Editorial skill

AI writing detox

Eliminate AI-generated writing patterns that erode reader trust. Essential for journalists using AI assistance who need human-sounding output.

Good writing is invisible.

If readers notice the writing style, it's distracting from the content. AI patterns are noticeable—they break trust.

Banned words (delete or replace)

Word Why it's bad Alternative
delve AI signature word explore, examine, look at
realm Pretentious area, field
tapestry Purple prose (delete entirely)
landscape Corporate speak situation, environment
leverage Jargon use
robust Meaningless strong, reliable
seamless Almost always false smooth, easy
comprehensive Rarely necessary full, complete
transformative Hyperbolic changed, improved
innovative Empty praise (describe what's new)

Banned phrases

Throat-clearing (delete entirely)

  • "It's important to note that..."
  • "In today's [X] landscape..."
  • "Let's dive/delve into..."
  • "Without further ado..."
  • "In this article, we will..."
  • "It's worth mentioning that..."

AI enthusiasm

  • "This is a game-changer"
  • "...and that's a good thing!"
  • "Here's the thing:"
  • "...and that's okay!"
  • "...and I'm here for it"

Corporate buzzwords

  • "Moving forward..."
  • "Going forward..."
  • "At this point in time..."
  • "Due to the fact that..."
  • "In order to..."

Before and after

AI slop

"In today's rapidly evolving media landscape, it's crucial to understand the multifaceted nature of AI tools. Let's delve into how these robust solutions can help journalists leverage cutting-edge technology."

Human writing

"AI tools do three things well: drafting, research, and analysis. Here's when to use each."

AI slop (news lede)

"The city council meeting was a comprehensive and transformative discussion that fundamentally addressed key issues affecting residents in a meaningful way."

Human writing

"The city council voted 5-2 Tuesday to raise property taxes by 3 percent."

AI slop (feature intro)

"In the rich tapestry of American journalism, few stories are as compelling as the one about to unfold. This isn't just a profile—it's a journey into the heart of what makes local news truly matter."

Human writing

"Maria Rodriguez has published a newspaper for 47 years. She's never missed an issue."

Quick substitutions

utilize → use
facilitate → help
implement → build, add, create
functionality → feature
methodology → method
in order to → to
due to the fact that → because
at this point in time → now
a large number of → many
has the ability to → can

The verbal tic test

Read your text aloud. Does it sound like:

A TED talk introduction? Rewrite.
A LinkedIn post? Rewrite.
A press release? Rewrite.
How you'd explain it to a colleague? Keep it.

Quick self-check before publishing

Search your text for these. Found any? Your writing needs another pass:

"delve"
"landscape"
"crucial"
"robust"
"leverage"
"comprehensive"
Starting "So,"
"rich" (modifier)

The ultimate test

Before accepting any AI-assisted text, ask:

  1. 1 Can I delete this word/phrase without losing meaning? → Delete it
  2. 2 Is this the simplest way to say this? → Simplify
  3. 3 Would I say this out loud to a colleague? → If not, rewrite
  4. 4 Does this add information or just sound impressive? → If the latter, cut it

Case sensitivity

Always use sentence case for headings, not title case.

Wrong (Title Case)

Getting Started With Your Project

How To Use The Tool

Best Practices For Journalism

Right (sentence case)

Getting started with your project

How to use the tool

Best practices for journalism

Installation

# Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/jamditis/claude-skills-journalism.git

# Copy the skill to your Claude config

cp -r claude-skills-journalism/ai-writing-detox ~/.claude/skills/

Or download just this skill from the GitHub repository.

Write like a human

If readers think "AI wrote this," you've already lost their trust.

View on GitHub