AI writing tools can produce a usable first draft quickly, but text that goes straight from a chat window to a published page often brings problems with it: leftover formatting, unverified details, repetition and a voice that does not sound like you. This guide is a practical checklist for cleaning up AI-generated or AI-assisted text before you publish it.
References to Google's position come from Google Search Central, checked October 1, 2026. The checklist itself is WriterFlowLab's editorial guidance.
Why AI drafts need a cleanup pass
Google does not prohibit AI-assisted content. In its February 2023 post on AI-generated content, Google said that "appropriate use of AI or automation is not against our guidelines". The same post states that "using automation—including AI—to generate content with the primary purpose of manipulating ranking in search results is a violation of our spam policies." Source: Google Search Central blog.
For readers, the bar is the same as for any other writing: the page should be accurate, clear and worth their time. A cleanup pass is how you get an AI draft there.
Step 1: Strip formatting leftovers
Text copied from AI tools often brings formatting that looks wrong once it is pasted into a CMS:
- Markdown symbols, such as asterisks around words meant to be bold, hash signs at the start of headings, or hyphens at the start of list items that did not convert.
- Extra spaces, tabs and blank lines, especially when text has passed through documents or PDFs.
- Inconsistent headings, such as a mix of Title Case and sentence case, or headings that skip levels.
- Unnecessary bold text and bullet points where an ordinary paragraph would read better.
Our free text cleaner removes extra spaces, tabs, blank lines and duplicate lines in your browser. It does not remove markdown symbols, so search for those and delete them by hand. For consistent capitalization in headings, the case converter can switch text between Title Case and sentence case, and our guide to title case vs sentence case helps you choose a style.
Step 2: Check every fact
AI models can state incorrect information confidently. Treat every factual claim in a draft as unverified until you have checked it.
- Verify names, dates, numbers, prices and quotes against primary sources such as official websites, documentation or the original study.
- Delete any statistic or quote you cannot trace to a real source.
- Check that links go where they claim to, and that sources actually say what the draft says they say.
- Look out for outdated details, such as old product features or prices.
Step 3: Cut repetition and filler
AI drafts often repeat the same idea in different words, open with generic scene-setting and close with a summary of what was just said.
- Delete introductions that only restate the title.
- Merge paragraphs that make the same point.
- Remove stock phrases that add nothing, and conclusions that only repeat the article.
- Check for overused words and phrases. The frequency tables in our keyword density checker make repeated phrases easy to spot.
Step 4: Restore your own voice
- Add your own examples, experience and opinions, clearly labelled as such.
- Replace vague claims with specific details your readers can act on.
- Read the text aloud. Anything you would not naturally say is worth rewriting.
- Keep terminology consistent with the rest of your site.
For more on where AI helps and where it falls short, see AI writing: what it can and can't do.
Step 5: Proofread and check the final version
- Run a spelling and grammar check. An editing assistant can help, as explained in Grammarly vs AI writing assistants.
- Check that the length suits the purpose of the page with the word counter.
- Preview the page on desktop and mobile to catch layout problems.
- Check the page title, meta description and image alt text.
A pre-publish checklist
- Formatting leftovers removed, including markdown symbols and stray spaces
- Headings use one capitalization style and follow a logical order
- Every fact, number and quote checked against a primary source
- Repetition, filler and generic phrases cut
- Your own examples and voice added
- Spelling, grammar and links checked
- Page previewed on desktop and mobile
Frequently asked questions
Does Google penalize AI-generated content?
Google says that appropriate use of AI or automation is not against its guidelines. Using automation to generate content primarily to manipulate search rankings is against its spam policies. Focus on making the content accurate and helpful.
Do I need to say that I used AI?
That depends on your audience, your publication's policies and any rules that apply in your field. Google's February 2023 post points creators to its guidance on thinking about who created content, how and why. Our guidance: be open about AI assistance wherever readers would reasonably expect to know.
Can a text cleaner make AI text undetectable?
No. Cleaning removes formatting problems. It does not change what the text says, and hiding how text was produced is not the goal. The goal is a page that is accurate and genuinely useful.