How to Prompt AI to Write Like a Human; My Marketer’s Journey

I still remember the first time I asked AI to write a blog post for me. It was one of those mornings when everyone on LinkedIn was raving about ChatGPT and how it would “replace copywriters forever.” So naturally, I had to try it. I gave it a simple prompt: “Write a blog post about content marketing trends.” What came back was okay, I guess. Structurally sound. Grammatically flawless. But as I read through it, I felt absolutely nothing. That was the moment I realized there's a big difference between using AI and knowing how to prompt AI to write like a human. No spark. No point of view. It was like reading a high school textbook summary; clean but completely forgettable.

I remember thinking, “This isn’t bad but it’s not me.”

As marketers and content creators, we’re not just filling pages; we’re trying to connect. We want content that sounds like us, feels human, and sparks something real in the reader. But with all the hype around AI writing tools, the actual output often falls painfully short. It's either too generic, too stiff, or just boring.

Worse? If your audience bounces because your content feels soulless or if Google decides it’s low-quality fluff, you lose traffic, trust, and the whole point of even using AI in the first place.

In this article, I’m breaking down how to tell AI to write like a human. Not just passable, but genuinely engaging. Stuff you’d be proud to publish. Based on my own messy trials, a few smart tricks, and a lot of editing.

Challenges of Writing Content with AI from a Marketer’s Perspective

When I first started using AI tools to write content, I was thrilled. The promise of saving hours of drafting time sounded like a dream. But it didn’t take long before I hit a wall. Sure, the AI could spit out blog posts in seconds, but everything sounded the same: Flat, Over-polished like a robot that read too many LinkedIn posts. That was the spot where I realized I didn’t just need better tools, I needed to learn how to prompt AI to write like a human.

According to a report by Cloudwards, 85% of users report that they use AI tools primarily for generating content and writing articles, but this widespread use also highlights common challenges—especially when it comes to getting the tone, length, and quality of content just right. With AI, finding that balance can be tricky.

One of the biggest challenges as a marketer is maintaining a strong brand voice. AI often defaults to safe, generic language. And when you’re juggling deadlines, client feedback, SEO goals, and campaign performance, it’s tempting to just copy-paste the AI output and move on. But that’s where things go wrong.

Because here’s the truth: content that sounds robotic doesn’t convert. It doesn’t connect. And Google’s smart enough to know the difference. I was always paranoid about AI-generated content triggering penalties; too repetitive, overstuffed with keywords, or just plain unnatural. It took me a while to figure out how to tell AI to write like a human so the output felt both optimized and authentic. Striking that balance between SEO and readability isn’t easy, but it’s doable with the right approach.

Another issue that crept up was managing word count. AI doesn’t always get the balance right. Sometimes it spits out content that’s way too short; barely enough to cover the topic in any depth. Other times, it goes the opposite way and creates long, drawn-out pieces that lose the reader’s attention halfway through. I found myself constantly editing, cutting unnecessary parts, or adding extra detail to make the content more valuable. It's a constant back and forth between making it too long or too short, and as a marketer, finding that perfect sweet spot is crucial for engagement.

How to Prompt AI to Write Like a Human in 7 Steps

So, how do you actually do it? How do you take a machine that writes like a machine and get it to sound like you? Below are 7 practical steps that helped me learn how to prompt AI to write like a human; consistently, clearly, and in a way that actually connects.

1. Guide It Like an Editor

Here’s the thing: AI doesn’t have to sound like AI. You can actually train it to write in your brand’s voice. One of the biggest shifts for me was realizing I could give it clear editorial directions instead of hoping for the best. Before I start any project, I drop in a quick prompt like this:

“Whenever you're writing, stick to this style: Use an engaging, helpful tone. Share practical, concrete insights. Avoid vague buzzwords. Keep sentences short, clear, and easy to read. Speak directly to the reader using words like ‘you’ and ‘your’. Got it?”

Simple, right? But surprisingly effective. Over time, I tweaked these guidelines to better reflect my tone whether I needed something more playful, more direct, or more polished. The key is to treat your AI like an assistant who’s still learning. The clearer your instructions, the better the results.

2. Provide a Writing Sample

Because AI has a limited context window, it might not always fully remember your style guidelines. That’s why giving a clear writing sample is key. It helps AI understand exactly the tone and style you expect. If you’re wondering how to tell AI to write like a human, sharing an example of your preferred writing style is one of the most effective ways to guide it.

Try using a prompt like this:

“Here’s a writing sample to help you understand the style and tone we want. Please reply ‘ok’ if this is clear. Here’s the extract:”

Make sure your sample truly reflects your brand voice and highlights the qualities you care about most—whether that’s clarity, engagement, or a relatable tone.

