Cut ‘Not Just-But’ Sentences in Your AI Content

The sentence structure built around “not just – but” is one of the most commonly used in AI-generated texts.

Nowadays, any somewhat attentive reader can spot it, even while casually browsing the internet or skimming through random, unrelated articles.

Like other frequently used sentence patterns, it comes with the same issue: instead of focusing on the content, readers quickly become distracted by the repetition of words and phrases. This makes reading feel tedious and frustrating.

Writers and developers who want to improve the quality of AI outputs should take care of this problem.

“Not Just-But” as Emphatic Contrast

The “not just-but” construction is one way to emphasize contrast or inclusion. At their core, these are a type of correlative conjunction that pair two clauses. Since the first part diminishes or negates, and the second strengthens or amplifies, they could also be seen as a form of emphatic negation.

Except for “not just”, these structures combine phrases like “not only” and “not merely” with “but” on the other side. They highlight differences or connections, so the second part feels more important.

Examples include:

• The performance was not just extraordinary, but revolutionary.
• She brought not only beauty to the role, but also depth.
• His actions were not merely unwise, but downright reckless.
• This is not just science, but art in motion.

In these examples, one idea is contrasted, while the second elevates the message.

On a theoretical level, these emphatic contrast constructions help frame comparisons and contrasts. They draw attention to shifts in tone or degree and assist in structuring arguments by showing progression or escalation.

Heavy Use of ‘Not Just-But’ Form in AI Texts

AI consistently uses the “not just-but” structure because it is an efficient way to underscore contrast or add weight to certain points. This structure is easy to program, and thus a reliable choice for generating emphasis in different contexts. AI algorithms draw on patterns from training data, and this phrasing is commonly found in many texts.

Here’s an example of overuse:

The destination was not merely beautiful but breathtaking. It had landscapes that appeared to come alive before your eyes. The journey itself was not just an adventure but a deeply immersive cultural experience, filled with unique sights and sounds. Additionally, the accommodations were not only comfortable but exuded a charm that perfectly complemented the destination’s character.  

Although grammaticaly fine and intented to create contrast, heavy reliance on this phrasing reduces originality and fails to hold a reader’s interest. It can muddy the writing when applied excessively, especially if simpler, clearer alternatives are available.

Practical Tips to Reduce ‘Not Just-But’ Structures

Reducing overuse of the “not just-but” pattern in AI-generated writing requires alternative strategies. Here are some actionable suggestions to control dependency on this construction.

Change the Emphasis Style

Instead of “not just-but,” try other ways to emphasize ideas. Switching up the phrasing can underline distinctions more naturally. Rephrased comparisons or use of alternatives to negation can help.

Examples:

• Instead of: “The soprano’s delivery was not just technically excellent, it was emotionally powerful.”
  Try: “The soprano’s delivery combined technical excellence with emotional power.”
• Instead of: “Their feedback was not merely helpful, it was transformational.”
  Use: “Their feedback was both practical and transformational.”
• Instead of: “Her contribution was not only creative but influential across the team.”
  Write: “Her contribution stood out for its creativity and team-wide influence.”

Break Sentences Up

Conjunction-heavy, overly complex sentences are a common issue in writing that uses “not just-but” structures. Breaking sentences into smaller, clearer pieces makes them easier to read and avoids clutter. Shorter sentences also let important points stand out more clearly.

Examples:

• Instead of: “The analysis was not just comprehensive, but precise and deeply insightful.”
  Revise: “The analysis was comprehensive. It was also precise and deeply insightful.”
• Instead of: “Their performance was not only captivating but also emotionally resonant throughout the act.”
  Use: “Their performance was captivating. It carried emotional resonance throughout the act.”
• Instead of: “Her suggestions were not merely practical, but they drove immediate improvements in workflow.”
  Try: “Her suggestions were practical. They immediately improved the workflow.”

Use Cause-and-Effect

Recasting “not just-but” expressions into cause-and-effect statements creates a natural way to explain relationships between ideas. Instead of presenting ideas as equally weighted, this technique clarifies how one idea leads to or amplifies the other.

Examples:

• Instead of: “The conductor’s technique was not just efficient, but effortlessly elegant.”
  Write: “The conductor’s efficiency made their technique appear effortlessly elegant.”
• Instead of: “The team’s solution was not merely effective, it redefined the problem entirely.”
  Use: “The team’s effective solution completely redefined the problem.”
• Instead of: “Her research was not only impactful, but also shaped future field studies.”
  Say: “Her impactful research shaped the direction of future field studies.”

Incorporate Lists

Lists are effective for presentation of multiple features or qualities in a clear and organized manner. They simplify information, eliminate the need for conjunctions, and make ideas more accessible. By structuring content in this way, the reader can quickly grip and process related elements without confusion.

Examples:

• Instead of: “The author’s argument was not only well-reasoned but also deeply engaging and funny.”
  Use: “The author’s argument was well-reasoned, deeply engaging and funny.”
• Instead of: “The proposal was not just comprehensive, but impressively innovative and feasible.”
  Revise: “The proposal demonstrated comprehensive details, innovation and feasibility”
• Instead of: “Their system was not simply robust, it was adaptable and resource-efficient.”
  Say: “Their system offered robustness, adaptability and resource efficiency”

Summary

Above, we presented different strategies to cut down on overusing “not just-but” constructions in AI-generated text.

Swapping out emphasis styles, breaking sentences apart, using a cause-effect relationship, or adding lists are practical ways to rethink sentence structure and tone.

Here are a few more examples of how to apply it effectively: