While reviewing a client’s blog draft recently, I opened the HTML view and saw this little gem:
<p data-start="104" data-end="490"></p>
It wasn’t just once, it was sprinkled through the document like confetti. Totally invisible in the WYSIWYG editor, but just enough to mess with the layout, spacing, and even tracking scripts. Apparently the spaghetti code isn’t just a developer problem…LLMs like ChatGPT are great at writing words, but not always great at writing clean ones.
If you’re using AI to help generate content (and who isn’t?!), here are 8 easy-to-miss signs that your draft may have come straight from the bots…and what you can do to fix it.
1/ Suspicious HTML Tags
<p data-start="104" data-end="490">
These “data-*” attributes often show up when copying from certain tools like Notion, Word, or AI writing environments that inject metadata for their own editing features. They don’t always break your site, but they can confuse your CMS or trigger weird analytics behavior.
What to do
Always paste drafts into a plain text editor or “code view” before publishing. Better yet, use Ctrl+Shift+V (Windows) or Cmd+Opt+Shift+V (Mac) to paste without formatting.
2/ Overuse of Em Dashes
This is becoming a more commonly known issue and is quickly making rounds on social media. It’s unfortunate for folks like me that have been overusing em dashes for years! I guess the conversational reading I grew up on had an outsized influence. AI loves the em dash—maybe a little too much. It’s often used in place of commas, colons, or parentheses, especially when the model is trying to mimic a conversational or sophisticated tone.
What to do:
Scan for rhythm. If every third sentence leans on an em dash, rewrite it for a bit of variety.
3/ Overly Balanced Sentence Structure
AI-generated sentences often feel too neat…
“While X is true, Y is also important.”
“Not only does it help with A, but it also supports B.”
It reads smoothly, but can come off robotic and generic in bulk.
What to do
Vary your sentence structure. Add some asymmetry or intentional fragments, try to “humanize” the voice.
BONUS: Do something a bit more controversial… include one or 2 intentional misspellings or grammatical errors. 🤫 It’s also a great way to smoke out which of your teammates is actually proofreading and which one is just clicking ‘approve’ while pretending to read.
4/ Generic Transitions and Conclusions
AI loves safe transitions like “Additionally,” “In conclusion,” or “Ultimately.” It also tends to wrap up articles with generic lines like:
“By following these tips, you’ll be on your way to success.”
What to do
Rewrite intros and outros with actual opinion, humor, or specificity. Readers can spot a template from a mile away.
5/ Too Many Listicles, Not Enough Insight
LLMs default to safe formats like “Top 5 Tips” or “7 Ways to Improve Your Workflow.” These are fine, but often feel like filler without personal experience or data.
What to do
Turn the list into a story. Add real examples or client anecdotes. Anchor it to a specific problem or use case.
6/ Keyword Stuffing (Without Intent)
AI can over-obsess with your prompt and cram the same phrase repeatedly, thinking it’s being helpful for SEO.
What to do
Do a “Find” search on your focus keyword. If it shows up every paragraph, dial it back and rewrite for clarity, not just ranking.
7/ Weird Capitalization or Encoding Errors
Ever see things like “ ” odd character spacing, or smart quotes that break your layout? That’s often the result of copying AI-generated content through multiple layers: chat windows, Google Docs, CMS editors, etc.
What to do
Paste into a plain-text field or Markdown editor first to strip out smart formatting.
8/ It Sounds Like Everyone Else
If your article could be swapped out with one from a dozen other sites and no one would notice, that’s a sign it’s missing something: you.
What to do
Add unique context…what you’ve seen, what’s worked, what’s failed. If you’re building in public or running a business, even tiny anecdotes can make the writing yours.
Use AI…Don’t Let It Use You
LLMs are powerful tools. They can help you write faster, ideate better, and overcome the dead-end of a perpetual blank page. But they can also introduce silent issues that tank your formatting, damage your SEO, or diminish the quality of your content, relegating it to the internet’s growing trash bin.
Treat AI like a junior writer or intern: useful, but in need of review. Make original and useful content, there’s enough garbage on the web…write for humans, give your article a once-over and ask yourself:
- Would I read this?
- Would I find it useful?
If you answer NO to either question… as Gen. Patton would say, “it’s not good enough!”
document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
Share: