How do I edit an AI-generated draft so it sounds like a person wrote it?

Why a first draft reads flat

A language model gives you the most expected phrasing for a topic. That is useful for structure and speed, and it is the reason the result often says little. The sentences are correct, the claims are general, and nothing in the text could only have come from you.

Fixing that is ordinary editing. Plain-language guidance from the US government's digital team says content is easier to understand when it uses shorter words, short sections, active voice and present tense, and it warns against "hidden verbs", where a strong verb is turned into a noun (Digital.gov, Writing for understanding). Those are the same habits that make a draft sound like a person.

A before and after

AI-sounding draft:

It is important to note that time management plays a crucial role in the success of remote teams, and there are a number of strategies that can be utilized to enhance productivity.

Edited:

Remote teams lose the most time to unclear handoffs. On ours, a two-line note at the end of each day ("done, blocked, next") cut the morning questions to almost none.

What changed: the opener "It is important to note" went, the vague noun "strategies" became one concrete habit, "utilized to enhance" became a plain verb, and one specific detail from real experience went in. If you do not have a detail like that, ask yourself what you would say if a colleague asked you the same question over coffee.

The edit, step by step

1. Read it aloud. Purdue OWL recommends reading aloud because it helps you notice run-on sentences, awkward transitions and other problems you miss when reading silently (Purdue OWL, Proofreading). Mark every sentence you would not say.
2. Cut the throat-clearing. Delete openers such as "In today's fast-paced world" and closers that repeat the paragraph.
3. Swap general for specific. Replace "many factors" with the two factors that matter, "a number of" with the number, "experts say" with a named source you have checked.
4. Fix the verbs. Turn "conduct an analysis of" into "analyse". Prefer active voice, so the reader knows who did what.
5. Change the rhythm. If four sentences in a row are the same length, join two and shorten one. Vary openers too, so paragraphs do not all begin the same way.
6. Check every fact, name, date and quote. Models state wrong things in a confident tone. Verify anything you did not already know.
7. Add your own material. A first-hand example, a number from your own work, an honest "I disagree with this part".
8. Take a break and read it once more. Purdue OWL suggests walking away from a draft for a day or two, or even 20 minutes, to come back with fresh eyes.

What to leave alone

You do not need to roughen good sentences or add mistakes. A clear, correct sentence is fine whether you or a tool wrote the first version. Edit where the draft is vague, repetitive or wrong.

When rules apply

Many schools, journals and employers set their own rules on AI assistance, and the rules differ by institution and country. Editing a draft does not remove any duty to follow them or to disclose AI use where it is required. Read your own policy first, and keep this thread for the craft question.