3 Ways I Can Tell You Used ChatGPT to Write That

And how to get better at making it your own

We’re now in a time where if you’re not using AI tools to boost your productivity, you’re already falling behind.

And one tool that nearly everyone is using (and abusing) is ChatGPT.

I’ll be the first to admit that I love it too. I use ChatGPT every single day. Whether it’s to draft articles, posts, create plans, organize strategies, brainstorm ideas, proofread content, or develop calendars — it has become my go-to tool for quick and efficient work.

But it’s taken me time (and effort) to learn how to use it, and use it well.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case for everyone using ChatGPT. More often than not, I see articles, LinkedIn posts, and even comments or DMs that I can instantly recognize as GPT-generated.

Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s fantastic that you’re using these tools. But you shouldn’t be using them blindly.

If a writer sends me an article that’s been copy-pasted directly from ChatGPT, I’m not even going to bother reading through it all the way to begin editing. I’ll send it back asking for a rewrite.

These AI tools are smart and can simplify our lives. But we can’t afford to get lazy because of them. We’ve got to be smarter.

Using ChatGPT’s content as is, with no flavor of your own, just indicates that you’re not putting in the smarts you’re born with.

So, how can I tell that your content is GPT-generated, and what can you do about it?

ChatGPT (like any writer) has its own patterns. There are certain words and phrases it loves to use repeatedly. There’s a style to its writing that will come out naturally if you don’t take the time to tweak it. It likes to repeat sentences to fill up the word count. Basically, it has dead giveaways. Let’s take a look at a few.

1. ChatGPT loves grandiosity & superlatives.
   Words like ‘ultimate, most innovative, revolutionary’ are clear indicators of content written with ChatGPT, especially when they are unnecessary in your article.
2. ChatGPT has an affinity for ‘smart-sounding’ words.
   Terms like ‘tapestry, elevate, realm, arguably’ will be scattered all over (and multiple times) in an article written by ChatGPT.
3. It loves spinning a good phrase.
   Oh, how ChatGPT uses phrases to punctuate emotion into its articles.
   If I read:
   • It is important to note…
   • In the realm of…
   • In today’s fast-paced digital world/dynamic world/busy world… (This one bugs me the most)
   • Navigating the complexities/landscape of…
   • A testament to…
   It’s safe to say that I’m not likely to read any further.

So, does this mean you can’t use any of these words or phrases in your original content? Not at all! But you’ll notice how it sounds different when a human writes these phrases versus when ChatGPT writes them.

Here’s an example:

Sample 1:

In today’s fast-paced digital environment, enterprises are constantly seeking advanced technological solutions that can seamlessly integrate into their existing systems to enhance functionality and operational efficiency.

Sample 2:

We’re living in a fast-paced digital environment, and rapid technological advancements have become the norm. Enterprises, especially, are seeking new and innovative solutions that can integrate seamlessly into their traditional systems, so they can quickly adapt and improve their functionality and efficiency.

Can you tell which one is ChatGPT-generated and which one is human?

Now, I didn’t come up with this article intro (it’s an excerpt from a full article) by myself. I asked ChatGPT to draft it. But then, I spent 20 minutes editing the piece.

An article would normally take me 60–90 minutes to research and write, and 20 minutes to edit; now it only takes me a total of 25 minutes (prompting + editing) to finish.

All while ensuring it still sounds like me.

So, how do you do that?

How do you get better at using ChatGPT for improving your performance without losing your personality?

Here are my suggestions:

1. Practice prompting (till you get it right)
2. Feed it information (as much as you can)
3. Give instructions (like an inexperienced intern)
4. Edit, edit, edit (till it sounds like you)

I’ll be writing more stories on how to use ChatGPT to your advantage. If you’re interested or have any questions you want me to answer, let me know in the comments!

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