How to write GenAI friendly content

As AI-powered tools become further integrated into our documentation workflows, the way we write also needs to evolve to adapt to these workflows. Generative AI doesn’t just read your documentation. It summarizes it, extracts answers from it, and uses it to assist users in real time.

This article provides a practical guide to writing GenAI-friendly content. It provides best practices for drafting content that’s structured and written in a way that improves how AI understands, retrieves, and repurposes it. By following these best practices, you can:

• Improve the discoverability and search relevance of your content.

• Reduce the risk of AI hallucinations or misinterpretations.

• Ensure Eddy AI accurately answers user queries based on your articles.

• Whether you’re writing how-to guides, feature explanations, or FAQs in Document360, the tips in this guide will help you create content that’s equally effective for both humans and AI.

Use clear headings

• Use headings (H1, H2, H3) hierarchically to define the structure of your content clearly. This helps Eddy AI and other tools interpret the hierarchy and context of each section.

• Write descriptive headings that reflect the actual topic. For example, use “Managing projects in Document360” instead of a generic “Overview.”

• Avoid repeating the same heading across different sections within an article.

• Include relevant keywords naturally in your headings to support both AI indexing and search optimization.

PRO TIP

Well-structured headings help Eddy AI chunk your content more accurately, making retrieval and summarization more reliable.

Write short and focused paragraphs

• Keep sentences short and direct, ideally under 20 words. Avoid complex sentence structures, as they can reduce clarity and lead to misinterpretation by AI.

• Limit each paragraph to a single idea or task. This helps AI tools like Eddy AI extract and summarize key information more accurately.

• Avoid unnecessary filler or background explanations within instructional content. Instead, link to supporting content where needed.

• If you're writing long-form articles, break them into smaller, modular sections. When possible, keep individual articles or sections concise (ideally under 500 tokens (~375 words)) to improve performance in AI summarization and retrieval.

PRO TIP

AI systems segment content based on paragraph and sentence breaks. Keeping ideas atomic and well-defined improves both chunking and comprehension.

Include tables for structured data

• Use tables to organize structured information, such as parameters, settings, or field descriptions. AI tools process structured data more accurately when it's presented in a grid format.

• Label all columns and rows clearly. Use descriptive headers that explain the purpose of each column (e.g., “Field name,” “Data type,” “Description”).

• Ensure consistent formatting: avoid merged cells, inconsistent alignment, or unusual table styling.

• Fill in all cells. Avoid using placeholders like “Y,” “N,” dashes, or icons. These reduce clarity and may be misinterpreted by AI systems like Eddy.

• Don’t include images, emojis, or symbols within cells. If they are unavoidable, add a description wherever possible.

Incorporate code snippets carefully

• Use clean, properly formatted code with consistent indentation and spacing. Avoid unnecessary inline explanations. Instead, place them in comments or separate text blocks.

• Add meaningful comments within your code snippets. Comments help GenAI tools understand logic, intent, and variable behavior, especially in usage examples or walkthroughs.

• Use syntax highlighting or apply language tags (e.g., ```javascript, ```json) when your platform supports it. This helps AI tools recognize that the content is code and parse it accordingly.

• Keep code blocks copyable. Avoid inserting extra formatting (like line numbers or UI styling) that might interfere with reuse.

• If you’re referencing code from a product or API, include relevant context regarding the code (e.g., “This code authenticates a user before making a request”).

Use bullet points and numbered lists

• Use bullet points to present grouped information like features, steps, or options. This format is easier for both readers and AI systems to scan and extract.

• For procedural instructions, use numbered lists to show the sequence clearly.

• Keep lists concise and purposeful, ideally between 3 and 7 items. Long lists can dilute focus and make AI-generated answers less precise.

• Make sure each list item is parallel in structure and written as a standalone statement when possible.

PRO TIP

Lists help Eddy AI isolate individual points more effectively, especially in FAQs, troubleshooting steps, or feature comparisons.

Include descriptive alt text for images

• Always provide meaningful alt text that describes what the image is showing and why it's relevant.

• Alt text should be descriptive and functional, especially if the image contains data, a UI screenshot, or step-by-step instructions.

• When possible, add captions or surrounding context to support interpretation by both users and AI tools.

• Avoid using vague labels like “screenshot” or “image of graph.”

Provide clear, contextual links

• Use descriptive anchor text that clearly tells the reader and the AI what the linked article is about. For example, write “Learn how to manage private workspaces” instead of “Click here.”

• Focus on internal links between related articles. This helps AI understand topic relationships and improve the relevance of AI-suggested articles.

• Avoid using vague references like “this article” or “here,” especially when the link spans multiple possible topics.

Ensure SEO best practices

• Use keywords naturally throughout your content, especially in headings, subheadings, and the opening sentence of each section. Avoid keyword stuffing or repetitive phrasing.

• Write a clear, concise meta description for each article that includes your main keywords. This helps AI tools understand the topic and improves indexing accuracy.

• If supported, add structured metadata (such as title tags, descriptions, and custom fields) to strengthen both search engine and AI recognition.

• Be consistent with terminology. Use glossary-approved terms wherever applicable to avoid dilution of search relevance.

