How to make AI sound like you

Steps

1. 1

   Collect 3 to 5 real messages you wrote.

   Pick ones that went well, like a customer email that got a reply or a text your team liked. Use your own writing, not old AI drafts.

2. 2

   Write your "never" list.

   Words and phrases you would not say out loud. Common ones: "I hope this email finds you well", "delighted", "touch base", "circle back", "in today's world".

3. 3

   Note your habits.

   Do you write short? Use first names? Skip the sign off? Ask a question at the end? Write it down in plain words.

4. 4

   Build a voice prompt.

   Use the first prompt below. Save it so you can paste it at the start of any writing task.

5. 5

   Edit the draft.

   Change at least one line into how you would really say it. That is often the line that makes it sound like you.

6. 6

   Update the prompt when something bugs you.

   Every time you cut the same word, add it to the never list.

Prompts you can copy

My voice guide

I want you to write like me. Here are messages I wrote myself:
[paste 3 to 5 of your real messages, each one separated by a blank line]
How I write:
- [for example short sentences, under 80 words for most emails]
- [for example first names, no "Dear", sign off with just my name]
- [for example one question at the end]
Words and phrases I never use: [your list].
Write the next thing I ask for in this exact style.
If something I ask for would not sound like me, tell me.

Rewrite an AI draft in my voice

Here are two messages I wrote myself: [paste].
Here is a draft that sounds too stiff: [paste].
Rewrite the draft so it sounds like my messages. Same facts, same ask.
Make it shorter if you can. Use plain words. Remove anything I would not say out loud.

Find what sounds like a robot

Read this draft: [paste].
List every word or phrase that sounds like it was written by AI or a big company, not a real person.
For each one, give a plain replacement a [your job, for example sales rep at a lumber yard] would say.
Then give me the full rewrite.

Example

This is a made-up example. A stiff AI draft:

"I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to reach out to touch base regarding the proposal we discussed. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions."

After the voice guide prompt, using a few real short emails as the sample:

"Hi Tom, any questions on the quote for the dock doors? Happy to walk through it on a quick call this week. Does Thursday work?"

Same purpose. Half the words. It sounds like a person who actually sells dock doors.

Tips

• Short samples work better than long ones. Five real two line emails teach more than one long letter.
• Use samples from the same kind of writing. Your texts teach the AI how to write texts, your emails teach it emails.
• Some tools let you save instructions or a profile so you do not paste your voice guide every time. ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini all have a version of this on many plans. Look in the settings or personalization area.
• Read the draft out loud. If you trip on a phrase, change it.

What not to do

• Do not use old AI drafts as samples. You will teach it to sound like AI.
• Do not ask for "professional" if you are not stiff in real life. Ask for "how I talk to a customer I like".
• Do not send a draft you have not touched. One edit in your own words makes a big difference.

For more on writing better prompts, see how to write a good prompt. For ready email prompts, try the email prompts and cold email prompts.

FAQ

How many samples does the AI need?

Three to five short ones is plenty for most people. More helps only if they are the same kind of message.

Why does AI always sound so formal?

With nothing to copy, AI falls back on a polite, safe tone that sounds like a company. Your samples and your never list pull it back to how you talk.

Will this work for LinkedIn posts too?

Yes. Use your own past posts as the samples, not emails. Posts and emails sound different, so keep separate voice guides.

Is it OK to send AI writing as my own?

Most people use AI as a first draft and then edit, the same way you might use a template. Check your company rules, and always make sure what you send is true.

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First posted October 28, 2026. Last updated October 28, 2026. Free to copy and use, CC BY 4.0.