For agents, editors and lint scripts
AI Writing Tells as Markdown (for CLAUDE.md and AGENTS.md)
The complete AI-writing tell list as a raw Markdown file, with a paste-ready rule block for CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md and Cursor rules. No sign-up, no JavaScript.
Plain Markdown · 185 catalogue entries · no tracking
What is in the file
Words
Phrases
Punctuation
Structural
Each entry carries the pattern and the replacement to use instead, so an agent reading the file has something to do rather than a rule to remember. The file ends with a compact rule block written to be pasted straight into CLAUDE.md,AGENTS.md or a Cursor rules file.
The rule block
The tail of the file, on its own. Copy it into your project instructions and an agent will avoid the patterns while drafting.
Paste into CLAUDE.md or AGENTS.md
## Writing rules (copy this block into CLAUDE.md or AGENTS.md) ```markdown ## Writing style Never use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) or double hyphens (--). Use a comma, a colon, parentheses, or a full stop. Never use these words: delve, tapestry, testament, realm, landscape, leverage, utilize, seamless, robust, meticulous, intricate, vibrant, crucial, vital, pivotal, paramount, navigate, underscore, foster, facilitate, bolster, garner, bolstering, myriad, plethora, multifaceted, holistic, synergy, paradigm, ecosystem, revolutionize, transformative, game-changer, cutting-edge, state-of-the-art, unparalleled, unwavering, commendable, noteworthy, profound. Never use these phrases: it's not just X, it's Y, not only X but also Y, it's worth noting that, it is important to note that, in today's fast-paced world, in today's digital age, in an era of, when it comes to, at the end of the day, the key takeaway is, let's dive in, let's explore, without further ado, buckle up, here's the thing, the bottom line, delve into, a testament to, plays a crucial role, plays a vital role. Rules for structure: - Avoid uniform paragraph length. - Avoid uniform sentence length. - Avoid the rule of three. - Avoid bold lead-ins in every bullet. - Avoid header every two paragraphs. - Avoid question headings. - Avoid the summary paragraph. - Avoid both-sides hedging. After writing, run the text through https://dashremover.com/ai-dash-remover/ to strip any dash that slipped through. ```
Fetch it from a script
The file is served as text/markdown at a stable URL, so a build step can pull it in:
curl -s https://dashremover.com/blog/ai-writing-tells.md >> AGENTS.md
Related reading
Licence: use it freely, in commercial projects included. Attribution is welcome but not required.