Making AI Write Like a Human: 6 Prompting Tricks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

Let’s start with a little confession: Ever asked an AI for something amazing and ended up with something that felt like it came from a robot's "How To Be Boring 101" manual? Yeah, me too. The truth is, your AI is only as good as the prompts you feed it. Think of it as asking for dinner at a restaurant: if you say “Just bring me food,” who knows what you’ll get? But ask for “A spicy, sizzling plate of fajitas with extra guac,” and boom you’re in foodie heaven. So, let’s fix your AI prompts. Here are six tips that’ll make your prompt outputs feel like they were written by a charming, witty human (yes, even if it’s me doing the typing).

1. Set the Mood with Your Prompt

When asking an AI for content, don’t just say what you want. It’s not a mind reader. Tell it how you want it to feel. Playful? Empathetic? Deadpan? Get specific. Example:

Bad: “Write a blog about AI tools.”
Good: “Write a playful blog post for beginners that introduces AI tools with fun metaphors and examples.” **Why it Works:**AI mimics the tone you describe. Want humor? Ask for it. Want drama? Go for it. It’s like training your dog to fetch, not much effort but infinitely more satisfying.

2. Ask for a Quick Rundown First

Before AI starts writing, get it to explain how it’s understood your request. Example:

Add this: “Before writing, explain everything you understood from this prompt in detail.”
Why: You’ll save yourself the “Oh no, that’s not what I meant!” moment. Imagine planning a surprise party but forgetting to tell the planner you hate clowns. Always clarify first.

3. Humanize the Tone

AI can sound stiff if you let it. Add a little spice to its instructions by emphasizing human quirks, anecdotes, humor, idioms, the works. Example:

Ask for this: “I need this written in a human tone. Be conversational, empathetic, and occasionally funny. Use metaphors, dialogue, and stories to engage the reader.”
Why: Robots can write, but humans connect. If you want your audience to feel something, don’t let the AI phone it in.

4. Critique Itself

Prompt’s secret sauce? It’s surprisingly good at pointing out its own flaws (a skill many humans could learn, honestly). Example:

After it finishes: “Criticize yourself. What’s missing? How could this be better?”
Why: You’ll get valuable tweaks and ideas, no ego attached. It’s like having a brutally honest editor who never needs coffee breaks.

5. Add Missing Info Requests

Most of us don’t give enough details in our prompts. Fix that by having AI ask for the blanks it needs to fill. Example:

Add this: “Ask me any questions about missing information before answering.”
Why: It turns your session into a productive back-and-forth, ensuring you get exactly what you want. It’s like handing over a half-written recipe and getting a chef to ask, “Hey, do you want cayenne or cinnamon in this?” (Hint: Not both).

6. Pinpoint the Gaps

Want more impactful content? Ask AI to identify where examples, analogies, or case studies could clarify or engage more. Example:

Before wrapping up: “Identify areas where examples, analogies, or case studies would improve understanding.”
Why: Examples make abstract ideas stick. It’s the difference between saying, “AI can write for you,” and showing how it nailed a dating profile opener.

Bonus: Use a "Banned Words" List for Precision

Ever read something that felt so stuffed with buzzwords you couldn’t tell what it actually meant? AI can sometimes lean into overused phrases that sound fancy but say little. Save your readers (and yourself) from jargon fatigue by giving your AI tool a banned words list. Example:

Include this: “Avoid using words like unveil, leverage, resonate, or any similar clichés. Stick to clear, conversational language.”
Why: Banned words keep your content grounded. They force the AI to choose more direct and relatable phrasing, making the final product easier to digest. It’s like banning pineapple on pizza: some things just don’t belong, and you’ll thank yourself for saying no. Pro Tip: Create a custom banned words list for different types of writing. For example, avoid “cutting-edge” in tech pieces and “quaint” in travel blogs. Customize it to suit your audience.

Why This Works

These tips tap into what makes writing human: tone, clarity, and connection. AI is great at following instructions, but only if you give it the right ones. You’re the coach, the scriptwriter, the DJ at the dance party. Play the right tunes, and the results will blow you away.

Your Turn

Try these tips today and see how they transform your AI sessions. And remember: Like any relationship, the more effort you put in, the better the results.

Making AI Write Like a Human: 6 Prompting Tricks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner