--- name: content-humanize title: "Content Humanization" description: "Science of AI text detection, 8-dimension humanization diagnostic, and 7-pass rewrite technique for transforming AI-generated content into genuinely human writing." license: Apache-2.0 compatibility: "Octomind content agents." domains: content rules: - content(humanize) - content(ai-generated) - match(humanize|make.*human|sounds.*ai|ai.detection) --- # Content Humanization ## Overview AI-generated text has measurable signatures that readers and search engines detect. This skill encodes the science behind those signals, a scoring diagnostic across 8 dimensions, and a 7-pass rewrite technique for eliminating them. The goal isn't evasion — it's quality. Human-written articles get 5.44x more traffic and hold reader attention 41% longer. --- ## Instructions ### Why AI Text Is Detectable | Signal | AI pattern | Human pattern | |---|---|---| | Perplexity | ~21 (predictable word choices) | ~36 (unexpected, domain-specific vocabulary) | | Burstiness | Uniform sentence lengths (15–25 words) | Dramatic variation — fragments to 40-word sentences | | Vocabulary | 50+ dead words/phrases at 5–10× frequency | Natural, specific, domain-appropriate | | Contractions | Absent or sparse | Constant — "don't", "it's", "won't" | | Grammar | Perfect throughout | Natural breaks — "And", "But", fragments, asides | | Voice | Detached, encyclopedic | First-person, opinionated, emotionally varied | | Structure | Parallel sections, equal lengths, formulaic | Deliberately unequal, unpredictable | | Transitions | "Furthermore", "Moreover", "Additionally" | Absent, or "But.", "So.", "The catch?" | Google's March 2026 update amplified "Experience" — content demonstrating genuine first-hand experience outranks comprehensive but impersonal content. 96% of AI Overview citations come from sources with strong E-E-A-T signals. --- ### 8-Dimension Diagnostic Score each dimension 1–10 (10 = fully human). Sum = X/80. **Risk levels**: Pass (65+) / Borderline (45–64) / Flagged (30–44) / Critical (<30) #### 1. Perplexity (Word-Level Unpredictability) - Flag every statistically obvious word choice - Count AI vocabulary hits (dead words, transitions, phrases) - Check for domain-specific or unexpected vocabulary - Score: high unique/surprising vocabulary = high, generic/predictable = low #### 2. Burstiness (Sentence-Level Variation) - Measure sentence length range (shortest vs longest) - Flag 3+ consecutive sentences within ±5 words of each other - Check for fragments (<5 words for emphasis) - Check for long momentum sentences (>30 words) - Check paragraph length variation across the piece - Score: dramatic variation with intentional rhythm = high, uniform = low #### 3. Vocabulary Hygiene Count every instance of dead vocabulary (see content-voice skill for full lists). Scoring: 0 hits = 10, 1–3 = 7, 4–8 = 4, 9+ = 1. Also flag formal overreach: "utilize" (use), "facilitate" (help), "demonstrate" (show), "commence" (start), "culminate" (end), "subsequent" (next), "prior to" (before), "in order to" (to), "serves as" (is). #### 4. Contraction Density - Count uncontracted forms: "do not", "it is", "will not", "can not", "they are", "we have", "does not", "is not", "was not", "would not", "should not", "could not" - Target: <2 uncontracted forms per 500 words (unless deliberate emphasis) - Score: natural contractions throughout = 10, formal throughout = 1 #### 5. Grammatical Humanity - Sentences starting with "And", "But", "So", "Or" — present? (humans do this constantly) - Sentence fragments for emphasis — present? - Parenthetical asides — present? - Trailing participles: sentences ending with "...highlighting", "...ensuring that", "...contributing to", "...underscoring", "...reflecting" — count each - "Not just X, but also Y" constructions — count - Semicolons connecting simple phrases — count (AI overuses these) - Perfect grammar throughout with zero breaks = AI signal - Score: natural grammar breaks present = high, perfect throughout = low #### 6. Voice & Personality - First-person markers: "I've found", "In my experience", "What I've seen", "We tested" — present? - Opinions: "I'd argue", "Honestly", "This is overrated", "This matters more than people think" — present? - Emotional variance: enthusiasm, skepticism, frustration, curiosity, humor — any present? - Conversational asides: parenthetical thoughts, self-corrections, rhetorical questions? - Vulnerability or uncertainty: "I'm not sure about this", "The data is mixed", "We got this wrong"? - Specific references: named tools, people, events, publications, dates? - Score: rich personality throughout = 10, detached encyclopedic = 1 #### 7. Structural Unpredictability - Section lengths: all