10 Common Mistakes Students Make With AI Writing Tools

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining education. Today, brainstorming for essay ideas and drafting research papers using AI writing tools are considered part of one’s daily study routine. However, platforms like ChatGPT, Grammarly, Jasper, and QuillBot can churn out work quickly and conveniently. Nevertheless, productivity enhancers are not foolproof, and in many cases, students misuse them, not realizing what the consequences can be.

This blog will throw light on 10 mistakes students commonly commit while working with AI writers and how they can be avoided. 

• Relying Entirely on AI for Assignments

One of the biggest mistakes students make is treating AI as a replacement for their own work. AI can write for you; however, if you don’t edit the draft or use it without any personalization, it can be detected. 

1. Anyone can identify AI-like writing.
2. It plays with your critical thinking. 
3. Risk of plagiarism. 

• Ignoring the Importance of Originality

The next thing to remember while using AI writing tools is understanding the importance of originality. Most AI generators produce content based on existing data. This can make your content irrelevant and can also cause plagiarism, which is taken seriously in academics. 

Tip- you can run the content generated through AI detectors to understand the uniqueness of your content. You can add personal examples to make your content more authentic and original. 

• Overlooking Proper Citation and Referencing

It is a common misconception that AI tools can generate accurate and usable references. However, most AI tools for writing either make up citations or give incomplete ones. Trusting them as they are can damage your academic integrity. 

Pro Tip: Verify each and every reference. Academic databases such as Google Scholar and JSTOR offer a great starting point for obtaining accurate citations. Additionally, check the formatting of your references to confirm that they are consistent with the APA, MLA, or any other citation style prescribed by your educational institution.

• Using AI Without Understanding the Topic

One mistake that students make is delegating the writing tasks to AI on topics that they neither studied nor understood. Sure, the essay AIs generate is as smooth as a well-oiled typewriter, but they don’t understand all the concepts. So, when the real questions roll in from the teacher, you can be lost. Therefore, it is important to understand the topic before using AI for generating any type of content. 

Pro Tip-

1. Understand the topic by reading your textbooks. 
2. Only use AI to simplify the topics that are difficult or too complex. 
3. Summarize the content in your own words. 

• Overlooking AI Detection Issues

As AI tools become increasingly common in schools, institutions also implement AI detection software to identify machine-generated writing. Even if the information is accurate, submitting AI-generated text without any edits can draw attention to it. 

Pro tip- Include personal illustrations, rephrase sentences that sound awkward, and highlight your individual insight. If you are wondering how to do it, you can use Undetectable AI, which helps you to surpass AI detectors. You just have to buy the subscription, and you are all set to go. Make sure to check out CouponzGuru for the verified coupons and discount deals before making a purchase. 

• Skipping the Editing Stage

AI-generated content can appear refined at first glance, yet it typically fails to capture the authenticity of anything. It offers robot-like words that no one in real life would use. Students who rely on AI-generated text stand the risk of submitting an assignment that lacks clarity and personality. 

Pro tip- Keep an eye on the tone, clarity, and flow of ideas. Often, the text begins to sound fresh when we correct a clumsy phrase or add a short idea rather than make extensive changes.

• Not-Fact Checking Information

While AI tools can be incredibly useful, they are not flawless. For instance, produce inaccurate numbers, cite old or irrelevant sources, or fabricate details, issues that are notably known as “hallucinations” in AI.

Pro tip- Verify your facts, dates, and citations from reliable sources such as academic publications, reputable websites, and reference books to ensure the integrity of your submission.

• Using the Wrong Tone for Academic Writing

When writing professionally, you have to maintain a tone. Sometimes, AI uses an over casual tone even for formal forms of writing. This can lead to mismatched or inappropriate writings. 

Pro tip- Before finalizing your content, make sure to edit and customize it on your own. Don’t rely on AI detectors for the same. 

• Ignoring Assignment Guidelines

No AI tool can fully understand the requirements of your assignment. Let us assume you want to write something for your school assignment related to history. AI will generate an essay with irrelevant details and complex vocabulary that will be hard to understand. Therefore, AI-written content doesn’t suit the intended audience. 

• Not Customizing Prompts

The last mistake that you can make while using AI tools is not customizing prompts. Some students use AI to bypass learning, and it is not ethical in the long run. 

Pro Tip- Don’t depend on AI and use it as an assistant. Use it responsibly to improve your writing, not as a shortcut for anything. 

Wrapping Up

Writing assistants that use AI can assist in studying, but only with their appropriate usage. Relying on such tools without any checks can lead to plagiarism, factual inaccuracies, and incorrect assignments. It makes more sense to use AI as a guide for drafting, organizing, or refining, while ensuring that the core concepts are clear to you. Make sure to review, stick to the instructions, and incorporate your unique perspective.