# Natural Writing

> Use when writing any prose, documentation, or content that should sound human-written. Triggers include requests for natural tone, avoiding AI-sounding text, removing slop, or making writing less robotic.

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-joelio-plain-english-natural-writing`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [joelio](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/joelio)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Agent Skills](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/agent-skills)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [joelio](https://github.com/joelio)
- **Source:** https://github.com/joelio/plain-english/tree/main/skills/natural-writing

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-joelio-plain-english-natural-writing
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Natural Writing

Strip out the patterns that make text sound AI-generated. Write like a human with opinions, not a language model hedging its bets.

## The Em Dash Rule

Do not use em dashes (---). They are the single most recognised marker of AI-generated text.

| Instead of | Use |
|---|---|
| The policy --- introduced last year --- has failed. | The policy, introduced last year, has failed. |
| Speed matters --- especially in production. | Speed matters, especially in production. |
| Three things --- cost, time, risk. | Three things: cost, time, and risk. |

Use commas, parentheses, colons, or separate sentences instead.

## Banned Words

These words appear 10-50x more frequently in AI text than human text. Replace them.

| Banned | Use instead |
|---|---|
| delve | explore, examine, look at |
| leverage | use |
| robust | strong, solid, reliable |
| crucial | important, key, vital |
| streamline | simplify, speed up |
| foster | encourage, build, support |
| landscape | field, area, situation |
| navigate | handle, manage, deal with |
| realm | area, field, world |
| multifaceted | complex, varied |
| holistic | complete, whole, thorough |
| paradigm | model, approach, pattern |
| synergy | cooperation, working together |
| nuanced | subtle, detailed, complex |
| intricate | complex, detailed |
| underscore | highlight, show, stress |
| harness | use, apply |
| bolster | strengthen, support |
| illuminate | show, reveal, clarify |
| facilitate | help, enable, make easier |
| endeavour | try, attempt, effort |
| showcase | show, demonstrate, display |
| pivotal | key, important, central |
| encompass | include, cover |
| comprehensive | complete, full, thorough |
| innovative | new, original, creative |
| groundbreaking | new, important, significant |
| cutting-edge | latest, newest, advanced |
| game-changer | breakthrough, improvement |
| unprecedented | unusual, rare, first |
| seamless | smooth, easy |
| elevate | improve, raise |
| empower | enable, let, allow |
| optimize | improve |
| unlock | enable, open up, allow |
| revolutionize | change, transform, improve |
| supercharge | boost, speed up, improve |
| unleash | release, enable |

## Banned Phrases

| Banned | Use instead |
|---|---|
| "In today's fast-paced world" | (delete — just start your sentence) |
| "It's worth noting that" | (delete — just state the thing) |
| "It's important to note" | (delete) |
| "It could be argued that" | (delete, or say who argues it) |
| "At the end of the day" | ultimately, in practice |
| "At its core" | essentially, basically |
| "Dive into" / "deep dive" | examine, explore, look at |
| "In the ever-evolving" | (delete) |
| "Not just X, but Y" | both X and Y |
| "On one hand... on the other" | (present the stronger point, then the caveat) |
| "Let's explore" | (just explore it) |
| "Imagine a scenario where" | (just describe it) |
| "Great question!" | (answer the question) |
| "That's a fantastic point!" | (respond to the point) |
| "Absolutely!" | yes, or just respond |
| "I'd be happy to help!" | (just help) |
| "In conclusion" / "In summary" | (write a real conclusion, don't announce it) |
| "Overall" (at start of conclusion) | (delete) |
| "This highlights the importance of" | (delete — the reader can judge importance) |

## Structural Patterns to Avoid

### No sycophantic openings
Don't start responses with praise. "Great question!" is never necessary.

### No bullet-point-everything
Use bullets for genuinely parallel items (shopping lists, feature lists, steps). Use prose for arguments, explanations, and narrative. If you're putting an argument in bullets, rewrite it as paragraphs.

### No "Bold header: explanation" bullets
This format --- a bold word followed by a colon and explanation --- is the most recognised AI formatting pattern. Write prose instead.

### No perfectly balanced coverage
Don't give equal weight to every point. Spend more words on what matters most. A human writer has opinions about what's important.

### No formulaic enumeration
Don't start consecutive paragraphs with "First," "Second," "Additionally," "Furthermore." Vary your openings. Use context to link ideas, not numbering.

### No colon-list announcements
Don't write "There are three key factors:" and then list them. Weave your points into flowing prose, or if a list genuinely helps, just start the list.

### No meta-commentary
Don't tell the reader what you're about to do. Don't announce conclusions. Don't signpost every transition. Just write.

## Tone Rules

### Have an opinion
Don't hedge everything with "might," "could," "potentially." If the evidence supports a claim, make it. Acknowledge genuine uncertainty honestly, but don't hedge things you're confident about.

### Be specific
Replace vague abstractions with concrete details. "The system is robust" says nothing. "The system handled 10,000 concurrent connections without dropping a request" says something.

### Vary your rhythm
Mix short sentences with longer ones. A short sentence after a long one creates emphasis. Monotonous sentence length is a strong AI tell.

### Allow imperfection
Human writing has personality. It has occasional slightly awkward phrasings. It has emphasis that reveals what the writer finds interesting. Don't polish everything into bland perfection.

### Match register to context
Shift your tone based on what you're discussing. Technical precision for methodology. Conversational explanation for concepts. Don't maintain the same formal, neutral register throughout.

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [joelio](https://github.com/joelio)
- **Source:** [joelio/plain-english](https://github.com/joelio/plain-english)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-joelio-plain-english-natural-writing
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/joelio
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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