3. Start by Having AI Build an Outline

Prompt engineers often swear by “chain-of-thought” prompting and for content writers, that means asking AI to map out an outline before diving into the full draft. Getting AI to create a clear outline first helps it organize the structure and flow of your piece. This way, it makes sure to cover all the necessary points logically and thoroughly, leading to content that feels more thoughtful and cohesive.

Try starting with a prompt like this:

“Before writing, create a detailed outline for [your topic]. Include main sections and key points based on this draft: [your draft ideas].”

This step trains AI to think through the content step-by-step, so the final output isn’t just a jumble of ideas but a well-organized story.

4. Feed AI Your Original Insights

AI is great at pulling from vast amounts of information, but left to its own devices, it often just repeats generic facts. That’s not what you want. To really make your content stand out, you need to bring your own ideas and expertise into the mix. This is a key part of how to prompt AI to write like a human; feeding it your unique insights and perspective. Gather your thoughts, findings, and any subject knowledge you have on the topic, and share them clearly with the AI.

Try a prompt like this:

“Here’s a draft of ideas and insights on [your topic]. Please create an outline based on this draft and develop detailed sections using these points. Be sure to highlight the unique perspectives and examples I’ve provided.”

By doing this, you ensure the AI doesn’t just churn out generic content but produces something truly yours and engaging.

5. Cut Repetition and Boost Variety

One of the easiest ways to spot AI-generated content is its tendency to repeat itself and feel predictable. If you want to learn how to make AI write like a human, adding variety and cutting out redundant phrases is a must. Start by carefully reviewing the AI’s output. Spot any repeated ideas or sections that don’t add value and remove them. Then, shake up the sentence structure. Humans naturally mix short and long sentences, throw in questions, and use different patterns to keep readers interested.

You can prompt AI like this:

“Rewrite the following paragraph to include a mix of short and long sentences. Use questions where appropriate and make sure the paragraph flows naturally.”

Also, think about the overall layout. Mixing bullet points, subheadings, and paragraphs not only breaks up the text visually but also keeps readers engaged and makes the content easier to digest.

6. Cut Out Overused Words

AI-generated content often falls into the trap of using cliché buzzwords and phrases that end up sounding insincere or overly promotional. If you want to make AI’s writing feel more authentic and professional, one key step is to spot and remove these tired expressions.

Look out for inflated terms like “game-changer,” “revolutionary,” and “unprecedented,” as well as superlatives such as “best,” “amazing,” and “incredible.” These phrases are a dead giveaway of AI-generated text and don’t resonate well with human readers who crave genuine, relatable content.

7. Use Conversational Prompts to Engage Readers

One of the best ways to make AI’s writing sound more natural is by guiding it with conversational prompts. This approach mimics everyday language and helps the AI adopt a friendly, relatable tone. If you’re wondering how to prompt AI to write like a human, try instructions like:

“Write this section as if you’re chatting with a friend. Ask questions to keep them engaged and use informal language. Include some personal anecdotes or examples to illustrate your points.”

Don’t forget to add emotional layers by addressing common pain points and offering reassuring advice. This not only makes the content more relatable but also draws readers in and holds their attention. Try prompts like:

“Address common concerns your audience might have about this topic. Offer reassurance and practical solutions to ease their worries.”

How to Make AI Write Like a Human with Nily AI

After months of trial and error with different AI tools, I realized that the real challenge wasn’t just generating content; it was shaping it into something that actually sounded human. I had learned how to tell AI to write like a human with better prompts and edits, but I was still spending way too much time jumping between tools, comparing outputs, and tweaking endlessly.

That’s when I stumbled on Nily AI, and honestly, it felt like it was built for marketers like me who are juggling content calendars, SEO goals, and the pressure to “sound human” 24/7.

Here’s how it started helping me right away:

• Instead of relying on just one AI model, Nily gave me access to multiple LLMs in one place. I could test my prompt across different models and pick the one that felt closest to my voice—or even mix their outputs for a stronger result.
• Once I had a draft, I’d run it through their AI Humanizer. It was like having a second brain that helped polish the tone, fix awkward phrasing, and remove that stiff, robotic feel I was always fighting against. Learning how to prompt AI to write like a human became much easier with this tool. But it didn’t stop there. What really set Nily apart was its customizable writing style options. You can choose from different writing structures like general writing, essays, stories, marketing material, and more. Depending on what you’re working on, Nily tailors the content to fit your needs perfectly—whether you’re crafting a compelling marketing email or writing an engaging story. This flexibility saved me tons of time and kept the content aligned with what my audience expects.
• Plus, the built-in SEO support helped me stay on track with keywords and structure, without over-optimizing or sounding like I was writing for a bot.
• And as a bonus? I could even generate on-brand images alongside the copy, which saved me tons of time I used to spend digging through stock photo sites.

With Nily AI, I finally found a rhythm. It wasn’t about replacing me as a writer. It was about giving me the right tools so I could focus on what I do best: crafting content that connects.