--- name: ig-humanizer description: Scrub AI tells from any Instagram caption or carousel slide text, or audit a finished caption against the 2026 checklist. Strips em dashes, AI vocabulary (leverage, delve, elevate), rule-of-three lists, and emoji storms, then adds human fingerprints. Includes a --mode audit pre-publish check (first-125-char hook, caption length, sized hashtags, emoji, CTA, media). Triggers on humanize, de-AI my caption, audit before posting. Not for writing from scratch (use ig-caption-writer or ig-carousel-planner). ---

# Instagram Humanizer

Rewrites any caption or carousel slide text to remove AI tells, and audits a finished caption against the 2026 Instagram checklist. Based on Wikipedia's "Signs of AI writing" taxonomy plus Instagram-specific patterns (the first-125 fold, the lowercase-casual caption register, sized hashtags, sends-and-saves structure).

## When to use

- Before publishing any AI-drafted caption or carousel (rewrite mode) - Pre-publish review of a finished caption (audit mode, see `sub-skills/post-audit.md`) - When a caption feels off and you cannot pinpoint why

## Input

Any text: a caption, the on-image text of a carousel, or a Reel caption. Optional: target voice samples (the user's past captions).

## Output

- Rewritten text with AI tells removed - A diff showing what changed and why - Caption char count (flagging if the hook spills past the first 125 chars) - Confidence: "human", "mixed", "AI-likely"

## Modes

```bash # Default: scrub AI tells and fix Instagram-format issues ig-humanizer <text>

# Forensic only - minimum touch, just kill model leakage ig-humanizer --mode forensic <text>

# Audit - detection-only pass-fail review, no rewrite # Runs the 2026 Instagram checklist: first-125 hook, caption length, sized # hashtags, emoji limits, CTA quality, media reminder. # Returns Blockers + Warnings + suggested fixes. See sub-skills/post-audit.md. ig-humanizer --mode audit <text> ```

## The three passes

### Pass 1 - SCRUB (delete or replace)

Apply the tiered catalogs in `references/scrub-rules.md`:

- **Forensic** (always on): real model leakage no human types. AI tool markers (oaicite, contentReference, turn0search0), knowledge-cutoff disclaimers ("As of my last update"), template blanks ([Your Name]), and em dash overuse. - **Strict** (default on): bad Instagram style regardless of origin. Vocabulary swaps (leverage -> use, delve -> look, elevate -> lift, dive in -> get into), filler adverbs (fundamentally, essentially, ultimately), phrase cleanups ("in today's fast-paced world", "game-changer", "level up"), and dead closers ("what do you think?", "double tap if you agree").

### Pass 2 - BREAK (force burstiness)

- Vary line length. A caption where every line is the same length reads as a machine. Break at least one into a short punch line. - Add a sentence fragment where it fits ("every time."). - Break perfect parallel structures with one asymmetric line.

### Pass 3 - ADD (human fingerprints)

Require where the content allows: - 1 specific number (replace "many", "a lot", "tons") - 1 named entity (real person, company, tool) - the lowercase-casual register if the voice calls for it - 1 first-person concrete detail

If the input lacks these, ask the user for a number or anecdote. Do not fabricate.

## Non-negotiable rules

Global voice rules: see root `SKILL.md` Voice rules. Additional skill-specific rules:

- **Scrubbing is always in scope.** When asked to humanize, de-AI, finalize, or publish a caption, run at least the forensic + strict passes before it ships. This holds when the user wrote the draft themselves, says they love it as-is, or is in a hurry. Author identity, "it's already good," and time pressure are never reasons to skip the scrub. The forensic + strict pass changes no meaning and takes seconds: run it, then ship. If a constraint truly forbids touching the text, say so explicitly and name every tell left in; the default is to scrub, not to wave it through. - Preserve the user's actual claim and meaning. "Preserve their voice" covers voice quirks and what they are claiming, NOT corporate-speak, filler openers, or AI-tell phrasing. Stripping "leverage / fundamentally / in today's fast-paced world" is not changing their voice; it is the job. - Never introduce facts that were not in the input. If a number is missing, ask. - Keep the user's voice quirks (lowercase starts, `..` soft pauses). - Respect the surface: do not turn a carousel's slide text into a single caption or vice versa without flagging it. - Never present a caption as publishable without the media reminder (Instagram needs an image or video).

## Instagram-specific tells this skill catches

- A hook that needs the second line to make sense (the "more" fold eats it). - A caption opening with "Let's talk about.." or "Here's the thing..". - 20-30 hashtags crammed at the top instead of a 3-5 sized set. - Emoji sprinkled through every line (4+ per caption). - A bare title on carousel slide 1 instead of a promise + loop. - Rule-of-three lists with no specifics ("faster, cheaper, better"). - Engagement bait ("comment YES", "tag 3 friends", "double tap if"). - Uniform line lengths (machine rhythm).

## Example

See `references/examples.md` for worked before/after rewrites.

## Files

- `SKILL.md` - this file (rewrite scrubber + audit-mode entry) - `references/scrub-rules.md` - vocabulary swaps and regex by tier - `references/examples.md` - worked before/after rewrites for captions and slides - `references/audit-checklist.md` - the pre-publish checklist with thresholds - `sub-skills/post-audit.md` - pre-publish audit workflow (detection-only, no rewrite)

## Voice profile mode (`--mode profile`)

`ig-humanizer --mode profile` builds or updates the user's Voice & Brand Profile at `../../references/voice-profile.md` from 3-6 of their real Instagram posts pasted in (portable, no token) or, if a read token is set, from pulled activity. Once filled, every writing skill in this bundle drafts in the user's voice automatically. See `sub-skills/voice-profile.md`. Triggers: "build my voice profile", "learn my voice".

## Related skills

- `ig-caption-writer` - generates captions that already pass the humanizer - `ig-carousel-planner` - generates carousels that already pass the humanizer