Follow these writing guidelines to sound natural: Write naturally without: em dashes (use commas/periods), the words 'delve/moreover/furthermore/albeit/indeed', 'not X but Y' constructions, rhetorical question-answer pairs, groups of three, bullet points, section headers, excessive emphasis (bold/italics), metaphorical clichés ('symphony of', 'tapestry of'), or explanatory phrases ('which was surprising because'). Use concrete descriptions, varied sentence structures, and conversational tone with personality.
This JSON can be continuously updated as the community discovers new patterns!
{
"metadata": {
"version": "1.0",
"last_updated": "2024",
"contributors": 25,
"total_patterns": 47,
"most_severe": ["em_dashes", "delve_syndrome", "not_x_but_y", "rule_of_three", "unmotivated_metaphors"]
},
"ai_writing_patterns": {
"punctuation_grammar": {
"em_dashes": {
"description": "Excessive use of em dashes for breaks and emphasis",
"severity": 5,
"examples": [
"The sky — dark and brooding — seemed to mirror his mood — perfectly.",
"She wasn't just tired — she was exhausted — completely drained."
],
"frequency": "Multiple per paragraph, sometimes per sentence",
"why_ai_does_this": "Trained on formal writing, uses as universal pause/emphasis tool",
"fixes": [
"Limit to 1-2 per page maximum",
"Replace with commas, periods, or restructure sentences",
"Use only for genuine interruptions or strong emphasis"
],
"prompt_instruction": "Limit em dashes to maximum one per 500 words. Use commas, periods, or sentence restructuring instead."
},
"ellipses_dramatic": {
"description": "Overuse of ellipses for false drama",
"severity": 3,
"examples": [
"And then... silence...",
"She waited... and waited... for an answer..."
],
"frequency": "End of paragraphs, dramatic moments",
"fixes": ["Use periods", "Remove entirely", "Only for actual trailing off"],
"prompt_instruction": "Avoid ellipses except when showing genuine interrupted speech or thought."
},
"smart_quotes": {
"description": "Curly/slanted quotes instead of straight",
"severity": 2,
"examples": ["Using "these" instead of \"these\""],
"frequency": "All dialogue and quotes",
"fixes": ["Use straight quotes consistently"],
"prompt_instruction": "Use straight quotes (\") not curly quotes."
}
},
"overused_words": {
"delve_syndrome": {
"description": "Obsessive use of 'delve' and academic language",
"severity": 5,
"examples": [
"Let's delve into this topic",
"We must delve deeper into the implications"
],
"frequency": "Opening sentences, transitions",
"why_ai_does_this": "Associated with thorough analysis in training data",
"fixes": ["Use 'explore', 'examine', 'look at', or remove entirely"],
"prompt_instruction": "Never use the words: delve, moreover, furthermore, albeit, indeed, certainly"
},
"transition_addiction": {
"description": "Overuse of formal transition words",
"severity": 4,
"examples": [
"Moreover, the situation deteriorated",
"Furthermore, we must consider",
"Indeed, this is certainly true"
],
"frequency": "Every paragraph transition",
"fixes": ["Remove most transitions", "Use natural flow", "Start directly with content"],
"prompt_instruction": "Avoid transition words like moreover, furthermore, however, nevertheless. Use natural sentence flow."
},
"metaphor_cliches": {
"description": "Overused metaphorical phrases",
"severity": 4,
"examples": [
"a symphony of colors",
"a tapestry of emotions",
"a delicate balance",
"a testament to",
"nestled in"
],
"frequency": "Every description",
"fixes": ["Use concrete descriptions", "Avoid metaphors unless essential"],
"prompt_instruction": "Avoid metaphorical clichés. Use specific, concrete descriptions instead of 'symphony of', 'tapestry of', 'testament to'."
}
},
"phrase_patterns": {
"not_x_but_y": {
"description": "Overuse of contrasting construction",
"severity": 4,
"examples": [
"It's not just a storm, but a tempest",
"Not merely tired, but exhausted",
"This isn't about X, it's about Y"
],
"frequency": "Multiple times per piece",
"fixes": ["Choose one description", "Use direct statements"],
"prompt_instruction": "Avoid 'not X, but Y' constructions. Make direct statements."
},
"rhetorical_qa": {
"description": "Question immediately followed by answer",
"severity": 4,
"examples": [
"What did she feel? Everything and nothing.",
"The result? Chaos.",
"Why? Because it mattered."
],
"frequency": "Paragraph openings and transitions",
"fixes": ["Choose either question OR answer", "Restructure as statement"],
"prompt_instruction": "Don't use rhetorical questions followed by immediate answers. Choose either question or statement."
},
"rule_of_three": {
"description": "Everything in groups of three",
"severity": 5,
"examples": [
"He stopped, he stared, he listened",
"She was smart, capable, and determined",
"It was dark, cold, and forbidding"
],
"frequency": "Every dramatic moment or description",
"fixes": ["Vary numbers", "Use different structures"],
"prompt_instruction": "Avoid always grouping things in threes. Vary between single items, pairs, and longer lists."
}
},
"structural_issues": {
"bullet_point_addiction": {
"description": "Using bullet points in narrative text",
"severity": 4,
"examples": [
"She realized three things:\n• First...\n• Second...\n• Third..."
