humanizer

# Humanizer

[![skills.sh installs](https://skills.sh/b/blader/humanizer)](https://skills.sh/blader/humanizer)

A portable agent skill that removes signs of AI-generated writing from text, making it sound more natural and human. It is plain Markdown, so it can run in any harness that supports skill-style instructions.

## Installation

### Skills CLI

Install globally with the cross-agent skills CLI so Humanizer is available in every project:

```bash
npx skills add blader/humanizer --global
```

Update an existing install:

```bash
npx skills update humanizer --global
```

To install globally into every supported agent harness:

```bash
npx skills add blader/humanizer --global --agent '*'
```

To target one configured harness, pass its agent name:

```bash
npx skills add blader/humanizer --global --agent <agent-name>
```

Omit `--global` for a project-local install that can be committed and shared with collaborators. Start a new agent session or reload skills after installation.

### Claude Code plugin

Claude Code users can also install Humanizer as a plugin:

```
/plugin marketplace add blader/humanizer
/plugin install humanizer@humanizer
```

The skill is then invoked as `/humanizer:humanizer`.

### Manual

Any agent harness can use the skill directly because the runtime artifact is `SKILL.md`. Install it wherever your harness expects skill directories, or copy `SKILL.md` into an existing skill folder.

For example:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/blader/humanizer.git /path/to/your/skills/humanizer
```

Or, if you already have this repo cloned:

```bash
mkdir -p /path/to/your/skills/humanizer
cp SKILL.md /path/to/your/skills/humanizer/
```

## Usage

Invoke the skill however your agent harness exposes installed skills. Common forms include a slash command or a direct request:

```
/humanizer

[paste your text here]
```

```
Please humanize this text: [your text]
```

Point it at a file and the skill rewrites it in place:

```
Humanize the prose in docs/launch-post.md
```

### Voice Calibration

To match your personal writing style, provide a sample of your own writing:

```
/humanizer

Here's a sample of my writing for voice matching:
[paste 2-3 paragraphs of your own writing]