roughly equal? (AI) or deliberately varied? (human) - Paragraph openers: all topic sentences? Or varied (question, example, continuation)? - Conclusion: recap of main points? (AI) Or forward-looking/question/callback? (human) - Opening: broad definitional? (AI) Or specific scene/claim/stat with commentary? (human) - Subheadings: generic labels ("Benefits", "Challenges")? Or personality ("Why This Actually Matters")? - Synonym rotation: same concept called different names each paragraph? (AI tell) - Score: unpredictable, varied structure = high, formulaic = low #### 8. Transition Quality - Count formulaic transitions: "Furthermore", "Moreover", "Additionally", "Moving on", "As we discussed", "It's worth noting" - Check for conversational alternatives: "But here's the thing", "So.", "The catch?", "And yet." - Check for zero-transition jumps (just starting the next idea — humans do this often) - Score: organic or absent transitions = high, formulaic = low --- ### Diagnostic Report Format ``` ## 🧬 HUMANIZATION DIAGNOSTIC: [filename or "Draft"] **Word count**: X words **Overall humanization score**: X/80 **Risk level**: Pass (65+) / Borderline (45–64) / Flagged (30–44) / Critical (<30) | Dimension | Score | Key Findings | |--------------------|-------|--------------------------| | Perplexity | X/10 | [summary] | | Burstiness | X/10 | [summary] | | Vocabulary | X/10 | [X dead words found] | | Contractions | X/10 | [X uncontracted forms] | | Grammar humanity | X/10 | [summary] | | Voice & personality| X/10 | [summary] | | Structure | X/10 | [summary] | | Transitions | X/10 | [X formulaic found] | ### Worst Offenders (fix these first) 1. [Most impactful issue — specific location — fix] 2. [Second — specific location — fix] 3. [Third — specific location — fix] ### Dead Word Inventory [List every flagged word/phrase with location] ``` --- ### 7-Pass Rewrite Technique Apply section by section, in order. Preserve every fact, citation, and data point — rewrite the voice, not the content. **Pass 1: Vocabulary** — Replace every dead word, dead transition, dead phrase, and formal overreach. Use the simplest natural word. Don't replace with another AI-sounding synonym — use what a human expert in this field would actually say. **Pass 2: Contractions** — Convert every uncontracted form unless it's deliberate emphasis. "Do not touch this" (emphasis) is fine. "It does not appear to be the case" → "It doesn't look like it." **Pass 3: Rhythm** — Rebuild sentence lengths for burstiness. Find runs of 3+ similar-length sentences: break one into a fragment, merge two into a long flowing one. After any sentence >25 words, follow with one <8 words. Insert a one-sentence paragraph between dense ones. **Pass 4: Transitions** — Kill every formulaic transition. Replace with nothing (just start the next idea), or: "But.", "So here's the thing.", "The catch?", "And yet —", "Which brings up something interesting." **Pass 5: Grammar humanity** — Start 2–3 sentences per section with "And" or "But". Add 1–2 parenthetical asides per major section. Use at least one fragment per section. Remove all trailing participle phrases — rewrite as separate sentences. Remove all "not just X, but also Y" constructions. Remove semicolons connecting simple phrases. **Pass 6: Voice injection** — At least one first-person observation per major section (if content type allows). At least one opinion or position taken. At least one moment of specificity: a named tool, person, date, or publication. At least one emotional beat: enthusiasm, skepticism, surprise, frustration. **Pass 7: Structure** — Make section lengths deliberately unequal. Vary paragraph openers (question, example, continuation — not always topic sentence). If the conclusion recaps, rewrite to end with a question, prediction, or callback. If subheadings are generic, inject personality. Kill synonym rotation — pick the best word and stick with it. --- ## Examples **AI writes:** > "Digital marketing has evolved significantly over the past decade. Companies now utilize multiple channels to reach their audiences. Social media platforms offer unique opportunities for engagement. Content marketing remains a powerful strategy for building trust." **Human writes:** > "Digital marketing looks nothing like it did ten years ago. Nothing. The channels alone — social, search, email, video, podcasts, influencer partnerships — would've seemed absurd in 2014. And here's what nobody tells you: most companies are still figuring it out, throwing budget at whatever platform had a good case study last quarter." **What changed:** Specific over abstract. Fragments for punch. Contractions throughout. First-person energy. Unexpected vocabulary. Dramatic rhythm shifts. No dead words.