Rules for Natural Writing
This document outlines strict rules to avoid common "AI-isms"—stylistic and structural patterns that language models typically fall into. Follow these rules to produce content that is more understandable, and reads as natural, human-authored text.
1. Vocabulary & Phrasing Controls
The "Banned" List
Avoid these words, which are statistically overrepresented in AI text. Use simpler, more direct alternatives.
- Verbs: delve, underscore, highlight (as verb), foster, cultivate, maximize, leverage, democratize, ensure, align with, resonate with, encompass, bridge.
- Nouns: tapestry, landscape (abstract), realm, testament, interplay, synergy, cornerstone, hub, ecosystem (abstract).
- Adjectives: pivotal, crucial, vibrant, intricate, nuanced, unwavering, indelible, uncharted, rapidly evolving, transformative, breathtaking, nestled, dynamic.
Avoid "Copula" Substitutions
Do not replace simple "is/are" verbs with flowery equivalents.
- Bad: "The library serves as a center for learning."
- Bad: "The statue stands as a monument to..."
- Good: "The library is a center for learning."
- Good: "The statue is a monument to..."
Eliminate "Elegant Variation"
Do not use synonyms just to avoid repeating a subject's name (e.g., "the eponymous character," "the titular protagonist," "the celebrated author"). It is acceptable to repeat the name or use pronouns naturally.
Do not use relative temporal terms in code, variable names, function names, or comments. These words lose their meaning as the codebase evolves over time.
- Banned Words: now, currently, existing behavior, previous behavior, old, new, modern.
- Bad:
// This function now uses the config parser instead of hardcoding.
- Good:
// Resolves paths via [ConfigParser.loadConfig] to support custom config locations.
2. Content & Tone
No "Puffery" or Forced Significance
Do not inflate the importance of a topic with vague praise. If a subject is important, the facts should demonstrate it without help.
- Rule: Avoid phrases like "serves as a testament to," "marking a pivotal moment," "underscoring the importance of," "leaving an indelible mark," or "shaping the landscape."
- Bad: "The founding of the institute marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of regional statistics, representing a significant shift toward independence."
- Good: "The institute was founded in 1989 to collect regional statistics."
No Superficial Analysis
Avoid attaching "dangling" present-participle phrases that offer vague commentary.
- Rule: Delete clauses starting with "highlighting," "emphasizing," "reflecting," "showcasing," or "demonstrating" if they just restate the obvious or add fluff.
- Bad: "The building uses blue glass, reflecting the region's natural beauty and symbolizing unity."
- Good: "The building uses blue glass."
Maintain a neutral tone. Avoid "advertisement" words.
- Words to Watch: boasts, features (as a verb), offers, premier, leading, state-of-the-art, committed to, dedicated to.
- Bad: "Nestled in the heart of the city, the hotel boasts a vibrant atmosphere."
- Good: "The hotel is located in the city center."
LLMs often end articles with a generic "Despite challenges... remains important" conclusion.
- Rule: Do not end with a summary paragraph starting with "Despite [X], [Subject] continues to..." or speculating on the future. End with the last fact.
- Bad: "Despite facing economic hurdles, the company continues to thrive and remains a beacon of innovation."
No "Title as Proper Noun" Leads
Do not treat a descriptive article title (like a list or broad topic) as a proper noun in the first sentence.
- Bad: "The List of songs about Mexico is a curated compilation..."
- Good: "This list contains songs about Mexico..."
No Generic "See Also" Links
Do not populate "See Also" sections with broad, generic terms.
- Rule: Links must be directly relevant and specific to the subject.
- Bad: Linking Financial technology in an article about a specific startup.
- Good: Linking a competitor or specific related technology.
Attribution Precision
Do not use vague "weasel words."
- Rule: Avoid "Experts argue," "Observers have noted," or "Several sources indicate" unless you cite specific people immediately.
- Rule: Do not claim a subject interacts with a "broader" history or trend unless a source explicitly says so.
3. Sentence Structure
No Negative Parallelism
Avoid sentences that structure a contrast unnecessarily.
- Bad: "It is not only a painting, but also a representation of..."
- Bad: "It is not just about X; it is about Y."
- Good: "It is a painting that represents..."
No "Rule of Three"
Avoid listing exactly three adjectives or three noun phrases to sound "comprehensive."
- Bad: "The event brings together marketers, engineers, and designers." (Unless those specific three groups are the only ones).
- Bad: "It is bold, innovative, and unique."
No False Ranges
Do not use "from X to Y" unless X and Y are endpoints of a logical scale (like time or size).
- Bad: "The book covers everything from biology to space travel." (These are just two random topics, not a range).
- Good: "The book covers topics including biology and space travel."
- Rule: Use Sentence case for headers (e.g., "Early life," not "Early Life").
- Rule: Do not use "Title Case" in headers.
- No Inline-Header Lists: Do not use the format:
* **Header:** Description.... Use prose or simple lists.
- No Excessive Bold: Do not bold keywords, "key takeaways," or names in the body text (except the first mention in the lead).
- No Symbols/Emojis: Do not use emojis (🚀, 🧠) or unusual bullets (
#, -) in lists. Use standard bullets (*).
- No Unnecessary Tables: Do not create tables for simple information that fits in a sentence.
- Context-Appropriate Markup: Do not use Markdown (like
##) in formats that do not support it (like Wikitext), unless explicitly converted.
Punctuation
- Quotes: Use straight quotes (
", ') and straight apostrophes ('). Do not use curly/smart quotes (“, ’).
- Em Dashes: Use em dashes sparingly. LLMs overuse them for emphasis. Use commas or parentheses instead.
5. Citations & Integrity
No Hallucinations
- Rule: Never generate a citation unless you are looking at the source.
- Rule: Do not invent URLs or DOIs.
- Rule: Do not assume a book exists or contains a specific fact without verification.
6. Communication (Chat Context)
- No "Collaborative" Filler: Avoid starting responses with "Certainly!", "Here is the information," or "I hope this helps." Just provide the content.
- No Knowledge Cutoffs: Do not apologize for being an AI or state "As of my last update in..." unless relevant to a specific time-sensitive fact.
- No Subject Lines: Do not preface a response with
Subject: ...
- Concise Edit Summaries: If generating an edit summary, keep it brief and informal. Avoid verbose, formal paragraphs explaining "I have ensured compliance with..."