ai-writing-detox — independently scanned and version-tracked by SaferSkills.
SaferSkills independently audited ai-writing-detox (Agent Skill) and scored it 100/100 (green). The audit ran 55 deterministic rules across Security, Supply Chain, Maintenance, Transparency, and Community; it found 0 high-severity and 0 lower-severity findings. The full rule-by-rule trace and per-finding evidence are below. Free, methodology-open.
Findings & checks · 0 flagged
Every scanned point with the score it earned and what moved between them.
First recorded scan — no prior version to compare against.
The primary manifest — the file an agent reads to learn what this artifact does.
Good writing is invisible. If readers notice the writing style, it's distracting from the content. AI patterns are noticeable, they break trust.
| Word | Why it's bad | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| delve | AI signature word | explore, examine, look at |
| realm | Pretentious | area, field |
| tapestry | Purple prose | (delete entirely) |
| landscape | Corporate speak | situation, environment |
| leverage | Jargon | use |
| utilize | Jargon | use |
| robust | Meaningless | strong, reliable |
| seamless | Almost always false | smooth, easy |
| comprehensive | Rarely necessary | full, complete |
| cutting-edge | Cliché | modern, new |
| holistic | Corporate | complete, full |
| synergy | Corporate | (delete, rewrite) |
| paradigm | Overused | model, approach |
| empower | Vague | (be specific about what capability) |
| innovative | Empty praise | (describe what's new) |
| transformative | Hyperbolic | changed, improved |
| sophisticated | Vague filler | advanced, or describe what's complex |
| leveraging | Corporate jargon | using |
| ecosystem | Overused metaphor | system, environment |
| rich | (as modifier) | (delete or be specific) |
| over (for quantity) | AP rule | more than |
| If you wrote | Write instead |
|---|---|
| utilize | use |
| facilitate | help |
| implement | build, add, create |
| leverage | use |
| functionality | feature |
| methodology | method |
| in order to | to |
| due to the fact that | because |
| at this point in time | now |
| a large number of | many |
| in the event that | if |
| prior to | before |
| subsequent to | after |
| in close proximity to | near |
| has the ability to | can |
Always use sentence case for headings, not title case.
| Wrong | Right |
|---|---|
| Getting Started With Your Project | Getting started with your project |
| How To Use The Tool | How to use the tool |
| Best Practices For Journalism | Best practices for journalism |
Avoid: "This isn't just a news story—it's a wake-up call" Avoid: "This wasn't just a press conference—it was a turning point"
Do instead: State the thing directly without dramatic framing
Avoid: "This fundamentally transforms how newsrooms operate" Avoid: "This represents a fundamental shift in journalism"
Do instead: Describe the actual change without hyperbole
Avoid: "A bombshell revelation" Avoid: "A major milestone" Avoid: "A groundbreaking investigation"
Do instead: Let the facts speak. Readers judge significance.
Avoid: "With that in mind..." Avoid: "Building on this foundation..." Avoid: "Taking this a step further..."
Do instead: Just make the next point
Avoid: "It's not about the technology, it's about the people" Avoid: "This isn't about clicks. It's about trust."
Do instead: State the actual point without rhetorical setup. The X-not-Y construction is the dominant 2025-2026 ChatGPT/Claude rhetorical signature.
Avoid: "The vote was close — only three council members opposed it — but the measure passed." Avoid: "Reporters arrived early — the press conference was already underway."
Do instead: Use commas, periods, or semicolons. Em-dashes are fine in moderation; reflexive use across every paragraph is a tell.
Avoid: "The reality is, most newsrooms can't afford this." Avoid: "The truth is, readers don't trust anonymous sources."
Do instead: Just state the claim. The opener adds words and signals AI-generated framing.
Avoid: "Clear, concise, and compelling reporting." Avoid: "Trust is built through accuracy, transparency, and consistency."
Do instead: Use one or two specific points. Three-item parallel lists are an AI rhythm pattern that reads as filler when used reflexively.
AI slop:
In today's rapidly evolving media landscape, it's crucial to understand the multifaceted nature of AI tools. Let's delve into how these robust solutions can help journalists leverage cutting-edge technology.
Human writing:
AI tools do three things well: drafting, research, and analysis. Here's when to use each.
AI slop:
The city council meeting was a comprehensive and transformative discussion that fundamentally addressed key issues affecting residents in a meaningful way.
Human writing:
The city council voted 5-2 Tuesday to raise property taxes by 3 percent.
AI slop:
In the rich tapestry of American journalism, few stories are as compelling as the one about to unfold. This isn't just a profile—it's a journey into the heart of what makes local news truly matter.
Human writing:
Maria Rodriguez has published a newspaper for 47 years. She's never missed an issue.
AI slop:
Moving forward, stakeholders must leverage innovative approaches to navigate the challenging landscape of digital transformation in the journalism ecosystem.
Human writing:
Local papers that want to survive need to find digital revenue. Most haven't.
Read your text aloud. Does it sound like:
Search your text for:
Found any? Your writing needs another pass.
Before accepting any AI-assisted text, ask:
If readers think "AI wrote this," you've already lost their trust.
Good writing is invisible. If readers notice the writing, it's getting in the way of the content.
See also: hooks/ai-slop-detector.md for the automated companion to this skill.
Read Simplified technical English for newsroom and technical prose when clarity, controlled terms, or procedural register matters.
Read Slop-era principles when polished output may hide weak intent, evidence, or review.
~30 seconds. Free. No account. Every finding cites a rule and a line of evidence.