How to write in your own voice — without sounding like ChatGPT.
TL;DR. AI prose sounds the same because language models output the most likely next word, collapsing to an average register — what writers in 2024 started calling 'AI slop.' To keep your voice, never let the AI generate sentences. Use it for mechanical cleanup only. The words must originate with you. Dictating long-form and then formatting the transcript (what ORAT does) tends to preserve voice better than typing.
Why AI prose all sounds the same
LLMs predict the next token by sampling from a probability distribution skewed toward common, low-risk continuations. Research on output diversity has shown that instruction-tuned models cluster around a narrow band of phrasing.
Three rules for keeping your voice
1. Generate, don't delegate.
The sentences must come from you. AI is allowed to clean up, not to invent.
2. Dictate first drafts when you can.
Spoken language carries voice that typing erases. Capture it, then clean it.
3. Read it aloud before you publish.
If a sentence makes you cringe to say out loud, it isn't yours.
How ORAT applies these rules
ORAT is built on the 'generate, don't delegate' principle. You speak the draft; ORAT removes the ums and false starts and formats the result. It does not paraphrase, summarise, or rewrite.
FAQ
Why does AI-written prose all sound the same?
Large language models output the statistically most likely next word, which collapses toward a smooth, average register. Researchers have documented this 'mode collapse' — outputs cluster around a narrow band of phrasing.
How do I keep my voice when using AI tools?
Use AI for formatting, structure, and cleanup — not generation. Write or speak the actual sentences yourself, then let the tool tidy punctuation and remove repetition.
What is 'AI slop'?
Low-effort AI-generated content with no editorial intent — recognisable by hedged phrasing, tidy three-item lists, and a uniformly polite, voiceless tone.
Can dictation actually preserve voice better than typing?
Often, yes. Spoken language carries rhythm, idiom, and pacing that typing erases.
Does ORAT change my words?
Only mechanical cleanup: filler words, false starts, repeated phrases, and obvious transcription errors. The vocabulary and structure stay as you said them.
Read more: ORAT for writers · ORAT vs Wispr Flow