4 Key Reasons Your Writing Might Get Flagged by AI Checkers

AI writing detection systems frequently struggle to tell the difference between material produced by machines and information written by humans. Students & anyone else who depend on written work may experience difficulties when their writing might get flagged by AI checkers for errors in grammar, word choice, or style. Here are some explanations of why AI checkers could highlight your writing and solutions if you’re having this problem.

Your Grammar is Too Perfect: Why It Might Raise Red Flags

If you use ChatGPT and don’t make any changes to its output, AI checkers will almost certainly flag your work. This isn’t a false positive—it’s a clear sign of AI use. Even if you try to write original content, perfect grammar and certain word choices could still cause a false positive, making AI checkers think it was written by AI.

For example, I tested a passage written by ChatGPT in GPTZero, and it was flagged with a 100% chance of being AI-generated. However, by introducing a few minor grammatical errors—such as removing commas and adding a typo—and making small stylistic changes, the score dropped significantly to 81%. This shows that even small adjustments can make your writing feel more human and reduce the likelihood of it being flagged as AI-generated.

How Common Words Used by AI Can Trigger False Positives

When we read a piece of writing, we often develop an instinct for spotting AI-generated content, especially when it includes words like “delve,” “highlight,” “underscore,” “pose,” or “strive”—terms frequently used by AI. For example, the word “delve” became much more common in academic papers in 2023, around time ChatGPT was released.

In one test, I made small changes to AI-detecting words in a passage and the GPTZero score dropped to 49%, which is considered “human.” This shows that AI checkers can often be tricked with just a few edits, exposing their limitations.

Students who speak English as a second language are often flagged more by AI checkers. This happens because AI is trained using data from places where English is a second language, so words like “delve” may appear more often in their writing. Additionally, second-language speakers frequently adhere to grammatical rules more rigorously which might result in false positives when they utilize appropriate syntax and vocabulary.

How Using AI Writing Assistants Can Trigger Detection

Even without using generative AI, tools like Grammarly can make your writing more likely to be flagged as AI-generated. Although useful, these writing helpers are actually artificial intelligence (AI) tools and relying too much on them might cause problems, particularly in academic settings. As a tutor, I’ve seen that students who rely significantly on Grammarly frequently worry about AI checks when turning in their work.

If an AI assistant rewrites much of your text, it may be flagged as AI-generated. To avoid this: use these tools to improve your writing, not as a shortcut. Treat their suggestions as learning opportunities instead of accepting them without thought.

Copying ChatGPT Results Will Definitely Trigger Detection

Copying findings from ChatGPT without making any major modifications is most obvious way to get detected by AI checkers. It’s not a false positive in this instance; you will undoubtedly be reported for employing AI. However, even if you genuinely try to write original content on your own, the flawless grammar and certain vocabulary or phrasing that resemble AI writing might still lead to a false positive. This means AI checkers might flag your work even when it’s entirely human-written.

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FAQ

Why do AI checkers flag human-written content?
AI checkers frequently struggle to distinguish between human-written content and AI-generated writing due to faultless grammar, common word selections or inflexible sentence patterns. These features could lead human writing to appear extremely polished, resulting in false positives.

How can I avoid being flagged by AI checkers?
To reduce the chances of being flagged, introduce slight stylistic variations, avoid overusing common AI-related words and ensure your writing reflects a natural, human tone. Use AI writing tools like Grammarly sparingly and focus on learning from their suggestions.

Are AI writing assistants like Grammarly considered AI-generated tools?
Yes, methods like Grammarly are AI-powered and can rewrite large chunks of your work. Overreliance on these techniques can result in your work being labeled as AI-generated, even if you produced the original text yourself.

Why do second-language English speakers get flagged more often?
AI checkers often flag second-language English speakers because their writing may include words common in AI training data, such as “delve” or “strive.” Additionally, their strict adherence to grammar rules can make their writing appear too polished, mimicking AI output.

What happens if I copy and paste content directly from ChatGPT?
Copying ChatGPT results without any modifications is a proven way to get flagged by AI checkers. Even little changes to the terms you use can reduce detection risks and make your work appear more natural.