PRO TIP

Good SEO practices not only help users find your content but also improve how AI tools like Eddy extract and summarize key topics from your articles.

Use business glossary terms consistently

• Use approved glossary terms precisely as defined in your organization’s business glossary. Avoid using synonyms or variations unless explicitly noted.

• If a glossary term might be unfamiliar to some readers, include a brief definition or a link to the glossary entry when first mentioned.

• Apply standard abbreviations and acronyms consistently. Do not switch between expanded and abbreviated forms arbitrarily.

• Ensure glossary usage remains consistent across articles, especially in product documentation where AI tools rely on repetition and exact phrasing to extract and relate concepts accurately.

PRO TIP

Glossary consistency helps AI recognize concepts more reliably, reduces confusion during search, and supports better cross-linking between articles.

Write for humans first

• Use a clear, conversational tone that feels natural and easy to read. This improves both reader engagement and AI comprehension.

• Write in plain, everyday language where possible. Reserve jargon or technical terms for situations where they are necessary, and define them clearly on first use.

• Avoid robotic or overly formal phrasing. Content that reads naturally is easier for AI tools to interpret and summarize accurately.

• Focus on guiding the user. Use second-person language ("you") when appropriate, especially in how-to or troubleshooting content.

PRO TIP

When content sounds human and approachable, AI tools are better able to infer meaning and provide helpful responses to end users.

Monitor AI-generated content

• If you're using tools like the AI writing agent or other AI-powered content generators, always review and refine the output before publishing.

• Check for incomplete thoughts, hallucinated facts, or unnatural phrasing that may affect the credibility or usability of your content.

• Ensure the content aligns with your documentation standards, style guide, and glossary terms.

• If AI assistance was used to draft a portion of your article, consider adding a short note or disclosure when appropriate.

PRO TIP

AI can speed up writing, but human review ensures accuracy, tone, and usefulness, especially for users who rely on clear, actionable guidance.

Create and use FAQs

• Add a dedicated FAQ section to each article with at least 5 to 10 relevant questions and answers.

• Source common questions from the support team, customer success team, product managers, or previous user feedback.

• Phrase each FAQ clearly and answer it in a straightforward, concise way. Avoid vague or overly technical responses.

• Keep each FAQ self-contained, so it can be understood on its own without needing to reference the rest of the article.

PRO TIP

Eddy AI and other GenAI tools are especially effective at retrieving content structured in a Q&A format. Well-crafted FAQs increase the chances of accurate answers being delivered to users.

Recommendations for optimizing your experience as a contributor with Eddy AI

Writing GenAI-friendly content isn't just about structure. It’s about helping Eddy AI understand, retrieve, and respond with accuracy and confidence. The tips below will help you get the most out of your documentation when used alongside Eddy AI.

PRO TIP

Think of Eddy AI as another user of your content. The clearer and more structured your writing is, the better the AI will perform.

Resources

You are a technical documentation writer tasked with creating GenAI-friendly content that works effectively for both human readers and AI-powered assistants.
Follow these rules when drafting the article:

Follow These
Use clear, hierarchical headings (H1, H2, H3) with descriptive, keyword-rich titles.
Write short, focused sentences (<20 words) and one idea per paragraph.
Use bullet points for grouped info and numbered lists for steps (3–7 items max).
Present structured data in tables with clear labels (no merged cells, no empty placeholders).
Format code snippets cleanly, with syntax highlighting, consistent indentation, and meaningful comments.
Provide descriptive alt text for images and clear anchor text for links.
Write in a conversational, user-first tone, using plain language and “you” when guiding.
Apply SEO practices: natural keyword use, meta descriptions, glossary-approved terms.
Include a FAQ section (5–10 self-contained Q&A).
Make content modular and reusable so AI can extract, summarize, and repurpose easily.

Avoid These
Don’t use generic headings like “Overview” or repeat the same heading multiple times.
Don’t write long, complex sentences or dense paragraphs.
Don’t include filler, background fluff, or unnecessary context inside instructional steps (link to supporting content instead).
Don’t use vague anchor text like “here” or “this article.”
Don’t add placeholders in tables (like “Y/N,” “—”, emojis, or icons).
Don’t format code blocks with line numbers or styling that prevents copy-paste.
Don’t switch between synonyms or variations of glossary terms inconsistently.
Don’t overuse jargon, acronyms, or unexplained abbreviations.
Don’t stuff keywords unnaturally or repeat them excessively.

Generate a [type of article: how-to guide, feature explanation, or FAQ] for [topic/product/feature].
Ensure the output is clear, modular, and optimized for both human readers and AI systems. Include:

Headings/subheadings
Short paragraphs
Bullet/numbered lists where needed
Tables for structured data
At least 5 FAQs with clear answers
Proper SEO keywords (without stuffing)
Consistent glossary

Creating GenAI-friendly content isn’t just about following guidelines, it’s about future-proofing your documentation. The clearer and more consistent your writing is, the more effective Eddy AI will be in helping users find the right answers.

Keep refining your content by testing with AI tools, applying feedback, and thinking modularly. As documentation continues to shift from static pages to intelligent, AI-powered experiences, your role as a writer is more important than ever.

Clear, well-structured content benefits both your readers and the AI systems that rely on it.