How Can You Tell If an Email Was Written by AI?
NOOOO!!!! I’m NOT talking about the em dash. Stop picking on the em dash!!
Em dash or not, the majority of people can tell when an email was written by AI.
According to a 2024 study conducted by Bynder, out of the 2,000 participants surveyed, 55% of US consumers could accurately identify AI-generated content.
While the number might not seem that high, it is on the rise as more and more people around the world get familiar with the common tells and ticks of AI-generated content.
Now, while I believe there is nothing wrong with using AI to draft transactional updates, share quick answers to common questions and offer personalized support.
And as frustrating as AI customer service agents can be sometimes, at least we KNOW they are AI and take everything said with a massive grain of salt.
The lines of ethics become a bit blurred for me when marketers attempt to use AI to craft personal, emotionally charged content that “appears” to come from a human, but is in fact written by AI and designed to manipulate trust and create a false sense of connection.
Does that make anyone else feel ICKY?
According to an Ethical Marketing report by Washington State University, Americans are skeptical about AI’s growing role in marketing.
Said another way, your customers’ guard is up and their trust is low right now. And with the overwhelming number of options available out there, they are looking for a quick reason to count you out and narrow their “brands I trust” folder in their mind.
One little sniff of inauthentic marketing and you could lose that customer forever – and you won’t even know because a human isn’t going to take the time to write to you and tell you they’ve lost trust in you when you haven’t taken the time to communicate with them, as a human.
And yes, most people can spot AI-written content. Can you?
In this post, I’m sharing five dead giveaway signs that an email was written by AI. And make sure you read to the end of this post for a MAJOR PSA.
1. Overly Dramatic/Cliché
AI loves to make BIG sweeping statements that sound like bad ad copy or a line stolen from Mad Men.
Things like “This is a game-changer”, “Unlock your true potential”. Ummm okay, but like, it’s a shoe? LOL
Or a funny one I saw the other day was “Make your emails unstoppable” HAHA I’m sorry, but what exactly is an “unstoppable” email?
If I see ONE more email that calls something cutting-edge, groundbreaking, or unprecedented (unless it ACTUALLY IS), I might actually scream.
Not only are these obviously overly dramatic, but they also somehow feel hollow and empty at the same time?
A lot of times these words and phrases are misused, overused, or just straight up do not make sense for the context.
It ends up making your writing feel forced, exaggerated, or unnatural.
2. Repetitive Sentence Patterns
AI emails are like a broken record, the same sentence patterns, the same phrasing, the same rhythm, over and over again. And ESPECIALLY patterns of three.
You’ll see things like:
“No fluff. No filler. No stress.”
“No hassle. No hype. No headaches.”
“Fast. Simple. Effective.”
“Be bold. Be brave. Be you.”
“Learn it. Own it. Live it.”
“Little time. Less effort. Maximum results.”
“Dream big. Start small. Scale fast.”
Omg are you bored yet?
Or how about when EVERY noun has an adjective placed before it.
- “Your thoughtful strategy”
- “Clear messaging”
- “Intentional design”
GAH! Now, obviously, yes, being descriptive is GREAT, but the problem is that with AI it’s almost TOO formulaic.
To the point where your eyes glaze over before you even finish the first paragraph. A human email almost never reads like that – we mix it up.
We use short sentences, long sentences, questions, exclamations, fragments, random thoughts, transition words.
AI can’t replicate the natural rhythm of a human brain.
So if you notice an email that feels predictable, robotic, or like it’s reading off a checklist or trying too hard to pump in lots of descriptive language that’s a huge red flag.
3. Zero Storytelling
OKAY HONESTLY?!?!
For me, THIS one is 100% a dead giveaway of an AI-generated email.
AI writes like it’s writing a features/benefits checklist.
Straight to the point, let’s get down to business, here’s why I’m emailing you today, click here, sign off, the end.
Where are all the REAL stories? Relatable examples? Personal anecdotes or lived experiences that make the message feel REAL. Sure, AI can write a story, but it can’t write YOUR story.
