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How to Write with an LLM

769 points · 420 comments · joeriddles

  1. Eddy_Viscosity2 · · focus · HN ↗
    "LLM paragraph will register to much of your audience not as writing but as output"

    The best advice for writing for other humans is: don't use LLMs.

    If you're writing for machines, liking coding, then fine go for it. If you're writing for processes with formal highly structured content like manuals, specifications, form content, procedures, information, that sort of thing, then also ok to use LLMS. But if you're writing for a human mind to ingest and extract meaning from, then LLMs are poison.

    1. int0x29 · · focus · HN ↗
      I would stay away from it for manuals and documentation as well. AI tends to like inserting meaningless and confusing clarification that is at best a waste of time.

      Also if you don't understand what you are documenting enough to write the docs that is a problem.

      1. maxerickson · · focus · HN ↗
        It's more or less incoherent to pair the statement about those topics with the sentence that follows.

        Charitably, they can be thinking that it's fine to have LLMs organize information intended for LLMs.

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