Content Writing Writing Coherence and Readability – How to Humanize AI Writing? [Complete Guide]

Writer’s block, imposter’s syndrome, pressing deadlines, and limited time to rest – Writers face so many challenges everyday. I get it. We have all been there and so many of us shifted to AI writing tools to find some relief. However, it’s a bit frustrating to see that AI content misses the mark in writing coherence and readability. 

The more I read AI generated outputs, the more I am baffled about content inconsistencies and incoherence. I came to a realization that it’s not AI doing a bad job – it’s us humans who blindly use AI generated output. It’s bound to sound robotic if you don’t humanize AI content

If you are posting entirely AI generated content on your website, without any tweaking, forget about audience engagement. You will suffer because AI can not completely substitute human creativity and logic.

Here is the catch: Humanizing AI writing can resolve most of these problems.

I have found a solution to this problem. In this blog, we will uncover some ways to improve your writing coherence while using AI.

I will also share:

• AI Content Editing techniques
• Good and bad example of writing
• AI writing prompts for more coherent outputs
• Content Readability grade checkers

So, let’s dig in.

What is Writing Coherence?

A logical and smooth flow of ideas is necessary to deliver intended meaning and engage the readers. 

A well-organized, coherent writing is easy to understand and smoothly transitions from one idea to the next till the intended message is delivered to the readers.

Coherence unifies and connects different concepts so readers can grasp the overall meaning and purpose of the text without confusion or interruption.

How to Overcome AI Writing Coherence Challenges?

Human oversight. When AI writing tools were first introduced, everybody thought they would replace human writers and editors. But that’s not the case.

In fact, AI requires consistent human oversight and trained writers/editors are the best people to check and edit AI generated outputs.

Combine human supervision with personal experiences and specialized expertise and you will get a solid AI text refining system in place.

Human (Oversight + Experiences + Specialized Knowledge) + AI writing Tools = Unbeatable Writing

Elements of Coherent Writing

• Logically arranged information
• Clear transitions between sentences and paragraphs
• Consistent theme is maintained throughout the text
• Unified topic sentences and sub-paragraphs 
• Cohesive devices like pronouns and synonyms connect the text
• Little to no repetition and more conciseness
• Good format featuring headings and bulleted lists
• Sentence variety and diversity for engaging readers
• Reader centric text which directly speaks to the reader

The Problem with AI Writing: Limited Coherence

Lack of Context: 

AI models like GPT-3.5, don’t have true understanding or human-like context. 

These models generate text based on patterns they have learned from vast amounts of data. However, these NLP models lack genuine comprehension of the content they produce. 

As a result, sometimes the text looks coherent on the surface but lacks deeper logical connections.

Overfitting and Memorization: 

AI models sometimes memorize specific phrases or chunks from the training data and reproduce them inappropriately. 

Although the output seems coherent, the logical information sequence is missing. 

Ambiguity in Prompts: 

AI models may struggle to handle ambiguous or poorly phrased prompts. If the instructions are not clear, the generated text can go off-topic or lack coherence.

Limited Training Data: 

While AI models like GPT-3.5 have been trained on millions of datasets, they can draw only upon the limited knowledge.  

AI Models fail to create comprehensive and logical text if the user requires specialized information. In other words, AI cannot replace actual human experiences and learning.

Difficulty in Long-range Planning: 

Some AI models struggle with maintaining coherence in longer passages as they don’t have memory or understanding of the content from previous parts of the text. 

Although newer NLP models can now retain the conversational context, at some point, they lose the actual connection and create redundant or incoherent responses.

Insufficient Context Window: 

Certain AI systems can only consider a fixed number of previous chat tokens – which limits their contextual understanding while generating responses. It results in incoherent longer responses. 

Here are some additional ways to humanize AI-generated content to improve coherence:

Identify & Stick to The Main Theme: 

Read the AI-generated text and determine its primary topic. 

Check every sentence and paragraph to ensure it is connected to the main theme. 

Remove any tangential information that might distract readers from the core message.

Outline and Structure: 

Create a clear and concise text outline, especially for longer articles or essays. 

Use headings and subheadings to organize related information under specific sections. 

Organize the content for scanners not readers. This helps readers quickly find the information they need the most.

Paragraphing: 

Break the text into smaller paragraphs, each focusing on a single idea. 

Aim for 3-5 sentences per paragraph to create visual breathing space for readers. 

Split paragraphs are more digestible than long text walls.

Transition Words and Phrases: 

Add appropriate transition words and phrases to signal the relationships between ideas. 

For example, use “In addition” to indicate new information, “However” shows a contrast, and “As a result” indicates cause and effect. 

Transition words ensure a smooth information flow throughout the text.

Rephrase and Simplify: 

Reword complex sentences to make them clearer and more straightforward. 

Break down lengthy sentences into shorter ones to avoid confusion. 

Use concise language to convey ideas without unnecessary jargon or technical terms.

Consistent Tone and Style: 

Maintain a consistent tone and writing style throughout the text. 

Be it formal, informal, academic, or conversational, make sure that the language aligns with the intended audience and purpose.

Use Headings and Bullet Points: 

Utilize headings and subheadings to create an information hierarchy. 

Bullet points are excellent for presenting lists or key takeaways. 

Formatting makes the content scannable and readers find relevant information quickly.

Review Context: 

Consider the context of AI-generated text use. 

If it’s for a specific audience, adapt the language and examples to resonate with that group.

