How to Tell if Your Essay Looks AI-Generated

If you're wondering whether your essay might trigger AI detection software, you're not alone. With tools like Turnitin, GPTZero, and others becoming standard in academic institutions, understanding what these detectors look for can help you write more authentically.

What AI Detectors Actually Measure

AI detectors don't actually know if text was written by AI. Instead, they analyze patterns in writing that are statistically associated with AI-generated content. Here are the main signals they look for:

1. Uniform Sentence Cadence

AI-generated text often has remarkably consistent sentence lengths and rhythms. Human writing naturally varies — we write short, punchy sentences. Then we might follow with something longer and more complex that meanders a bit before reaching its point.

What to check: Read your essay aloud. Does it feel monotonous? Do sentences follow a predictable pattern?

2. Low Burstiness

"Burstiness" refers to the variation in complexity throughout a piece. Humans tend to write in bursts — simple explanations followed by complex analysis, then back to straightforward points. AI tends to maintain a more consistent complexity level.

What to check: Look at your paragraph structure. Are all paragraphs roughly the same complexity, or do you vary between simple and complex ideas?

3. Predictable Phrasing

AI models are trained on patterns, which means they often produce the most statistically likely next word. This results in phrasing that feels "correct" but generic — like it could have been written by anyone.

What to check: Look for phrases like "It is important to note that..." or "In conclusion, it can be said that..." These transition phrases are AI favorites.

4. Lack of Personal Voice

AI doesn't have experiences, opinions formed from those experiences, or a unique perspective. It can simulate these, but often in generic ways.

What to check: Does your essay include specific examples from your own experience or unique observations? Or does it stick to general statements that anyone could make?

Common Red Flags to Watch For

Here are specific patterns that often trigger AI detectors:

• Overly formal transitions between every paragraph
• Perfectly balanced arguments where every point has equal weight
• No contractions throughout the entire piece
• Generic examples instead of specific, personal ones
• Consistent paragraph lengths (all roughly the same size)
• Repetitive sentence structures (Subject-Verb-Object patterns repeated)

How to Reduce AI Detection Signals

If you've written your essay yourself but are worried about false positives, here are practical steps:

Vary Your Sentence Structure

Instead of: "The study shows significant results. The researchers found clear patterns. The data supports the hypothesis."

Try: "The study shows significant results — researchers found clear patterns that support the hypothesis, though some questions remain."

Add Personal Context

Instead of: "Climate change affects many communities worldwide."

Try: "When I visited my grandmother's coastal town last summer, the high-water marks on buildings told a story that statistics alone couldn't capture."

Use Natural Transitions

Instead of: "Furthermore, it is important to consider..."

Try: "But there's another angle worth exploring..."

Include Specific Details

Instead of: "Many students face challenges with academic writing."

Try: "In my freshman writing seminar, three of us stayed after class every week just to understand what 'analysis' actually meant."

When to Be Concerned

Not every essay needs to be rewritten. Focus on these situations:

1. High-stakes submissions where AI detection is explicitly mentioned
2. Essays that feel generic even to you when re-reading
3. Pieces with suspiciously smooth flow — some friction is human

The Bottom Line

AI detection isn't about catching cheaters — it's about identifying patterns. By understanding what these tools measure, you can write more authentically and confidently, knowing your genuine work won't be misinterpreted.

The best defense against AI detection isn't tricks or workarounds. It's writing that sounds like you — with your specific examples, your unique voice, and your natural rhythms. That's something no AI can truly replicate.

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Want to check your essay before submitting? Try Veridict free — we'll show you exactly which signals are being detected and how to address them.