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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.

Download the .md file

Plain Markdown · 185 catalogue entries · no tracking

What is in the file

98

Words

55

Phrases

12

Punctuation

20

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.