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Four Major Features to Identify AI-Generated Academic Texts – Insights from WritGuru's Founder

14/12/2024

In the digital age, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized academic writing, but it's not without its limitations. As the founder of WritGuru, an academic ghostwriting platform, I have personally encountered numerous academic texts generated by AI tools. While these tools can assist with writing, they often lack the nuance and depth of human-generated content. Here are four key features that make AI-generated academic texts easily identifiable:

1. Repeated Words

AI-generated texts often suffer from repetitive wording. Instead of varying vocabulary to maintain reader interest, AI may repeat the same phrases or terms multiple times, leading to monotony. For example, in a discussion on economic trends, an AI might repeatedly use "economic growth" without substituting it with synonyms like "financial expansion" or "market improvement." This repetition can signal a lack of creativity and linguistic finesse.

How to Spot It:

  • Look for recurring phrases or words in close proximity.

  • Analyze whether synonyms or alternative expressions are lacking.

2. Unfavourable Wordings

AI often generates awkward or unnatural word choices that a human writer would instinctively avoid. These "unfavourable wordings" can disrupt the reader's comprehension and make the text feel clunky or overly mechanical. For instance, instead of writing "the findings are significant," an AI might produce "the findings hold a lot of significance," which feels verbose and less polished.

How to Spot It:

  • Pay attention to phrases that sound overly complicated or unnecessarily formal.

  • Look for verbosity where simpler wording would suffice.

3. Unnatural, Staccato Reading Flow

Unlike human writers, who use transitional phrases to create a smooth reading experience, AI-generated texts often exhibit a choppy or staccato flow. This is due to the AI's tendency to generate sentences independently without fully considering their connection to one another. As a result, the text lacks coherence and fluidity, making it harder to read.

How to Spot It:

  • Notice abrupt transitions between sentences or ideas.

  • Check if the text lacks logical progression or narrative cohesion.

4. Redundant Conjunctive Verbs

AI tools frequently overuse conjunctive verbs like "therefore," "however," and "moreover," often placing them where they aren't necessary. This redundancy can clutter the text and distract from the main argument. While human writers use these words judiciously to enhance clarity, AI may insert them indiscriminately, disrupting the natural flow.

How to Spot It:

  • Look for excessive use of conjunctions that do not add value.

  • Determine whether these words contribute to or detract from the readability.

Final Thoughts

AI tools have undoubtedly transformed the landscape of academic writing, offering efficiency and convenience. However, as these four characteristics reveal, they are not a replacement for human expertise. At WritGuru, we understand the importance of quality, nuance, and originality in academic texts. Whether you're struggling with a research paper or a thesis, our team of professional writers ensures that your work stands out—human-written, polished, and tailored to your needs.