Six ways to make ChatGPT sound more human

Artificial intelligence has come a long way in content creation, but it still often struggles to sound truly human. If you've used ChatGPT, you've probably noticed it tends to rely on phrases like "in the ever-changing digital world" or "as we move forward." While these aren't bad, they can make the writing feel distant and generic.

But with a little guidance, you can make ChatGPT's content more hum an-like, more engaging, and more you. Here's how.

1. Be specific in your prompts  

It's easy to let ChatGPT write in broad, safe terms, but it's up to you to give it focus. The more detailed and specific your prompts are, the more personalised and human your results will be. Avoid general terms like "write an article about technology" and get down to the nitty-gritty:

• "Write a blog post about how AI is changing digital marketing for small businesses."
• "Create a customer support email that feels friendly and conversational, as if the sender is a helpful friend."

This way, ChatGPT has a clearer sense of direction and can deliver content that's far more targeted and engaging. You'll notice less fluff and more focus.

2. Feed it your own style

Have a unique writing style? Don't keep it to yourself; teach ChatGPT to adopt it. This is one of the quickest ways to make AI content sound more like a human you. Start by providing samples of your own writing—whether it's a blog post, a product description, or an email.

Ask ChatGPT to mimic your tone and structure. You can say something like: "Here's an example of my writing. Use the same tone and style to write a new article about [topic]."

The more you guide it, the more it'll align with your voice. This is where the magic happens. ChatGPT is good, but it's still just a tool. You're the artist, and it's your paintbrush.

3. Eliminate clichés and fillers

As helpful as ChatGPT can be, it tends to rely on a few too many filler words. You know the ones: "in the ever-evolving world of," "it's important to note." These expressions are easy to spot and, frankly, don't add much to the conversation. Instead of letting ChatGPT fall back on these fillers, you can say:

• "Keep it simple and direct."
• "Cut out the jargon and fluff."
• "Write this like you're having a casual conversation with a friend."

The goal is to make the copy feel authentic. People don't talk in abstract terms. They want clarity, impact, and personality. By removing overused phrases, you can get ChatGPT to give you more direct, relatable content.

4. Ask ChatGPT to be less formal

ChatGPT can sometimes lean a little too much into formal or stiff language, especially in professional settings. If that doesn't align with your audience, make sure to specify the tone. Whether you're writing for a casual blog, a social media post, or even an email to a friend, guide ChatGPT with example scenarios:

• "Write this as though you're speaking to a close friend."
• "Use a more conversational tone."
• "Be formal and respectful, but still warm."

Adjusting the tone based on your audience is key to making AI-generated content feel less robotic.

5. Use follow-up prompts to refine and improve   

If ChatGPT's initial response isn't exactly what you were hoping for, follow up with more prompts to refine the copy. For example, you can ask it to:

• "Make this sound more engaging to an audience that might only have 5 minutes."
• "Reword this sentence to sound friendlier to and more relatable to people between 20 and 40 years."
• "Shorten this paragraph and add some dry, Australian humour."

The more you play around with follow-up prompts, the more you'll learn how to work with the AI to craft something that truly resonates with your audience.

6. Edit content to bring it all together

Even with the best prompts and refinements, a final human edit is essential. AI can structure content and maintain your style, but only you can ensure it fully captures your personality and intent. Reading through, tweaking phrasing, and adding small personal touches will take your AI-generated content from good enough to truly yours.

In conclusion, ChatGPT can be a fantastic writing assistant, but it's still just that: an assistant. It can't replace the creativity you bring to the table. With the right prompts, a clear understanding of your audience, and a willingness to refine the output, ChatGPT can be a useful tool for producing content.