You've probably seen it. That specific, slightly too-polished flavor of text that screams "I didn't write this." For a long time, everyone blamed ChatGPT. But as Anthropic's models took over the creative crown in 2025 and 2026, a new culprit emerged. The Claude writing style has its own DNA—a linguistic fingerprint that is surprisingly easy to spot once you know where to look.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a tragedy. Claude is arguably the most "human" sounding model out there, yet its tendencies towards being helpful, harmless, and honest (the HHH framework) often trap it in a loop of predictable vocabulary. If you’re trying to use AI for high-stakes content, understanding these verbal tics isn't just a party trick. It’s a survival skill.
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The Words Claude Simply Cannot Quit
If you ask Claude to write a blog post, it’s going to "delve" into something. It loves that word. It's like the model thinks every topic is a deep-sea trench that requires immediate exploration. You'll also see a lot of "tapestries." To Claude, everything from a marketing strategy to a family history is a "rich tapestry of experiences."
Here is the thing: humans rarely talk like that. When was the last time you told a friend, "Let's delve into the tapestry of our weekend plans"? Exactly.
The "Nuanced" Problem
Claude has a massive crush on the word nuanced. Because the model is trained to avoid being "biased" or "harmful," it constantly hedges its bets. It doesn't want to give you a straight "yes" or "no" if it can give you a "nuanced perspective" instead.
- Pivotal: Everything is pivotal. A new software update? Pivotal. A change in morning routine? Absolutely pivotal.
- Underscore: Claude won't just "highlight" a point; it will underscore the importance of it.
- Comprehensive: Whether it’s a 200-word email or a 50-page report, Claude is convinced it’s being comprehensive.
- Fostering: It loves fostering communities, fostering growth, and fostering understanding.
This isn't just about single words, though. It's about the "vibe." There’s a specific kind of earnestness. It’s the "I'm here to help" energy that eventually feels like talking to a very polite, very smart, but slightly robotic concierge at a boutique hotel.
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Why Does It Sound Like That?
It's not an accident. Anthropic uses a technique called Constitutional AI. Basically, they give the model a "constitution"—a set of rules it has to follow while it’s training. This makes it safer and less likely to tell you how to build a bomb, but it also polishes off the rough edges that make human writing feel... well, human.
Real people are messy. We use fragments. We start sentences with "And" or "But" because we feel like it. Claude, by default, is a bit of a teacher's pet. It wants to use perfect grammar. It loves its Oxford commas. It avoids "slang" unless you specifically beg it to use some, and even then, it usually sounds like a dad trying to be "cool" at a BBQ.
"It is important to note..."
"In today's rapidly evolving landscape..."
"Ultimately, the key takeaway is..."
These are the red flags. They are transitions designed to keep the reader on track, but in the world of SEO and Google Discover in 2026, they are signals that tell the algorithm (and the reader) to keep scrolling.
The Structure Trap
One of the biggest giveaways of the Claude writing style isn't a word at all—it's the way the information is laid out. Have you noticed how Claude loves to give you three bullet points? Or a perfectly balanced introduction, three body paragraphs, and a long-winded conclusion?
Humans don't think in "perfectly balanced" sections. We get excited about one part and ramble for ten sentences, then move on to the next point in two. Claude’s symmetry is its biggest tell. If every H2 section has exactly two sub-bullets and a concluding sentence, you're looking at a machine.
How to Actually Fix It
If you’re working with Claude (and honestly, you should be, because its reasoning is top-tier), you have to break its habits. You can’t just ask it to "write an article." You have to be its editor before it even writes a word.
One trick I've found that works wonders: tell it to avoid "academic transitions." Specifically, give it a "kill list" of words. Tell it: "Don't use delve, tapestry, nuanced, or underscore. Don't start paragraphs with 'Furthermore' or 'Moreover.' Write like a person who is tired and just wants to get to the point."
The "Varying" Secret
The real secret to human-quality content isn't just avoiding certain words. It's about rhythm.
AI writes in medium-length sentences.
Subject, verb, object.
Sentence after sentence.
It’s a flat line.
Human writing is a heartbeat. Short. Long. Really long. Short. You have to force that variation.
What Most People Get Wrong
Most users think that because Claude is "smart," it knows what good writing looks like. It doesn't. It knows what statistically probable writing looks like. And since most of the internet is filled with boring, corporate-speak junk, that’s what it mimics.
If you want Claude to sound like you, you have to feed it your own writing samples. The "Projects" feature in Claude is great for this. You can upload 5-10 things you’ve actually written—emails, old blog posts, even a frantic Slack message—and tell it, "This is the rhythm I want. Use these words. Ignore the textbook."
Actionable Steps for Better Content
Stop settling for "AI-flavored" text. If you're publishing content in 2026, the bar is higher than ever. Here is how you take a Claude draft and make it actually rank:
- Search and Destroy: Use the "Find" function (Cmd+F) for the words I listed above. If you see "delve" or "tapestry," delete the whole sentence and start over.
- Break the Symmetry: If you have three bullet points, delete one. Or expand one into a full paragraph and leave the other as a one-liner.
- The "So What?" Test: AI loves to summarize. "In conclusion, it’s clear that..." No. Cut the conclusion. Replace it with a "What to do next" section that actually helps the reader.
- Add the Mess: Inject a personal anecdote or a specific, weird detail that an AI wouldn't know. Mention the specific brand of coffee you were drinking when you realized your SEO was tanking. AI can’t fake lived experience.
The goal isn't to stop using AI. It's to stop letting the AI's default settings dictate your voice. Claude is a brilliant tool, but it’s a better researcher than it is a stylist. Use it for the bones, but you—the human—need to provide the skin and the soul.