Verify that the content aligns with the intended purpose and supports the overall message.

Add Examples and Illustrations: 

Add relevant examples, anecdotes, or visual aids to enhance comprehension. 

For instance, use real-life scenarios to illustrate concepts. Add images and diagrams to support complex explanations.

Check for Redundancy: 

Eliminate any repetitive information that does not add value to the text. Concise writing engages readers and keeps them focused on the essential points.

Edit for Grammar and Punctuation: 

Carefully proofread the text for grammar errors, punctuation mistakes, and spelling errors. 

Correct any inconsistencies to maintain a professional and polished appearance.

Read Aloud: 

Read the edited text aloud to identify areas that may sound awkward or confusing. 

Listening to the text helps catch errors and improves the overall flow of the content.

A/B User Testing (if applicable): 

If the AI-generated text is part of a user interface or instructional material, conduct user testing to gather feedback from the target audience. 

Work on areas that need improvement and further optimize it. 

Let’s Take an Example of How Human Editing Improves AI Text

AI Text with Poor Coherence:

Yesterday, I went to the store. It was raining heavily, so I got my umbrella. The store had a sale, and I bought some new shoes. They were very comfortable. After that, I met my friend Sarah. We decided to go to the movies. The movie was exciting, and we enjoyed it. Then, I came home and watched TV.

Human Edited AI Text with Good Coherence and Readability:

Yesterday was fun despite the heavy rain. I took my umbrella and went to the store where I ended up buying some super comfortable new shoes on sale. Later, I bumped into my friend Sarah and we went to the movies. We had a great time watching a thrilling movie. After the movies, we headed back home and I finally had the chance to relax and watch some TV shows. 

So, What Changed?

Clear Introduction: 

In the edited text, I started with a clear introduction which set the stage for the remaining story.

Logical Order: 

I rearranged the events in a more logical order to improve the information flow. 

Consistent Verb Tense: 

I maintained consistent verb tense (past tense) throughout the story for better coherence.

Improved Sentence Structure: 

I rephrased and combined some sentences to create smoother transitions between ideas.

Descriptive Language: 

I added more descriptive language to make the story more engaging, such as “fun day,” and “super comfortable new shoes.”

Concluding Sentence: 

There is a clear concluding sentence which provides closure to the reader.

My Secret List of AI Prompts to Generate Coherent Writing

Prompt 1: Write a cohesive and well-structured essay explaining the importance of [topic/subject]. Use clear transitions to connect the main points.

Prompt 2: Create a step-by-step guide on [process/activity]. Ensure each step flows logically from the previous one.

Prompt 3: Write a narrative that follows a clear beginning, middle, and end. Make sure the events are connected and progress naturally.

Prompt 4: Develop a persuasive argument for or against [controversial topic]. Use strong reasoning and smooth transitions between paragraphs.

Prompt 5: Describe the features and benefits of [product/service]. Make sure the information is presented coherently and logically.

As you can see, the AI outputs need some level of human oversight and expert editing.

You can also try these prompts:

Prompt 6: Explain the cause-and-effect relationship between [cause] and [effect]. Ensure a clear connection between the two.

Prompt 7: Create a user manual for [device/software]. Organize the instructions coherently and use appropriate headings for different sections.

Prompt 8: Write a script for a conversation between two characters. Ensure the dialogue flows naturally and coherently.

Prompt 9: Provide a detailed analysis of [literary work/movie]. Organize the key points coherently to form a comprehensive review.

Prompt 10: Describe the process of [scientific phenomenon/activity] with a clear and logical sequence of steps.

Ok, Now Let’s Talk About Content Readability Levels

Readability grades measure the text complexity and determine the reading level required to understand it. 

Various readability formulas and indexes analyze sentence length, word difficulty, and text structure to determine the grade.

Good text readability is anywhere between 6th grade to 8th grade.

The most common readability grades include:

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 

The reading grade is assigned based on the average number of syllables per word and the average number of words per sentence.

Gunning Fog Index: 

Gunning Fog Index calculates the years of formal education needed to understand a piece of writing. It analyzes the average sentence length and the percentage of words with three or more syllables.

Coleman-Liau Index: 

This formula uses the number of characters, words, and sentences in a text to calculate the grade level.

Automated Readability Index (ARI): 

ARI uses the average number of characters per word and the average number of words per sentence to determine the reading level.

SMOG Index (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook): 

SMOG Index estimates the years of education required to understand a text based on the number of polysyllabic words.

Linsear Write Formula: 

This formula calculates the readability of a text based on the number of easy and difficult words used.

You can check and improve your content readability online on:

• The Flesch-Kinncaid readability checker 
• The Hemmingway Edtiror

Tips to Improve AI Generated Content Readability Score

• Use Clear and Simple Language
• Break Content with Headings and Subheadings
• Keep Paragraphs Short up to 3-4 sentences 
• Utilize Bullet Points and Lists for better presentation
• Write in Active and Direct Voice
• Vary Sentence Length to create a natural flow 
• Add Visuals like images, charts, or infographics 
• Use Transition Words like “however,” “therefore,” and “in addition”
• Avoid Dense Text Blocks and leave white space 
• Eliminate typos and grammatical errors 

The Bottomline

Writing coherence and readability are hallmarks of a good content writer. You can not post long AI Generated text walls and expect to engage readers. In fact, AI content writing needs human oversight and editing to polish writing coherence. Aim for a grade 6th reading level and format your content properly to engage readers.