How to Use ChatGPT Without Sounding Like ChatGPT

When writing the title for this article, I spent a lot of time trying to make it ‘engaging’ and ‘catchy.’ But then I was like: Imma just write it as it is.

Sooo, as you guessed, I will simply be sharing my personal tips when it comes to using ChatGPT, without sounding like it. 📢

We’ve all seen it: the kind of writing that screams “ChatGPT wrote this.” And yet, I love using ChatGPT. I use it almost daily to speed things up, brainstorm, and build smarter content workflows. But here’s the catch: I never publish anything straight out of the box.

In this article, I’m sharing exactly how I use ChatGPT as a creative partner without losing my voice. Before doing that, let’s discuss a fundamental point.

Why AI-Generated Content Sounds a Bit…Off?

Even the best AI tools can produce content that feels just a little too perfect or perfectly weird. That’s because AI lacks one essential ingredient: real human experience. It mimics patterns from its training data, not the nuance of your voice, brand, or lived knowledge.

So what exactly makes AI content feel unnatural?

• Overexplaining simple concepts

• Repeating phrases

• Tone mismatch

• Lack of specificity

And the #1 red flag? You read it back and think: I would never say it like that.

Here’s a very simple and dummy prompt I used, asking ChatGPT to write a LinkedIn post. What gives away the AI tone here? 

Phrases like “moving the needle,” “align with long-term goals,” and “Embracing deep work” are already giving away that this is AI-written. As someone who posts on LinkedIn regularly, I always try to avoid the marketing jargon, simply because I hate it and it sounds really unnatural.

So, when it comes to something personal like my LinkedIn posts, I don’t use ChatGPT (maybe sometimes). Which is why I wanna share when to use it and when to avoid it.

When to Use ChatGPT (And When to Step In)

Let me keep this section short and straight-to-the-point.

✅I use ChatGPT for:

• Outlining blog posts and briefs

• Rewriting content for different tones

• Brainstorming ideas, titles, and hooks

• Summarizing long reports or articles

• Generating meta descriptions or short copy

❌I avoid ChatGPT when it comes to:

• Adding personal experience or POV

• Giving real-life examples/case studies

• Writing intros and conclusions that sound like me

• Ensuring brand tone, voice, and accuracy

In short: Let ChatGPT do the heavy lifting. But make sure you’re the one managing the whole process.

5 Ways to Humanize AI-Assisted Writing

I’ve learned that using ChatGPT doesn’t mean your writing has to sound robotic. Here are a few simple ways I make sure AI-assisted drafts still feel like me.

Add Your POV

Adding your point of view (POV) is a great way to make AI-assisted writing feel more like you and less like a robot. When you share your own thoughts, stories, or opinions, it gives the content a personal touch that AI just can’t create.

When you add your POV, you’re showing your personality. This helps readers connect with your content because it feels like a conversation with a real person, not just a bunch of facts or generic sentences.

Plus, your POV helps build trust. People want to hear from someone who knows their stuff and has their own take on things.

Be Specific

One of the quickest ways to transform AI-generated content into something that sounds uniquely yours is by adding specific details. 

For instance, instead of saying, “Many marketers see success with content clusters,” try: “After refining my content clusters last year, I boosted organic traffic on my top blog post by 30% in three months.” This not only makes the content more credible but also more relatable.

Specificity bridges the gap between machine-generated ideas and your authentic voice, turning generic advice into actionable, human insights.

Cut the Fluff

AI sometimes tends to over-explain or fill sentences with unnecessary words that dilute your message. To keep your writing sharp and engaging, go through the draft and remove any filler phrases, redundant ideas, or overly complex sentences.

For example, instead of saying, “It is important to note that in the current digital marketing landscape, content marketing plays a significant role,” simply say, “Content marketing drives success in today’s digital world.” Shorter, clearer sentences make your content easier to read and more impactful.

It’s about trimming the excess to make your key points stand out.

Rephrase in Your Voice

Once you have a solid AI-generated draft, take time to rewrite parts of it in your own style. This means using the words, phrases, and tone that feel natural to you, whether that’s casual, professional, or warm.

Think about how you usually explain things to a friend or colleague and try to bring that personality into the text. Changing sentence structure, swapping out formal words for everyday language, or adding your favorite expressions can make a big difference.

Add Personality

Personality is what makes your content memorable and relatable. Don’t be afraid to sprinkle in some humor, anecdotes, or even a bit of your unique perspective. These personal touches turn dry, generic text into something that feels alive and authentic.

Whether it’s a clever metaphor, a casual aside, or a heartfelt opinion, adding personality helps your readers connect with you, not just the information you’re sharing. AI can provide the facts, but only you can bring the soul.

Prompts That Help: Personal Edition (But Not All of My Prompts 😉)

Here are three solid prompts you can use with ChatGPT for different stages of content creation. ⤵️

1. Outline Prompt

“You are an experienced content strategist and SEO specialist tasked with helping me create a detailed outline for a blog post about [your topic]. Please provide a clear structure with all headings and subheadings. For each heading, include a brief explanation of why it’s important and how it contributes to the overall flow and reader engagement. Also, list 3-5 main points or key ideas that should be covered under each section to ensure the content is comprehensive, valuable, and aligned with best SEO practices.”

1. Content Writing Prompt

“You are a skilled professional content writer and industry expert. Please write a clear, professional, and engaging [type of content, e.g., blog post, article] on [your topic]. Use a [your desired tone, e.g., conversational, authoritative, friendly] tone that resonates with [your target audience, e.g., marketing professionals, small business owners]. Incorporate practical, real-world examples and actionable insights to make the content relatable and useful. Ensure the writing flows smoothly, maintains reader interest, and reflects current best practices in content marketing.”

1. Content Ideation Prompt

“You are a creative content strategist with deep expertise in [your industry or niche]. Please generate a list of fresh, relevant, and original content ideas related to [your topic] that will engage my target audience—[briefly describe audience, e.g., digital marketers, small business owners, tech enthusiasts]. Focus on ideas that help build topical authority, encourage audience interaction, and address current trends or common challenges.”

Final Thoughts

Using ChatGPT effectively is all about balance. By adding your unique perspective, being specific, cutting the fluff, rephrasing in your own voice, and injecting personality, you can create AI-assisted content that feels truly human. 

Pair these techniques with smart tools and prompts, and you’ll not only save time but also produce content that connects with your audience on a deeper level.

I’m curious about how do you use AI in your content creation? Drop a comment or connect with me to share your experience!