How to Stop Claude From Sounding Like AI (My Claude Project Instructions)

Every time I opened a new chat with Claude, I found myself spending the first ten minutes correcting the same issue. I would explain what I do, who I am writing for, and ask for a casual, conversational tone. Moments later, the AI provided stiff paragraphs filled with words rarely used in everyday speech, such as "delve," "tapestry," "game-changer," and "in today's fast-paced world."

I then spent twenty minutes manually rewriting the entire draft. If you desire Claude to write naturally on the first attempt, employing brief one-line prompts is insufficient. Placing two short files within your Claude Project instructions (or your Claude Cowork folder) resolves the problem permanently. Claude initially sounds artificial because it lacks knowledge about your work, customers, or communication style.

When confronted with a lack of specifics, it fills the gap with generic corporate language. Providing Claude with consistent context and a definitive list of prohibited patterns prevents this habit from developing.

Firstly, create a plain text file named "00_MY_CONTEXT_MEMORY.md" and upload it to your Project's knowledge base. Limit the content to six concise paragraphs: A brief description of your work and background, the audience you serve, your offerings, their prices, the tangible results they achieve, and your primary business objective for the next 90 days.

Include concrete statistics and a strict rule against making up false data. Your main professional goal and working guidelines should be clearly outlined. If drafting the file feels daunting, paste the six points into Claude and request the AI to conduct a three-question interview with you, then compile the final document. Once completed, this process will take only four minutes, and you won't need to repeat your background.

Secondly, create a second file named "01_HUMAN_VOICE_RULES.md" and copy the following block into it:

**Plain-English Voice Rules:**

- Write at an 8th-grade reading level.

- Maintain paragraphs between 1 and 3 sentences.

- State the main point in the first sentence without any introductory remarks.

- Avoid using dashes.

- Refrain from using these words: delve, unleash, unlock, elevate, supercharge, harness, foster, leverage, streamline, tapestry, landscape, testament, game-changer, cutting-edge, seamless, robust, pivotal, realm, synergy, holistic.

- Refrain from using the "not just X, it's Y" sentence structure (e.g., "This isn't just a checklist, it's a system").

- Clearly state what something is and what it does.

Once these two files are in your Project, your drafts will sound more natural and closer to your authentic voice. Whenever you find yourself repeating the same task multiple times a week (like writing client proposals, cold emails, landing pages, or weekly plans), save the exact steps as a reusable SKILL.md workflow file next to it. Set up this essential context and prohibited-word list today, then test them on your subsequent email or post. You'll immediately notice the improvement on your first reply.