AI words to avoid: 109 ChatGPT words and phrases, and what to write instead
If you have read much AI-generated text, you can spot it within a sentence or two. It “delves into” things. Everything “plays a crucial role”. Paragraphs open with “Furthermore” and close with “Overall”. None of these words is wrong, but chatbots reach for the same small set so often that readers, teachers, and AI detectors have learned to notice them.
This list collects the words and phrases that turn up most in ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini output, grouped by type, with a plainer option for each. After the list come the patterns that matter more than any single word. You can also paste your own text into the free AI Phrase Checker, which highlights every item on this page.
Why chatbots overuse these words
A language model writes by choosing a likely next word, over and over. Formal, positive, slightly grand words such as “crucial”, “foster”, and “landscape” fit almost any topic, so they win often. The habit is measurable. Researchers who tracked vocabulary in more than 15 million PubMed abstracts found that “delves”, “underscores”, and “showcasing” jumped in frequency after ChatGPT's release, and estimated that at least 13.5% of 2024 abstracts were processed with a language model (Kobak et al., Science Advances, 2025).
How to use this list
- Question these words; don't ban them. “Robust” is the right word for robust standard errors, and “landscape” is fine for a painting. What stands out is several of them in one paragraph.
- Fix the sentence, not just the word. Swapping “delve into” for “dig into” leaves the same empty sentence. Ask what the sentence actually says, then say that.
- Start with the strong ones. Entries marked strong rarely appear in natural writing. Those marked mild are ordinary words that only stand out in bulk.
Overused words (58)
| Word or phrase | Try instead | Flag |
|---|---|---|
| a multitude of | many | strong |
| bustling | busy, crowded | strong |
| commendable | good, impressive | strong |
| delve (into) | look at, explore, examine | strong |
| embark (on) | start, begin | strong |
| enigmatic | puzzling, mysterious | strong |
| ever-evolving / ever-changing | changing, growing | strong |
| game-changer | say what actually changed | strong |
| harness | use, put to work | strong |
| landscape (figurative) | field, market, situation | strong |
| multifaceted | complex, many-sided | strong |
| myriad | many, countless | strong |
| navigate (figurative) | handle, deal with, work through | strong |
| paramount | most important, top priority | strong |
| plethora | many, plenty of | strong |
| quintessential | typical, classic | strong |
| realm | area, field | strong |
| synergy | cooperation, combined effect | strong |
| tapestry | mix, range, or cut the metaphor | strong |
| testament (to) | shows, proves | strong |
| underscore | shows, stresses | strong |
| unlock | make the most of, open up | strong |
| bolster | strengthen, support | mild |
| captivating | gripping, interesting | mild |
| commence | start, begin | mild |
| comprehensive | full, complete, thorough | mild |
| crucial | important, key, or say what depends on it | mild |
| cutting-edge | latest, advanced | mild |
| elevate | improve, raise | mild |
| empower | let, help, enable | mild |
| endeavor | effort, attempt, project | mild |
| facilitate | help, make easier, run | mild |
| foster | encourage, build, support | mild |
| garner | get, earn, attract | mild |
| groundbreaking | new, first, or say what is new | mild |
| holistic | complete, whole, overall | mild |
| insightful | useful, sharp, or say what you learned | mild |
| intricate | complex, detailed, details | mild |
| invaluable | very useful, essential | mild |
| leverage (verb) | use, draw on | mild |
| meticulous | careful, thorough | mild |
| noteworthy | notable, worth mentioning | mild |
| nuanced | subtle, careful, or name the nuance | mild |
| paradigm (shift) | model, change in thinking | mild |
| pivotal | key, central, or say why it matters | mild |
| profound | deep, major | mild |
| resonate (with) | appeal to, connect with | mild |
| revolutionize | change, overhaul | mild |
| robust (non-technical) | strong, reliable | mild |
| seamless | smooth, easy | mild |
| showcase | shows, displays | mild |
| spearhead | lead | mild |
| streamline | simplify, speed up | mild |
| transformative | major, far-reaching | mild |
| unparalleled | unmatched, or give the comparison | mild |
| utilize | use | mild |
| vibrant | lively, busy, colorful | mild |
| vital | important, needed | mild |
Stock phrases (28)
| Word or phrase | Try instead | Flag |
|---|---|---|
| a stark reminder | a reminder, or cut it | strong |
| in the realm of | in | strong |
| in today's digital age / fast-paced world | today, now, or cut it | strong |
| in today's world | today, or cut it | strong |
| it goes without saying | cut it | strong |
