Multi-author texts can suffer from stylistic inconsistencies such as mixed tenses and varied spellings of the same word. This happens because several different people contribute to the creation or revision of the document.
A text that shows evidence of varied writing styles risks looking less professional. This is particularly the case when it’s supposed to have been written in the voice of one person or brand.
I’ve invented an example below to illustrate what I mean. The stylistic inconsistencies are in bold. In this entirely imaginary scenario, two assistants have written the text and “the Boss” has not looked at it.
The new product will be launched on 24th June at 1500 hours. I expect everyone to submit their plans before 3pm on 11 June. Please include costs, addresses, and your recommendations. Whilst I understand that this is an exciting time, I hope that everyone will remember what is at stake. While we are at our center in Dundee, our competitors will be making plans at their centre in Glasgow. I thank you all for your dedication, spirit and cooperation. With thanks, the Boss
If the Boss sent you something like this, what would you think?
I’d wonder how much oversight and control she had over her team. Another reader might want to know why she’s so inconsistent with her spelling. It’s possible we’d both take the Boss’s message less seriously.
Using AI to generate short paragraphs reduces the likelihood of stylistic inconsistencies. With longer documents, using AI doesn’t remove the risk.
Every person interacts with this conversational technology in their own way. That can affect the consistency of the final text.
About me
I’m a UK-based freelance editor and proofreader. You can find out more on my website, TIDE and CANUTE.
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