How to write an article that AI can actually use

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Six habits that make an article usable by an AI agent, all of which make it better for people too.

1. One question per article

The most important. An article that answers one thing can be quoted; one that answers five is summarised into vagueness.

2. Answer in the first paragraph

Then explain. AI weights the opening heavily, and so does a reader arriving from a search result.

3. Title it as the question

"Why can I not sign in?" rather than "Authentication troubleshooting". It helps matching, and it tells the AI what the article is for.

4. Say the conditions out loud

If something applies only on a particular plan, or only to business customers, write that in the article. An AI cannot infer it, and it will happily tell a customer they can do something they cannot.

5. Use real structure

Headings, numbered steps, lists. Structure is meaning, and both a screen reader and an AI use it to work out what belongs together.

6. Remove contradictions

Two articles disagreeing is worse than one being missing. Find them by asking your AI agent the questions where it gives inconsistent answers.

What not to do

Do not write for the AI. Articles stuffed with phrasings, or written in stilted language to be machine-friendly, read badly to people and are not better for AI either.

Write clearly for a person with a problem. That is what works.

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