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A1 Handmade
No generative AI. Human wrote it.
The purest form of human expression in the age of AI. Every word, every thought, every turn of phrase originated entirely from a human mind.
What A1 Handmade Means
A1 Handmade represents content where every word originated from a human mind. This is the traditional mode of writing that has existed for millennia, from handwritten letters to typed manuscripts. In an era of AI-generated content, A1 serves as a clear signal that a human being sat down and crafted each sentence themselves.
What A1 Includes
- Using spell-check and basic grammar tools (not AI-powered rewriters)
- Research via search engines, databases, and libraries
- Word processing features like thesaurus lookups
- Human editors, proofreaders, and collaborators
What Disqualifies A1
- x ChatGPT, Claude, or any AI chatbot for drafting
- x AI writing assistants that suggest or complete sentences
- x AI-powered paraphrasing or rewriting tools
- x AI translation (use A3 instead)
The Key Distinction
A1 is about authorship, not research. You can absolutely use search engines to find information, read AI-generated content as reference material, or use calculators and databases. The line is drawn at the moment of writing. If a generative AI model produced any of the sentences in your final output, even if you edited them heavily, the work is no longer A1.
Examples That Qualify for A1
Handwritten Letters & Notes
Personal correspondence, thank-you notes, and letters composed entirely by hand or keyboard.
Original Essays & Articles
Essays, blog posts, and articles written entirely by the author from first draft to final edit.
Creative Writing
Poetry, fiction, short stories, screenplays, and other creative works born entirely from human imagination.
Journalism & Reporting
News articles, investigative pieces, and editorial content written by human journalists.
Personal Reflections & Op-Eds
Opinion pieces, personal essays, memoirs, and reflective writing expressing authentic human perspective.
Academic Work
Research papers, dissertations, and coursework where AI assistance is prohibited by institutional policy.
Who's Accountable
When you claim A1 Handmade, you stake your reputation on the work being entirely your own. The author claims full ownership of every word, sentence, and idea in the final output.
This is the strongest claim of human authorship in the AI Honesty Label system. If questions arise about the authenticity of the work, the author is personally accountable for defending their claim.
"I wrote this. Every word. If you find AI fingerprints, it's on me."
Why Disclose A1 Status
Differentiate From AI Content
As AI-generated content floods the internet, A1 signals authenticity. Readers increasingly value knowing a human actually sat down and wrote something.
Command Premium Value
Human-crafted content carries intrinsic value. Whether for clients, publishers, or audiences, A1 certification supports premium positioning for your work.
Meet Institutional Requirements
Many academic institutions, legal contexts, and publishing outlets require human-only authorship. A1 provides clear documentation of compliance.
Establish Clear Accountability
A1 removes ambiguity. There's no question about who wrote what. The author takes full responsibility for every claim and assertion.
Note: A1 isn't "better" than other levels. It's simply the most appropriate label when no generative AI was involved. Using A2 or A3 when you've had AI assistance is the honest choice, and honesty is the entire point of this system.