],
"frequency": "Any list or enumeration",
"fixes": ["Write in paragraph form", "Use narrative flow"],
"prompt_instruction": "Never use bullet points in narrative or casual writing. Write lists as natural sentences."
},
"section_headers": {
"description": "Breaking everything into labeled sections",
"severity": 3,
"examples": [
"### Understanding the Problem",
"### The Solution",
"### Moving Forward"
],
"frequency": "Every few paragraphs",
"fixes": ["Use natural transitions", "Remove headers"],
"prompt_instruction": "Don't use section headers or break text into labeled parts. Use natural paragraph flow."
},
"preamble_syndrome": {
"description": "Unnecessary introductory phrases",
"severity": 3,
"examples": [
"Let's break it down",
"Let's dive into this",
"Let's dissect this topic"
],
"frequency": "Opening sentences",
"fixes": ["Start directly with content", "Remove preambles"],
"prompt_instruction": "Start directly with content. Avoid phrases like 'Let's break it down' or 'Let's dive in'."
}
},
"stylistic_quirks": {
"too_clean": {
"description": "Overly polished, academic prose lacking personality",
"severity": 4,
"examples": [
"The implementation of this solution yields optimal results",
"This represents a significant advancement in our understanding"
],
"frequency": "Throughout",
"fixes": ["Add conversational tone", "Include imperfections", "Use varied vocabulary"],
"prompt_instruction": "Write conversationally with personality. Include natural imperfections and varied sentence structures."
},
"emphasis_overload": {
"description": "Excessive use of italics and bold",
"severity": 3,
"examples": [
"This isn't just *important* — it's **revolutionary**",
"She *really* **really** meant it"
],
"frequency": "Multiple per paragraph",
"fixes": ["Use word choice for emphasis", "Limit to one per section"],
"prompt_instruction": "Use emphasis (bold/italics) maximum once per 500 words. Rely on word choice and structure for emphasis."
},
"dramatic_fragments": {
"description": "Short sentences for false drama",
"severity": 3,
"examples": [
"She waited. And waited. Nothing happened.",
"It was over. Finally. Completely."
],
"frequency": "Climactic moments",
"fixes": ["Vary sentence length naturally", "Avoid forced drama"],
"prompt_instruction": "Vary sentence length naturally. Avoid using fragments for dramatic effect."
}
},
"content_patterns": {
"unmotivated_metaphors": {
"description": "Random, nonsensical comparisons",
"severity": 5,
"examples": [
"She walked across the floor like an angry octopus after a bad haircut",
"His voice was like sandpaper on silk"
],
"frequency": "When asked to be 'descriptive'",
"why_ai_does_this": "Attempts creativity without understanding context",
"fixes": ["Remove unless genuinely helpful", "Use concrete descriptions"],
"prompt_instruction": "Only use metaphors that genuinely clarify meaning. Prefer concrete descriptions."
},
"telling_not_showing": {
"description": "Explaining rather than demonstrating",
"severity": 4,
"examples": [
"which was surprising because he had expected this",
"She was angry, which showed in her expression"
],
"frequency": "After every action",
"fixes": ["Show through action", "Remove explanations"],
"prompt_instruction": "Show emotions and reactions through actions and dialogue, don't explain them."
},
"redundant_descriptions": {
"description": "Multiple similar adjectives",
"severity": 3,
"examples": [
"dark and brooding",
"loud and brash",
"quick and agile"
],
"frequency": "Every description",
"fixes": ["Choose strongest single adjective", "Remove redundancy"],
"prompt_instruction": "Use single, specific adjectives. Avoid redundant pairs like 'dark and brooding'."
}
},
"genre_specific": {
"romance_cliches": {
"description": "Overused romantic gestures and descriptions",
"severity": 3,
"examples": [
"He pressed his forehead against hers",
"He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter",
"lips swollen with kisses",
"blooming like a promise"
],
"frequency": "Every romantic scene",
"fixes": ["Find unique gestures", "Vary physical descriptions"],
"prompt_instruction": "Avoid clichéd romantic gestures. Create unique, specific physical interactions."
},
"dialogue_patterns": {
"description": "Repetitive dialogue structures",
"severity": 3,
"examples": [
"Character A: 'You did that.' Character B: 'I didn't do that, I did this.'",
"Self-answering questions in dialogue"
],
"frequency": "Most dialogue exchanges",
"fixes": ["Vary dialogue structure", "Make responses less predictable"],
"prompt_instruction": "Write natural dialogue without repetitive patterns or self-answering questions."
}
}
},
"master_prompt_instructions": {
"comprehensive": "Write naturally without: em dashes (use commas/periods), the words 'delve/moreover/furthermore/albeit/indeed', 'not X but Y' constructions, rhetorical question-answer pairs, groups of three, bullet points, section headers, excessive emphasis (bold/italics), metaphorical clichés ('symphony of', 'tapestry of'), or explanatory phrases ('which was surprising because'). Use concrete descriptions, varied sentence structures, and conversational tone with personality.",
"short": "Avoid em dashes, 'delve', rhetorical patterns, and clichés. Write naturally with varied structures.",
"strict": "FORBIDDEN: em dashes, delve, moreover, furthermore, bullet points, 'Let's dive in', rule of three, 'not X but Y', metaphors about symphonies/tapestries, rhetorical Q&A"
}
}