Show, don't claim
Before / after: what humanizing actually looks like.
Claims are cheap; edits are evidence. Four typical AI drafts, their humanized versions, and exactly what changed — steal the moves for your own text.
Every humanizer site claims results; almost none shows any. Below are honest before/afters: a typical AI draft on the left, a humanized version on the right, and the specific edits explained. The "after" versions were produced with the prompts library and a human pass — the workflow anyone can copy.
Cold email
AI draft
I hope this email finds you well. In today's fast-paced business landscape, companies like yours are constantly seeking innovative solutions to streamline their operations. Our cutting-edge platform leverages advanced AI to seamlessly integrate with your existing workflows, empowering your team to unlock unprecedented productivity gains. I would love to schedule a brief call to delve into how we can help you navigate these challenges.
Humanized
Hi Sarah — saw your post about the reporting backlog after the Q2 reorg. We built a tool that cuts report prep from hours to about 20 minutes; Dutchview (similar setup to yours) started using it in March. Worth a 15-minute look next week? If not, the post below shows how they did it and you can steal the approach for free.
What changed and why
- Opener replaced with a specific, checkable reference to the recipient — the single biggest credibility move.
- Every blacklist phrase removed: fast-paced, cutting-edge, leverages, seamlessly, empowering, unlock, delve.
- Vague 'productivity gains' → one concrete number and a named customer.
- The ask got smaller (15 minutes, next week) and an easy no was offered — human senders hedge; bots pitch.
LinkedIn post
AI draft
🚀 Excited to share some thoughts on leadership! In today's ever-evolving workplace, effective leadership is more crucial than ever. Great leaders don't just manage — they inspire, empower, and elevate their teams. Here are 5 game-changing lessons I've learned on my journey: 1) Communication is key. 2) Trust your team. 3) Embrace failure. 4) Stay curious. 5) Lead with empathy. What leadership lessons have shaped YOUR journey? Let me know in the comments! 👇
Humanized
I promoted the wrong person once. Great engineer, wanted the title, and I mistook wanting it for being ready. It took eight months and one resignation letter (not his) to admit the mistake was mine. What I do differently now: the promotion conversation starts with 'here's the part of this job nobody likes' — budgets, firing, being blamed. If their eyes light up at the hard part, that's the signal. Titles attract everyone; the work attracts leaders.
What changed and why
- Listicle-of-nothing replaced with one specific story — specificity is the whole game on LinkedIn.
- All five 'lessons' said nothing; the story teaches one thing memorably.
- Emojis, 'game-changing', 'journey', engagement-bait question: gone.
- A confessed mistake does what 'lead with empathy' claims to do.
Product description
AI draft
Introducing our revolutionary smart water bottle — the perfect companion for your hydration journey! Crafted with state-of-the-art temperature technology, this innovative bottle keeps your beverages at the ideal temperature for hours. Whether you're hitting the gym, commuting to work, or exploring the great outdoors, our sleek and stylish design seamlessly fits your lifestyle. Stay hydrated, stay healthy!
Humanized
Keeps drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 — we tested it with ice water in a parked car in July (34°C outside: still 4°C at hour 22). Fits standard cup holders, survives a one-meter drop onto concrete, and the lid comes apart completely so nothing grows in the threads. 750ml, 310g empty, dishwasher-safe except the lid seal.
What changed and why
- Every claim became a number a buyer can verify or picture.
- 'Revolutionary/state-of-the-art/seamlessly/journey' deleted — adjectives replaced by test results.
- The car test detail is the kind of oddly specific fact no template writes — instant authenticity.
- Practical objections (cup holder, cleaning, weight) answered before being asked.
Essay introduction
AI draft
Throughout history, technology has played a pivotal role in shaping human civilization. From the invention of the wheel to the rise of artificial intelligence, innovation has continuously transformed the way we live, work, and interact. In this essay, I will explore the profound impact of social media on modern society, examining both its benefits and drawbacks. It is important to note that this topic is more relevant today than ever before.
Humanized
In 2010, the average American teenager saw their closest friends almost daily. By 2024, that number had fallen by nearly half — while daily hours on social platforms doubled. Those two curves, moving in opposite directions across the same years, are the subject of this essay: not whether social media is 'good or bad', but what it replaced.
