Before I lose my job for criticizing Copilot or everyone thinks I’m an AI hater, let me be clear: Copilot is a useful, powerful tool. When it comes to writing, it can help during every step of the process from brainstorming to researching to polishing. However, when it comes to actual writing – and especially sales proposal writing – let’s just say Copilot needs a co-pilot.
And that’s you!
As was expected, the CCS writing and editing team has started to see an influx of Copilot copy. How do we know the writing is AI-generated and not custom?
The truth is, there are many signs. Some are helpful. Some make me curse to the heavens and wish to throw my computer into a trash can a la Ron Swanson from “Parks and Recreation.” But, rather than giving in to such urges, we thought it would be better to list the top five Copilot red flags we’re seeing so you can steer clear of them.
You’ve seen it before. You’ve probably written it. It looks like, “X is more than Y – it’s Z.” Or, equally exhausted: “X is not only Y; it’s Z.”
Copilot loves this sentence construction because it’s easy to generate and it sounds moderately inspirational. And while it might work once or twice, we’re seeing it used over and over – we’re talking once per paragraph – and don’t get me started on the poor punctuation it typically uses (comma splice city).
Repetition like this dilutes the impact, and what once could have sounded clever comes across as cliché. Instead, ask yourself what you’re really trying to say, then say it plainly – KISS (#iykyk).
For those who don’t know, the rule of three is a time-tested rhetorical device. It’s memorable. It’s rhythmic. It’s also everywhere.
Copilot loves it: “We deliver results, drive innovation and empower success.” (Copilot would actually use the Oxford comma there, but again, I digress, for sanity’s sake.)
The rule of three exists for a reason, but it’s again the repetition that makes the writing feel robotic and, oddly, unbalanced. Not every point you make has three reasons. Mix it up. Use contrast. Maybe you list two. Or four. Or none.
I will not spend this time talking about the usage of the word “ensure” and how it seems to be getting worse. (Our record is 20 times on a single page.)
Instead, I want to emphasize Copilot’s soft spot for corporate jargon. Words like deliver, drive, results, impact and more run wild in Copilot writing. These aren’t bad words; many are great for communicating to particular DiSC profiles. But when they start to pile up, they come off as buzzwords rather than intentional messaging. For tactics on how to avoid these, check out this old blog.
Statements like “We deliver fast results” are filler that ultimately say nothing. Good writing is specific.
Copilot can generate content quickly. It can summarize and rephrase in the blink of an eye. But it can’t know what matters most to the client. Plus, when it tries to pepper in exact details, it tends to lie.
Remember: Your goal should not be to add content but to add value.
Beyond the redundancies previously mentioned, Copilot also simply likes to repeat itself – sometimes word for word, sometimes in rhythm. And while consistency is good, monotony is not.
We wrote a blog post about this back in the day, but the gist is that great writing has musicality. You want it to vary in pace, tone and structure. If your writing starts sounding like a metronome, it’s time to change the beat.
Copilot can help you get started. It can get the juices flowing when you get stuck. But it can’t replace you – it wouldn’t even know where to start.
So, next time you use Copilot to answer an RFP question or write an executive summary, keep these red flags in mind. Read your work out loud. Ask yourself: Does this sound like me? Does it add value?
If not, it’s time to take back the wheel.
Don’t be sad. Even though this blog is over and we don’t update as frequently as in the past, we still love talkin’ shop. Drop us a line.
.
We said we’d be back if something important came up, and you won’t believe the unrelenting chaos that’s crippling our team – and in such
Today I want to talk about the value of using transitions. This paragraph is illustrating my point. Writing without transitional words or phrases is a