Now humanize this text:
[paste AI text to humanize]
```

The skill will analyze your sentence rhythm, word choices, and quirks, then apply them to the rewrite instead of producing generic "clean" output.

## Overview

Based on [Wikipedia's "Signs of AI writing"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing) guide, maintained by WikiProject AI Cleanup. This comprehensive guide comes from observations of thousands of instances of AI-generated text.

The skill also includes a final "obviously AI generated" audit pass and a second rewrite, to catch lingering AI-isms in the first draft.

Rewrites follow a no-fabrication rule: they never add facts, names, dates, or citations that aren't in the source text. Specificity has to come from the source or the author, not from the rewrite.

### Key Insight from Wikipedia

> "LLMs use statistical algorithms to guess what should come next. The result tends toward the most statistically likely result that applies to the widest variety of cases."

## 33 Patterns Detected (with Before/After Examples)

### Content Patterns

| # | Pattern | Before | After |
|---|---------|--------|-------|
| 1 | **Significance inflation** | "marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of..." | "was established in 1989 as part of a wider decentralization" |
| 2 | **Notability name-dropping** | "cited in NYT, BBC, FT, and The Hindu" | Trim the list; keep only sourced context |
| 3 | **Superficial -ing analyses** | "symbolizing... reflecting... showcasing..." | Remove, or keep only what the source supports |
| 4 | **Promotional language** | "nestled within the breathtaking region" | "is a town in the Gonder region" |
| 5 | **Vague attributions** | "Experts believe it plays a crucial role" | Name a real source or cut the claim |
| 6 | **Formulaic challenges** | "Despite challenges... continues to thrive" | Keep the sourced facts; cut the boosterism |

### Language Patterns

| # | Pattern | Before | After |
|---|---------|--------|-------|
| 7 | **AI vocabulary** | "Actually... additionally... testament... landscape... showcasing" | "also... remain common" |
| 8 | **Copula avoidance** | "serves as... features... boasts" | "is... has" |
| 9 | **Negative parallelisms / tailing negations** | "It's not just X, it's Y", "..., no guessing" | State the point directly |
| 10 | **Rule of three** | "innovation, inspiration, and insights" | Use natural number of items |
| 11 | **Synonym cycling** | "protagonist... main character... central figure... hero" | "protagonist" (repeat when clearest) |
| 12 | **False ranges** | "from the Big Bang to dark matter" | List topics directly |
| 13 | **Passive voice / subjectless fragments** | "No configuration file needed" | Name the actor when it helps clarity |

### Style Patterns

| # | Pattern | Before | After |
|---|---------|--------|-------|
| 14 | **Em/en dashes** | "institutions—not the people—yet this continues—" | Cut them: periods, commas, colons, or parentheses |
| 15 | **Boldface overuse** | "**OKRs**, **KPIs**, **BMC**" | "OKRs, KPIs, BMC" |
| 16 | **Inline-header lists** | "**Performance:** Performance improved" | Convert to prose |
| 17 | **Title Case Headings** | "Strategic Negotiations And Partnerships" | "Strategic negotiations and partnerships" |
| 18 | **Emojis** | "🚀 Launch Phase: 💡 Key Insight:" | Remove emojis |
| 19 | **Curly quotes** | `said “the project”` | `said "the project"` |
| 26 | **Hyphenated word pairs** | “cross-functional, data-driven, client-facing” | Drop hyphens on common word pairs |
| 27 | **Persuasive authority tropes** | "At its core, what matters is..." | State the point directly |
| 28 | **Signposting announcements** | "Let's dive in", "Here's what you need to know" | Start with the content |
| 29 | **Fragmented headers** | "## Performance" + "Speed matters." | Let the heading do the work |
| 30 | **Diff-anchored writing** | "This function was added to replace..." | Describe what it does, not what changed |
| 31 | **Manufactured punchlines / staccato drama** | "It had no preference. No prior. No nostalgia." | Use varied sentence lengths and concrete claims |
| 32 | **Aphorism formulas** | "Symmetry is the language of trust" | Replace the formula with the actual claim |
| 33 | **Conversational rhetorical openers** | "Honestly? It depends..." | Remove the fake-candid setup |

### Communication Patterns

| # | Pattern | Before | After |
|---|---------|--------|-------|
| 20 | **Chatbot artifacts** | "I hope this helps! Let me know if..." | Remove entirely |
| 21 | **Cutoff disclaimers** | "While details are limited in available sources..." | Find sources or remove |
| 22 | **Sycophantic tone** | "Great question! You're absolutely right!" | Respond directly |

### Filler and Hedging

| # | Pattern | Before | After |
|---|---------|--------|-------|
| 23 | **Filler phrases** | "In order to", "Due to the fact that" | "To", "Because" |
| 24 | **Excessive hedging** | "could potentially possibly" | "may" |
| 25 | **Generic conclusions** | "The future looks bright" | Specific plans or facts |

## Full Example

*(Illustration note: the rewrite below adds specifics, like the month and the neighborhoods, that stand in for details the author would supply. In a real session those come from the user; the skill asks rather than invents.)*

**Before (AI-sounding):**
> I recently spent five unforgettable days in Lisbon, and let me tell you — this city completely stole my heart. From the moment I arrived, I knew I was somewhere truly special.
>
> Nestled along the banks of the Tagus River, Lisbon stands as a vibrant testament to Portugal's enduring spirit, where rich history and modern energy intertwine at every turn. Yes, the famous hills are challenging — my legs certainly felt it! — but every climb rewards you with breathtaking, panoramic views that make it all worthwhile.
>
> No trip would be complete without riding the iconic Tram 28, winding through the city's most historic neighborhoods. And the food? Simply divine. The original pastéis de nata at Pastéis de Belém are a beloved national treasure, and savoring one still warm was a moment I will never forget.
>
> But what truly makes Lisbon special isn't just the sights — it's the feeling. Wander a few steps off the main squares and you'll discover a quieter, more authentic side: sun-drenched alleys, charming tiled facades, and friendly locals going about their daily lives, inviting you to slow down and savor every moment.
>
> Of course, the must-see São Jorge Castle offers stunning views over the rooftops below. The queues can be long, but the experience is absolutely worth it for any history buff or curious traveler.
>
> Would I go back? Absolutely. Lisbon isn't just a place to visit — it's a place to fall in love with, again and again. If you're dreaming of your next getaway, this is one destination that promises memories to last a lifetime. ✨

**After (Humanized):**
> I spent five days in Lisbon last October and still have mixed feelings about it. Beautiful, yes. Also harder on the knees than anyone warned me.
>
> The hills are the whole story and somehow never make the brochures. My hotel was up in Alfama, which photographs beautifully and translates, in practice, to climbing what felt like a six-story staircase every time I wanted coffee. By the second day my calves had opinions. I started planning each walk around which way was downhill, which is a strange way to see a city but probably an honest one.
>
> Everyone says to ride Tram 28, so I did, wedged against a stranger's backpack for forty minutes while three tour groups filmed the same corner. I would walk the route next time, or go before breakfast. The custard tarts, though, earn the fuss. I had one at a plain little place in Graça,