Know the signs of AI writing

 

Know the signs of AI writing

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There are telltale signs of AI writing. If you’re new to teaching or unfamiliar with AI, just knowing these can help grow your AI Spidey Sense. Here are some to look for:

• The Em Dash – AI, ChatGPT especially, loves to use the em dash (—). And it usually uses it incorrectly, substituting it for a comma. Students, however, almost never use an em dash, especially below 11th grade. (For lovers of the em dash, like myself, this royally sucks.)
• Parallel Structure – AI frequently leans on triplets or balanced phrasing (e.g., “She was strong, she was brave, she was determined”). Students usually don’t polish structure that deliberately.
• Empty language – AI was designed to fill a word count. It’s very good at using vague, meaningless, or unnecessary words, often culminating in a bland and empty essay.
• Overly tidy paragraphs: Each one often follows the same rhythm (topic sentence + evidence + conclusion) with no natural tangents, quirks, or false starts.
• Smooth but generic transitions: AI loves words like moreover, furthermore, consequently, in conclusion. Real students are more likely to mix “so,” “but,” or skip transitions entirely.
• Vague sophistication: AI favors slightly elevated but non-specific words (significant, crucial, deeply, inherently, resonates, underscores). Students tend to swing between too casual or too forced.
• Clichéd analogies: AI might drop clichés like “a double-edged sword,” “a beacon of hope,” “paints a vivid picture.”
• Balanced but bland tone: One nice thing about grading AI-generated work in upper level ELA classes is that it isn’t that good or interesting.
• Symmetrical answers (usually in 3s): If the writing prompt a 3-part question, the response will almost always have three neat sections, each similarly sized. AI loves 3s: three main ideas, three body paragraphs, or even just the number three.
• Perfect grammar: This may be dependent on your students’ grade level, but if a sixth grader writes a 4-page essay without a single error, I might be impressed…or suspicious.
• Impersonal responses: AI writing usually removes 1st person POV from student writing. If you required a personal response, AI writing might come off as a level or two removed from this.