just state your conclusion. No announcement needed.

Testing If It Sounds Human

Read it out loud.

If you wouldn't say it to a friend, rewrite it.

Questions to ask:

• Would I text this to someone?

• Does this sound like me?

• Am I using words I actually use?

• Is it too formal for the situation?

• Would my audience talk like this?

If answer is no to any: Too robotic. Fix it.

What Actually Matters

Priority 1: Remove AI phrases Those "delve" and "leverage" words scream AI.

Priority 2: Add your voice Show ChatGPT how you actually write.

Priority 3: Vary sentence length Rhythm matters more than you think.

Lower priority: Perfect grammar Casual sometimes beats correct.

When AI Voice Is Fine

Don't fight it for:

• Technical documentation (formal works here)

• Legal or compliance stuff (need precise language)

• Academic writing (format has rules)

• Some business contexts (depending on audience)

Fight it for:

• Marketing and sales copy

• Blog posts and articles

• Social media

• Email to humans you know

• Anything where personality matters

ChatGPT vs Claude for Human Voice

ChatGPT:

• Defaults more corporate

• Needs explicit voice direction

• Good at following "don't use" lists

• Requires more anti-pattern coaching

Claude:

• Naturally more conversational

• Better at understanding "casual" instruction

• Still needs voice examples for your specific style

• Less corporate by default

Reality: Both can sound human with right prompting. ChatGPT just needs more explicit direction.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Asking for "casual" without examples

Doesn't work: "Write this casually"

Works: "Write like this: [paste your casual writing example]"

Why: "Casual" means different things. Show don't tell.

Mistake 2: Accepting first draft

Wrong: ChatGPT generates, you use it

Right: Generate → Identify robot phrases → Ask for rewrite → Use that

Most outputs need one iteration to sound human

Mistake 3: No voice sample

Missing: Your actual writing style

Include: 2-3 paragraphs showing how you write

Why: ChatGPT can't match voice it hasn't seen

Mistake 4: Too many instructions

Overwhelming: 20 bullet points of style guidance

Better: 5 key points + one example

Why: Clarity beats comprehensiveness

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does ChatGPT default to robotic writing?

Trained on tons of corporate and formal writing. That's its baseline. You need to explicitly pull it away from that.

Can I set default voice in custom instructions?

Yes. Settings → Custom instructions → Tell it your writing style. Applies to all chats.

Does this work for Claude and Gemini too?

Yes. Same principles. Claude needs less coaching, Gemini somewhere in middle.

Will this make ChatGPT less accurate?

No. Voice and accuracy are separate. You're changing how it says things, not what it says.

How long does this add to prompting?

2-3 minutes to add voice guidance. Saves 10+ minutes of rewriting robotic output.

What if I don't have writing samples?

Write 3 quick paragraphs explaining anything. That's your voice sample. Use it.

Can ChatGPT learn my voice over conversation?

Somewhat. But better to be explicit in each important prompt.

Do I need to do this for every prompt?

Only for output you care about sounding human. Quick factual stuff doesn't need it.

Related Reading

Voice Control:

• How to Get ChatGPT to Write Like You 2026: Voice Matching Guide

Writing Better:

• AI Prompt Style and Tone Mastery 2026: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini & Perplexity Voice Control

General Prompting:

• How to Write ChatGPT Prompts 2026: Beginner Guide with Examples That Actually Work

www.topfreeprompts.com

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