The goal of every email should be to make the reader feel like they’re MORE than just another number on a list of subscribers.
Some of my BEST PERFORMING EMAILS start with random stories from my day.
Like this email where I shared a troll comment I received on YouTube.
And then perfectly transitioned – if I don’t say so myself – into a marketing lesson.
Or references to my past.
Like this email where I talk about that one time I used to write copy for a literal gym “bro”.
Funny, weird, random, and even embarrassing things that happen to you IRL make your emails feel REAL and bonus – they’re super fun and enjoyable to read.
Incorporating stories into your emails makes you more memorable in the mind of your audience.
And BTW – if you struggle with this, I’m hosting a FREE live workshop called The Story Formula where I’ll show you exactly how to use storytelling in your emails.
If you want to learn how to incorporate more storytelling (or even just conversational copy) into your emails but you’re struggling because storytelling doesn’t come naturally to you.
THIS IS FOR YOU.
You’ll learn how to turn everyday stories into emails that sell in a fun, natural and authentic way.
Alright, two signs left. This next one always makes me laugh out loud when I see it in an email.
4. Awkward Transitions or Weird Formalities
Humans jump between ideas naturally.
I just moved into my new house.
Hey look at this cool tree outside my window.
Monkey tree, can’t pinch me!!!
Oh yeah, that reminds me of this other thing I wanted to tell you about.
When we write emails, it SHOULD sound like a conversation we’re having with a friend – it’ll naturally move and flow and pivot direction.
AI literally CANNOT do that. Not only does it lack any context about your life, but it just CAN’T make a smooth transition to save it’s life.
Instead, AI tends to use stiff & awkward transitions like “Furthermore” “In conclusion” Or “That being said”
Now, while I have DEFINITELY used the phrase “that being said” a time or two. It feels natural, and it makes conversational sense in the context I say it.
I can tell you that I have NEVER used phrases like “furthermore” or “in conclusion” in my emails.
I’m not writing a dissertation.
Your emails should FEEL like those handwritten notes you used to pass to your bestie in the middle of class. NOT like you’re a college LIT professor.
And speaking of LIT professors.
Last but not least:
5. Grammar That Is A Little *Too Good*
Real emails have quirks – a one-word line for emphasis, a playful “ugh” or “yep,” the occasional broken sentence, or my personal favorite.
Sharing fun little asides in parentheses.
REAL emails do not have perfect grammar.
I honestly can’t even count the number of times people have come at me for spelling mistakes in my captions and emails.
I’m NOT a literary perfectionist. And frankly – if I (or you) wrote in a technically perfect and grammatically flawless way.
No one would read it.
That type of writing isn’t what the modern-day, internet-age, doom-scrolling browser wants to read.
We want to be entertained, educated or inspired. We want to RELATE to what we are reading.
And sometimes, things need to be written in a certain way to be approachable and relatable.
It’s okay to emphasize a word or statement with well-placed bolding. It’s okay to use “…” to help make a smoother transition.
It’s okay to make up fun words if they are on brand. It’s okay to use the occasional uppercase text and misplaced dash, yes even a EM-DASH!! If the email is obviously NOT AI, the em-dash isn’t going to reek as much as it usually does.
So:
If your messaging is overly formal, long-winded or super technical, then you’re giving major AI vibes and you need to LOOSEN UP.
Oh yeah, and remember that PSA I told you about in the beginning of this post?
Here it is. I’m not saying you CAN’T use AI to help you outline or even draft your email.
You absolutely CAN.
But think of what AI gives you as the BONES of your email. You still need to add in muscle, fibers, tendons, organs, blood, skin, and HEART.
The real-life stories, quirks, and random thoughts are ESSENTIAL to sounding real & relatable.
If you love marketing posts like this, make sure to drop me a thumbs up below and hit that subscribe button for more!
And don’t forget to save your seat in my upcoming FREE email workshop – The Story Formula. Hope to see you there!!!
Until next time, I’m Alex. Ciao for now!
