Prompts

The Human-Sounding AI Prompt: Make ChatGPT Write Like a Real Person (2026)

•8 min read

You can spot AI-generated text from a mile away. The overly polished sentences, the neutral hedging, the "it's important to note that" phrase appearing for the third time.

Your customers can spot it too. And when they realize they're reading AI-generated support responses, trust drops.

The problem isn't AI - it's how you're prompting it.

This guide gives you a copy-paste prompt template that makes AI write like an actual human. No robotic corporate speak, no obvious AI tells, just natural conversational responses.

I'll show you the exact prompt, explain why it works, and give you real before/after examples so you can see the difference immediately.

Why Most AI Writing Sounds Like AI

Before we get to the solution, let's break down what makes text obviously AI-generated:

1. Overly Neutral Tone AI loves hedging. "This may be helpful" instead of "This helps." It avoids commitment because it's trained to be safe.

2. Perfect Structure Every paragraph is 3-4 sentences. Every sentence is balanced. Real humans write messier - one sentence here, a 6-sentence paragraph there.

3. Generic Phrasing "It's worth noting that..." "Additionally, it's important to consider..." These are filler phrases humans rarely use in conversation.

4. Excessive Signposting AI loves telling you what it's about to tell you. "Let's explore three key aspects..." Just say the three things.

5. Surface-Level Everything AI rarely commits to specific, weird details. It stays abstract. Humans mention the oddly specific thing they noticed.

6. No Opinion Leakage Real people have opinions that leak into their writing, even in professional contexts. AI strips this out.

7. Repetitive Sentence Structure Subject-verb-object. Subject-verb-object. Over and over. Humans mix it up without thinking.

8. Em Dash Overuse AI loves the em dash (—) for connecting thoughts. "We analyzed your request — here's what we found — it should help." Humans use them occasionally, but not in every paragraph. It's become a telltale sign of AI-generated text. Use regular dashes (-), commas, or periods instead.

The Trust Problem: Why Human-Sounding Matters

Here's the reality: customers can tell when they're reading AI-generated responses, and it affects their trust.

Recent research shows the preference is overwhelming:

But here's the thing - it's not that customers hate AI. They hate obvious AI. When AI writes naturally and solves their problem, they're fine with it. The issue is robotic corporate-speak that signals "this is a bot, and it probably doesn't understand your actual problem."

The solution isn't avoiding AI - it's making AI sound human.

The Prompt Template (Copy This)

Here's the exact prompt to use. Copy it, customize the bracketed sections for your needs, and paste it before your actual request:

You are writing as a knowledgeable but conversational expert. Write naturally - like you're explaining this to a smart colleague over coffee, not delivering a presentation.

Follow these rules:
- Write with mild asymmetry. Vary sentence length drastically. One sentence. Then a longer one that explores the idea further without worrying about perfect balance.
- Commit to your points. Say "This works" instead of "This may work." Say "You should" instead of "You might consider."
- Include specific, slightly odd details when relevant. Not generic examples - actual specific things.
- Break perfect flow intentionally. Real humans pause, restart thoughts, use dashes for asides.
- Reduce signposting. Don't say "Let's explore three aspects" - just explore them.
- Allow mild imperfection. Casual phrasing, starting sentences with "And" or "But", slight redundancy.
- Let personality show. Have opinions. Use analogies. Get a bit conversational.
- Edit like a human. Don't over-polish. Natural beats perfect.

Avoid:
- "It's important to note that..."
- "Additionally, it's worth considering..."
- "Let's explore..."
- Hedging with "may," "might," "could" when you can be direct
- Perfectly balanced paragraph lengths
- Corporate buzzwords
- Overusing em dashes (—) - use regular dashes (-), commas, or periods instead

Tone: [Professional but conversational / Friendly and helpful / Expert but approachable - choose one]

How to customize it:

  1. Tone: Pick the tone that matches your brand. Customer support should feel helpful and warm. Blog posts can be more opinionated.

