9 Ways Writers Can Spot AI-Generated Text in 2026
Writers are using AI smarter than ever. That also means its fingerprints are easier to catch if you know where to look.
Use this quick field guide to spot AI text fast - and tighten your own work in the process.
1) What's it for?
Start with context. Where did the text appear, and what's its job on that platform?
AI often mirrors the expected format too perfectly: a Medium-style essay on LinkedIn, a press-release tone in a casual blog, a five-paragraph structure for anything academic. If the packaging feels generic for the channel, raise an eyebrow.
2) What emotions does it show?
Human writing carries conviction. Even measured prose hints at bias, doubt, or curiosity.
AI leans neutral and dutiful. You'll feel a steady, agreeable tone with few moments of real enthusiasm, frustration, or surprise. If the piece never risks a stance, it's likely machine-led.
3) Are all the facts accurate?
AI is fast, not always right. Names, dates, quotes, and niche details are common failure points.
Spot-check proper nouns and numbers. If simple verifications collapse, assume more is off. Also, be cautious with "AI detectors" - they're unreliable at scale and easy to spoof (Stanford HAI on why detection is hard).
4) Do the details feel vague?
Surface-level summary with little "why this matters" is a tell.
Look for thin reasoning, soft qualifiers, and missing citations where they're needed. If it states facts without connecting them or defending a point, you're likely reading output, not insight.
5) What examples are in the text?
Strong writing leans on specific, relevant examples that prove a claim.
AI often lists generic cases, jumps across unrelated domains, or avoids examples entirely. If the evidence reads like filler - not lived experience or sourced detail - it's suspect.
6) Does it feel too polished?
AI loves neat structure. Clean intros, balanced body sections, tidy conclusions - timed like a metronome.
Human drafts have edges: an aside, a short punchy line, a quirky transition. If the text is structurally perfect but oddly lifeless, that's a flag.
7) Is the language too much?
AI tends to over-decorate: stacked adjectives, inflated claims, and formal phrasing for simple ideas.
Run the "read it out loud" test. If you'd never say it that way, or every sentence tries to impress, the machine voice is showing.
8) Does the text repeat itself?
Models circle the same ideas with new wording. It feels like déjà vu every few paragraphs.
Scan for repeated phrases, restated thesis lines, and recycled transitions. If you could cut 25% without losing meaning, it's probably AI-heavy.
9) Does the text end too soon?
Conclusions should synthesize, not introduce new angles.
AI often stops abruptly or adds fresh points in the last paragraph. If the wrap-up doesn't resolve the main thread, it reads like a generation cut off at the token limit.
How to use this as a writer
- Draft with a clear thesis and 2-3 specific examples you've vetted.
- Mark where you take a stance - even a small one. Add a line of lived context.
- Trim fluff. Replace big adjectives with proof.
- Read aloud. If it sounds stiff, rewrite until it feels like speech.
- Cite sources, or explain your reasoning in plain language.
Why this matters
AI is a tool, not a shortcut to insight. Readers can feel the difference.
Your edge is judgment: choosing what to say, what to cut, and how boldly to say it. Use AI to support your process, but let your POV carry the piece. If you want to sharpen prompts and workflow without losing your voice, explore focused resources on prompt discipline that keep craft at the center.
Bottom line: Specifics, stakes, and synthesis are human tells. Build those in, and you'll spot AI - and outwrite it.
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