# AI vocabulary — words and phrases to avoid

Words and phrases that appear far more frequently in AI-generated text than in human writing. Organized by frequency and category.

## High-frequency AI words

These are the strongest signals. They appear in AI text at rates 5-20x higher than pre-2023 writing.

| Word | Why it's a signal | Better alternative |
|------|-------------------|-------------------|
| additionally | Overused transitional word | also, and, (just start the sentence) |
| delve | Almost never used in casual writing | explore, dig into, look at |
| tapestry (abstract) | "rich tapestry of culture" — meaningless | (describe what you actually mean) |
| testament | "a testament to X" — inflated significance | (remove, state the fact directly) |
| underscore | "underscores the importance of" | shows, makes clear, proves |
| pivotal | "pivotal moment/role" — everything is pivotal | important, key, (often removable) |
| landscape (abstract) | "the evolving landscape of" | field, area, industry, (be specific) |
| intricate/intricacies | Fake-depth modifier | complex, detailed, tricky |
| showcasing/showcase | "showcasing innovation" | showing, displaying, demonstrating |
| fostering/foster | "fostering collaboration" | encouraging, building, supporting |
| garner/garnered | "garnered attention" | got, received, attracted |
| interplay | "the interplay between X and Y" | relationship, tension, connection |
| enduring | "enduring legacy" — inflated | lasting, ongoing |
| vibrant | "vibrant community/culture" — generic | (describe what makes it vibrant) |
| crucial | "plays a crucial role" | important, key, essential |
| enhance/enhanced | "enhanced the experience" | improved, strengthened, helped |

## Medium-frequency AI words

Less individually damning, but suspicious when several appear together.

| Word | Better alternative |
|------|-------------------|
| furthermore, moreover | and, also |
| notably | (usually removable) |
| comprehensive | thorough, complete, full |
| multifaceted | complex, varied |
| nuanced | subtle, complicated |
| paradigm | model, approach, framework |
| transformative | (be specific about the change) |
| leveraging/leverage | using |
| synergy | cooperation, combined effect |
| holistic | complete, full, whole |
| robust | strong, solid, thorough |
| streamline/streamlined | simplify, speed up |
| utilize/utilizing | use |
| facilitate/facilitated | help, enable, make possible |
| elucidate/illuminate | explain, clarify |
| encompassing | including, covering |
| spearhead/spearheading | lead, drive |
| invaluable | valuable, essential |
| groundbreaking | new, novel, first |
| cutting-edge | new, latest, modern |
| bolster/bolstering | support, strengthen |
| catalyze/catalyst | trigger, cause, start |
| cornerstone | foundation, basis |
| reimagine/reimagining | rethink, redesign |
| empower/empowering | enable, help, give power to |
| harness/harnessing | use, take advantage of |
| navigate/navigating | handle, deal with, work through |
| realm | field, area, domain |
| poised | ready, set, positioned |
| myriad | many, numerous, lots of |

## Promotional phrases

These read like tourism brochures or press releases.

- "nestled in/within"
- "in the heart of"
- "breathtaking"
- "must-visit"
- "stunning"
- "renowned"
- "world-class"
- "state-of-the-art"
- "seamless"
- "game-changing"
- "unparalleled"
- "rich cultural heritage"
- "natural beauty"
- "commitment to excellence"

## Significance phrases

Claims of importance that add nothing.

- "marking a pivotal moment"
- "is a testament to"
- "serves as a reminder"
- "underscores the importance"
- "reflects broader trends"
- "setting the stage for"
- "key turning point"
- "evolving landscape"
- "indelible mark"
- "shaping the future of"
- "the evolution of"

## Filler phrases

Wordy constructions with simpler alternatives.

| Filler | Replacement |
|--------|-------------|
| in order to | to |
| due to the fact that | because |
| at this point in time | now |
| in the event that | if |
| has the ability to | can |
| it is important to note that | (remove) |
| it is worth noting that | (remove) |
| it should be noted that | (remove) |
| in today's rapidly evolving | (remove or be specific) |
| at the end of the day | (remove) |
| when it comes to | for |
| the fact of the matter is | (remove) |
| in terms of | for, about |
| for the purpose of | to, for |
| in light of the fact that | because, since |
| in the realm of | in |
| at its core | (remove or be specific) |
| first and foremost | first |
| last but not least | finally |

## Chatbot phrases

Leftover conversational filler from AI chat interactions.

- "I hope this helps!"
- "Let me know if you'd like..."
- "Would you like me to..."
- "Feel free to..."
- "Don't hesitate to..."
- "Happy to help!"
- "Here is an overview/summary/breakdown"
- "Of course!"
- "Certainly!"
- "Absolutely!"
- "I'd be happy to..."
- "Is there anything else..."
- "Great question!"
- "Excellent point!"
- "You're absolutely right!"

## Hedging stacks

Multiple qualifiers where one (or zero) would do.

- "could potentially"
- "might possibly"
- "could possibly"
- "perhaps potentially"
- "may potentially"
- "it could be argued"
- "one could argue"
- "it is possible that"

## Generic conclusion phrases

Vague upbeat endings.

- "the future looks bright"
- "exciting times lie ahead"
- "continue this journey"
- "journey toward excellence"
- "step in the right direction"
- "only time will tell"
- "the possibilities are endless"
- "poised for growth"
- "watch this space"