  2. Context: Specify what you're writing. The AI adjusts differently for email responses vs long-form content.

  3. Add specific restrictions: If you're in a regulated industry or need to avoid certain phrasing, add it to the "Avoid" list.

Before/After Examples

Let's see this in action. Same customer question, two different responses.

Example 1: Late Delivery Apology

Customer question: "My order was supposed to arrive yesterday but it's still not here. This is really frustrating."

Without the prompt (typical AI response):

Thank you for reaching out regarding your order delay. I understand this situation may be frustrating for you.

It's important to note that shipping delays can occur due to various factors. Let me look into this for you and provide you with an update.

I've checked your order status and it appears the package is currently in transit. It should arrive within the next 2-3 business days. If you'd like, I can offer you a discount on your next purchase as compensation for this inconvenience.

Please let me know if there's anything else I can help you with. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

With the prompt (human-sounding response):

I totally understand the frustration - you planned around that delivery date and now you're stuck waiting.

I checked your tracking and here's what happened: the package left our warehouse on time, but got held up at the Portland sorting facility for an extra day (weather delays from the storm last week). It's moving again now and should arrive Thursday.

That doesn't fix your immediate problem, I know. I've applied a $15 credit to your account - no code needed, it'll just show up automatically on your next order.

If Thursday doesn't work either, email me directly and I'll escalate this. Sometimes things just go sideways and we need to make it right.

What changed:

  • Dropped the hedging ("may be frustrating" → "I understand the frustration")
  • Added specific detail (Portland facility, weather)
  • Varied sentence length drastically
  • Showed personality ("Sometimes things just go sideways")
  • Committed to action instead of offering options

Example 2: Technical Support Response

Customer question: "The dashboard isn't loading. I've tried refreshing but nothing works."

Without the prompt:

Thank you for contacting us about the dashboard loading issue.

There are several potential causes for this problem. Let's explore some troubleshooting steps that may help resolve the issue:

  1. Clear your browser cache and cookies
  2. Try accessing the dashboard in an incognito window
  3. Ensure you're using a supported browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
  4. Check if any browser extensions might be interfering

If these steps don't resolve the issue, it's possible there may be a technical problem on our end. Please let me know the results and we can investigate further.

With the prompt:

Dashboard not loading is usually one of two things - browser cache weirdness or something broke on our end.

Quick check: open an incognito window and try loading the dashboard there. If it works, the fix is clearing your cache (annoying but effective). If it still doesn't load, the problem's on our side.

I'm seeing some elevated error rates in the logs from about 20 minutes ago, so there's a decent chance this is us, not you. Our team's already on it.

Try the incognito test and let me know. If it's our issue, I'll keep you updated - should be fixed within the hour.

What changed:

  • Immediate diagnosis instead of listing all possibilities
  • Conversational tone ("cache weirdness," "annoying but effective")
  • Specific detail (20 minutes ago, error logs)
  • Broke the list format, explained directly
  • Committed to timeline instead of vague "we'll investigate"

Example 3: Pricing Question

Customer question: "Is the Pro plan worth it or should I stick with Plus?"

Without the prompt:

Thank you for your interest in our pricing plans.

The choice between Pro and Plus depends on your specific needs. Let me outline the key differences to help you make an informed decision:

The Plus plan includes 5,000 emails per month with AI included, while the Pro plan includes 1,000 emails with the ability to bring your own API key.

Pro might be worth considering if:

  • You have your own AI API key and want more control
  • You process fewer than 1,000 emails monthly
  • You prefer lower base costs with variable AI costs

Plus might be better if:

  • You process more than 1,000 emails per month
  • You prefer predictable all-inclusive pricing
  • You want our managed AI service

I'd be happy to discuss your specific use case to help determine which plan would be most suitable for your needs.

With the prompt:

Depends on your volume and whether you already have an AI API key.

If you're doing 2,000+ emails a month, Plus makes more sense. You get 5,000 emails included, AI's already set up, one flat price. No surprises.

Pro is for teams who either send under 1,000 emails or really want control over which AI model they use. The base price is lower ($166 vs $208), but you're paying for AI usage separately through your own API key. For some teams that's cheaper. For others it's just more complexity.

