7.1 – Spotting AI Tone Lesson

Lesson Overview

Great AI-assisted copy still falls flat if it sounds like a template. That robotic feel often shows up as hype words, stiff phrasing, and vague claims that never say anything specific. This lesson shows you how to catch those tells, then fix them fast so your writing reads like it came from a real person.

You will see how buzzwords and formal constructions creep into drafts, even when the facts are correct. For example, a sentence like “This solution provides [hype] integrations to streamline your workflow” sounds dressed up but empty. A stronger line is plain and specific: “Works with Google Calendar, Outlook, and Slack. So everything stays in sync.” The same idea applies to the lawn care example in the video. The rewritten version sounds like something someone would actually say: “Tired of harsh chemicals on your lawn? Our organic treatments keep your yard green and safe for your family.”

The lesson also covers familiar stock patterns that often signal AI tone, like the “It’s not about X, it’s about Y” construction and press-release openers. You will practice reading copy out loud, asking for everyday language, and pushing for one clear, concrete benefit. These small checks make the difference between passable and persuasive.

Who This Is For

If you use AI to draft marketing, product, or educational copy, this lesson helps you keep the human voice front and center. It is useful when your writing is technically correct but feels cold or generic.

• Marketers and copywriters who want sharper, more natural headlines and body copy
• Founders and solo creators polishing landing pages and emails
• Product managers writing release notes or feature summaries
• Customer support and success teams drafting help articles
• Educators and trainers producing course descriptions or lesson materials

Where This Fits in a Workflow

Use this after you generate an AI draft and before final polish. It is the pass where you strip out hype, swap in specifics, and make the message sound like a person talking to another person. This step prevents the “corporate template” feel that turns readers off and slows approvals.

Two practical spots to apply it:

• Landing pages and hero sections. Replace big claims with one crisp benefit and a concrete detail users care about.
• Product update emails. Cut the formal tone and name the exact tools, steps, or time saved so readers get the point fast.

Once the voice feels natural, you can move on to grammar cleanup and flow.

Technical & Workflow Benefits

The old way looks like this: accept the AI draft as is, then do multiple vague passes to “polish.” You ship copy that sounds generic or you spend hours hunting for why it feels off. The new approach is focused: run quick checks for red flags, then rewrite with simple, targeted prompts.

Examples of impact:

• Speed. A fast read-aloud pass exposes stiff lines in seconds. Asking the model to “rewrite using everyday language and cut buzzwords” solves most of them on the next try.
• Clarity. Swapping vague benefits for one concrete outcome makes the message easier to understand. “Saves you five hours a week” beats “increases efficiency.”
• Specificity. Listing the tools or features by name beats abstract claims. “Works with Google Calendar, Outlook, and Slack” is clearer than a dressed-up sentence about integrations.

This method reduces back-and-forth, improves trust, and helps teams publish stronger copy sooner.

Practice Exercise

Use the two examples highlighted in the lesson to practice cleaning AI tone.

• Step 1. Copy this line and mark the parts that feel hyped or formal: “Using our organic lawn care solutions, homeowners can experience results in a healthier outdoor environment like never before.” Rewrite it as two short, natural sentences. Aim for something you would actually say out loud.
• Step 2. Copy this line and circle the vague claim: “This solution provides integrations to streamline your workflow.” Replace it with a specific list of tools or systems it works with, followed by a short result.
• Step 3. Read both rewrites out loud. If a sentence still feels stiff, ask an AI tool: “Rewrite this to sound like a real person. Use everyday language. Cut buzzwords. Keep it short.”

Reflection: Compare your originals and rewrites. Where did you remove hype, add specifics, or shorten sentences? Which change made the biggest difference in sounding human?

Course Context Recap

Earlier in the course you learned how to write stronger copy with AI. This lesson builds on that by teaching you to spot when the draft still sounds like a machine and how to correct it fast. You practiced catching hype, formal phrasing, vague benefits, and stock patterns, then turning them into clear, human lines.

Next, you will level up the polish. The upcoming lesson covers how to clean up grammar, fix awkward sentences, and adjust the flow so your writing is clear, smooth, and easy for anyone to read. Keep going to apply these checks across your full content workflow.