What changed and why
- 'Throughout history…' opener — the most flagged phrase in academic AI writing — cut entirely.
- The wheel-to-AI sweep replaced by two specific, citable data points.
- 'In this essay I will explore' → the essay just starts doing it.
- A sharp, arguable thesis replaces 'benefits and drawbacks' mush.
Want this workflow on your own text? Scan the draft with the phrase checker, rewrite with a prompt (or a multi-model pass in MultipleChat), then make one human edit the machine can't: add the detail only you know.
Customer support reply
AI draft
Dear valued customer, Thank you for reaching out to us. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced. We understand how frustrating this situation must be for you. Our team is committed to providing exceptional customer service, and we take your feedback very seriously. Rest assured that we are looking into this matter and will do everything in our power to resolve it as quickly as possible. Your satisfaction is our top priority.
Humanized
Hi Marco — you're right, the invoice charged you twice, and that's our error. I've refunded the duplicate €49 just now; it should reach your card within 3 business days (ref: 88213). I also checked why it happened: your plan change on July 2 created two billing profiles, and I've merged them so this can't repeat. If the refund isn't visible by Friday, reply here and I'll escalate it the same day.
What changed and why
- Eight sentences of empathy theater replaced by three facts: what went wrong, what was done, when it lands.
- "Rest assured we are looking into it" → a reference number and a root cause. Reassurance is an artifact; evidence is service.
- A concrete escalation promise with a deadline replaces "your satisfaction is our top priority".
- Note what was kept: apologizing by admitting fault ("that's our error") — one honest sentence outperforms a paragraph of "sincerely apologize for any inconvenience".
Blog introduction
AI draft
Remote work has become increasingly popular in recent years, transforming the way we think about the modern workplace. With advancements in technology and shifting employee expectations, companies around the world are embracing flexible work arrangements. But what does this mean for productivity? In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the pros and cons of remote work, backed by research and expert insights, to help you make informed decisions for your organization.
Humanized
My team went remote in 2023 and our shipped-features count went up 30% the first year. Then it fell for two straight quarters, and nobody could say why. It took an embarrassing amount of measurement to find the answer — and it wasn't Zoom fatigue, office nostalgia, or any of the usual suspects. It was calendar creep: meetings had quietly grown to eat the exact deep-work hours remote work was supposed to protect. This post is the data, the fix, and the three-line policy that recovered the productivity.
What changed and why
- "Increasingly popular in recent years" — the classic zero-information opener — replaced by a number and a year.
- A mystery (the two-quarter fall) creates actual reading tension; "in this comprehensive guide we'll explore" creates none.
- The rewrite promises something specific (data, fix, three-line policy) instead of "pros and cons... expert insights".
- First person and an admitted embarrassment do the trust-building that "backed by research" only claims.
The pattern across all six examples
Read the six before/afters in sequence and the same five moves repeat, in every genre. Specifics replace abstractions — a number, a name, a date does the work of three adjectives. The opener states, never warms up — every "before" spends its first sentence clearing its throat; every "after" spends it saying something. One idea beats five — the AI drafts enumerate; the human versions commit. Stakes appear — a mistake admitted, a deadline promised, a mystery unresolved; machine register avoids exposure, human register uses it. Length drops ~30% — not because short is stylish, but because filler was carrying nothing.
That's the whole craft. The blacklist catches the words, the prompts automate the first pass, and this list is the checklist for the final human edit — the five minutes only you can do, because only you know the specifics.
FAQ
Questions.
Were the 'before' examples really AI-generated?
They're representative drafts in the current models' default register — the phrasing patterns (verifiable against the phrase blacklist) are what today's models produce for these tasks by default.
What tool made the 'after' versions?
The prompts from our library plus a human pass for the specific details. The point of the gallery is that the workflow — not a secret tool — does the work.
Why do the after versions have such specific details?
Because specificity is the one thing generic drafts can't fake — a date, a temperature, a named mistake. When you humanize your own text, that detail is your contribution; no rewriter can add facts you didn't give it.
Can I submit my own before/after?
Not yet — a submission option is planned. For now, compare your result against these patterns and the phrase blacklist.