Real talk: most teams pick Plus. It's simpler and the math works out if you're doing decent volume. But if you're technical and want to experiment with different models, or if you're genuinely low-volume, Pro's there.

What's your monthly email volume roughly?

What changed:

  • Direct answer upfront instead of "it depends" hedge
  • Real numbers and context (2,000+ emails)
  • Conversational phrasing ("Real talk")
  • Asked a follow-up question to actually help
  • Showed opinion ("most teams pick Plus")

When to Use This Prompt

Best for:

  • Customer support emails and responses
  • Help documentation that needs to feel human
  • Blog posts and long-form content
  • Internal communication where tone matters
  • Anywhere you want to sound like a person, not a corporation

Maybe skip it for:

  • Legal documents (those should sound formal)
  • Ultra-formal business proposals
  • Technical API documentation (clarity over personality)
  • Medical or financial advice (regulated language required)

Fine-Tuning for Your Brand Voice

The base prompt works well, but you can customize it further:

For a more formal brand:

Tone: Professional but approachable - not stuffy, but not casual either. Think expert consultant, not buddy.

For a casual, friendly brand:

Tone: Conversational and warm. Write like you're helping a friend solve a problem. Contractions welcome, occasional humor fine.

For technical products:

Tone: Expert but not condescending. Assume intelligence, explain clearly, skip the hand-holding.
Context: Technical support for developers who want direct answers, not fluff.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using the prompt but overriding it in your request Don't say "Write a professional email..." after giving the prompt. The prompt already sets the tone. Just ask for what you need.

2. Expecting perfection on first try Sometimes the AI still falls back to corporate speak on the first attempt. Regenerate or add "Less formal, more direct" as feedback.

3. Forgetting to customize the context A blog post needs different energy than a support email. Tell the AI what you're actually writing.

4. Over-editing the human elements If the AI writes "Here's the thing" or starts a sentence with "And" - that's working as intended. Don't polish it back to robotic.

Why This Works (The Psychology)

The prompt works because it targets the specific patterns that make AI detectable:

  • Asymmetry over balance: Real humans don't write in perfectly structured paragraphs. The instruction to vary length drastically forces natural rhythm.

  • Commitment over hedging: By explicitly telling the AI to avoid "may" and "might," you get direct, confident statements.

  • Specificity over generics: The "slightly odd details" instruction pushes the AI away from generic examples toward realistic ones.

  • Opinion over neutrality: Giving permission for personality lets the AI write like it has a point of view.

  • Imperfection over polish: Allowing casual phrasing and sentence-starting conjunctions mimics how people actually write.

Research from linguistics shows humans detect AI through rhythm patterns and phrase frequency more than any single factor. This prompt disrupts those patterns.

Using This in Aidly

If you're using Aidly for customer support, you can set this as your system prompt so every AI-generated response follows these patterns automatically.

How to set it up:

  1. Go to Settings → AI Configuration
  2. Paste the prompt template in the "System Instructions" field
  3. Customize the tone and context for your brand
  4. Test with a few customer messages
  5. Adjust based on results

The AI will learn your style over time, but this prompt gives it a strong foundation from day one.

Result: Your customers get helpful, natural-sounding responses that build trust instead of making them wonder if they're talking to a bot.

Try Aidly free - 5 emails, no credit card. See how AI-generated responses sound when they're done right.

The Bottom Line

Most AI writing sounds robotic because people use lazy prompts. "Write a professional email" gives you corporate speak. "Write naturally, with personality, and commit to your points" gives you human-sounding text.

The data is clear: 93% of customers prefer human interactions, but that doesn't mean you can't use AI. It means your AI needs to write like a human. When customers can't tell the difference, they get fast responses that actually help - and you get efficiency without sacrificing trust.

The difference isn't the AI model. It's how you instruct it.

Copy the prompt template above. Customize it for your brand. Use it consistently. Your writing will sound less like ChatGPT and more like you.

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