Burstiness
Burstiness is the variance in sentence length, complexity, and rhythm across a piece of writing.
Why it matters for AI detection
Human writing is naturally bursty. A short, sharp sentence sits next to one that runs longer than it strictly needs to, then a fragment cuts in. AI-generated text tends to converge on a comfortable middle: 12 to 22 words, similar clause patterns, predictable rhythm. That uniformity is one of the strongest signals AI detectors use.
How to increase burstiness in your draft
- Include at least one sentence under 8 words.
- Include at least one sentence over 22 words.
- Allow a true fragment, no subject-verb-object, every few paragraphs.
- Combine two short sentences into one long one; split one long sentence into two short ones.
- Read the draft aloud. Anywhere your voice falls into a steady rhythm is a place to break it.