Why Does AI-Generated Text Always Have S

Why Does AI-Generated Text Always Have Strange Symbols? Here's How to Fix It

Have you ever copied text from an AI assistant only to find it full of strange symbols like #, *, or -? What should be a clean and clear response ends up looking messy and hard to read. The truth is, this isn't a mistake — it's because we're accidentally seeing the "formatting code meant for machines" instead of the final human-readable text.

This article explains exactly why this happens and offers three simple, effective solutions to help you get clean, well-formatted plain text every time.

1. Where Do These Symbols Come From?

When generating content, AI typically uses a lightweight markup language called Markdown to maintain structure and readability. It uses simple symbols to represent formatting:

- # Title means a level-one heading  

- - Item indicates a bullet point list  

- **Bold** marks emphasized text

In chat interfaces, these symbols are automatically rendered into clean, visually appealing layouts, so you don't see the raw code. However, when you copy the text into programs that don't support Markdown—like Word, Notepad, or WeChat—these formatting markers become visible, appearing as annoying "junk characters."

2. How to Remove These Symbols Completely?

Don't worry — the fix is simple. Depending on your needs, choose one of the following methods:

Method 1: Let the AI Clean It for You (Fastest)

If you just need a quick, clean version of the text, the easiest way is to ask the AI itself.

Steps:

1. Paste the formatted text back into the chat;

2. Type: "Please remove all Markdown formatting and return only plain text";

3. The AI will instantly return a clean, symbol-free version.

Pros: No extra tools needed; takes less than 30 seconds  

Best for: Quick fixes and small amounts of text

Method 2: Use an Online Editor to Convert Visually (Ideal for Preserving Layout)

If you want to keep headings, lists, and structure without seeing the symbols, use an online Markdown editor.

Recommended tool: 67tool Markdown Editor

Steps:

1. Open the editor and paste your Markdown text on the left;

2. The right side will render it into a clean, formatted layout;

3. Select and copy the rendered content from the right, then paste it into Word or messaging apps — it will look neat and won't contain any symbols.

Pros: Keeps visual structure; great for reports or social media posts  

Best for: Content that needs good formatting without manual cleanup

Method 3: Use a Desktop Tool for Batch Processing (Most Efficient)

If you frequently generate large volumes of AI content — such as articles, lecture notes, or technical documents — use a desktop application to convert multiple items at once.

Recommended tool: MTOSC (available for Windows and Mac)

Key features:

- Supports importing .md files or direct text input

- One-click export to Word, PDF, HTML, and more

- Accurately preserves equations, tables, and images — ideal for academic papers or formal documents

Pros: Handles bulk processing, maintains quality, works offline  

Best for: Writers, educators, students, developers, and researchers

3. Pro Tip: Prevent This Issue in the Future

- When prompting the AI, add: "Please output in plain text without using Markdown formatting."

- Or simply say: "Avoid using symbols like #, *, or -."

The AI will adjust its output accordingly, giving you clean text from the start.

Those strange symbols in AI-generated text aren't errors — they're just the side effect of automated formatting. Once you understand how it works, you can easily manage it. Whether you need a quick cleanup, structured layout, or bulk conversion, there's a solution that fits.

Next time you see a wall of # and * symbols, stay calm. Pick the right method above, and within 30 seconds, you'll have clean, readable text ready to use. Make AI work for you — not the other way around.