| it is important to note (that) | cut it and state the point | strong |
| it is worth noting (that) | cut it, or "Note that" | strong |
| it should be noted (that) | cut it | strong |
| it's not just … it's … | state the real point directly | strong |
| plays a crucial / vital / key role | matters for, drives, shapes | strong |
| serves as a | is, shows, reminds us | strong |
| stands as | is | strong |
| valuable insights | say what was learned | strong |
| whether you are a … or a … | speak to one reader | strong |
| a journey of / to | process, path, or cut it | mild |
| a key component / factor | name the thing directly | mild |
| a wide range of | many, various, or list them | mild |
| at the forefront of | leading | mild |
| dive into / deep dive | look at | mild |
| due to the fact that | because | mild |
| in order to | to | mild |
| not only … but also | and, or split into two sentences | mild |
| pave the way (for) | lead to, make possible | mild |
| shed light on | explain, clarify | mild |
| the complexities of | the details of, the problems of | mild |
| the power of | say what it does | mild |
| unlock the full potential | make the most of it | mild |
| when it comes to | for, with, in | mild |
Signposts and transitions (14)
| Word or phrase | Try instead | Flag |
|---|---|---|
| As we move forward | cut it | strong |
| In essence, | cut it | strong |
| Additionally, | Also, or cut it | mild |
| At the end of the day, | cut it | mild |
| Consequently, | So, As a result, | mild |
| Furthermore, | Also, or cut it | mild |
| Importantly, | cut it | mild |
| In conclusion, | cut it; your last paragraph already concludes | mild |
| In summary, / To summarize, | cut it | mild |
| Moreover, | Also, Besides, or cut it | mild |
| Notably, | cut it, or "In particular," | mild |
| Overall, | cut it | mild |
| That being said, | Still, But | mild |
| Ultimately, | In the end, or cut it | mild |
Chatbot leftovers (9)
| Word or phrase | Try instead | Flag |
|---|---|---|
| As an AI language model | delete it | strong |
| Certainly! / Absolutely! | delete it | strong |
| Great question | delete it | strong |
| Here's a / Here is a … : | delete the preamble | strong |
| I hope this email finds you well | open with your point | strong |
| I hope this helps | delete it | strong |
| Let me know if you'd like | delete it | strong |
| Feel free to | cut it, or just ask | mild |
| In this article, we will | start with the content | mild |
Patterns that matter more than single words
You can remove every word above and still sound like a chatbot. These habits are what readers and detectors pick up on most, and most of them are about structure rather than vocabulary.
- Every sentence is about the same length. Chatbot sentences tend to cluster around one medium length, one after another. People write a short sentence, then a long one, then a fragment. Split one long sentence or merge two short ones in each paragraph.
- A signpost at the start of each sentence. Furthermore, Moreover, Additionally, Notably. If the ideas follow from each other, the reader does not need a sign saying so. Cut most of them; use but, so, or also when a link really helps.
- Everything comes in threes. "Clear, concise, and compelling." "Students, teachers, and parents." A list of three sounds complete, so models use it constantly. Keep the items that carry information and drop the filler.
- Trailing "-ing" clauses. Sentences that end with ", highlighting the importance of…", ", ensuring that…", or ", underscoring the need for…" tack on a vague comment. Make it its own sentence with a real subject, or delete it.
- Paragraphs that sum themselves up. A last sentence that starts with "Overall" or "Ultimately" and repeats the paragraph adds length, not meaning. End on the most specific point instead.
- Em dashes everywhere. One dash in a page is fine. Three in a paragraph reads as machine output. Use commas, parentheses, a colon, or a new sentence.
- "Not only… but also" and "It's not just X, it's Y". Both build fake contrast. Say the stronger point directly.
- Stacked hedges. "May potentially help to improve" says "may" three times. Pick one hedge that matches the evidence: "may improve".
Before and after
Here is a typical ChatGPT paragraph and an edited version that keeps every point:
In today's fast-paced world, effective time management plays a crucial role in academic success. It is important to note that students face a wide range of competing demands. Furthermore, poor planning can lead to stress and burnout. By leveraging simple tools such as planners and calendars, students can unlock their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
Good time management helps students succeed. They juggle a lot of demands at once, and poor planning leads to stress and burnout. Simple tools help: a planner or a calendar can make a heavy schedule manageable and still leave room for life outside school.
The edit drops the opener, the stock phrases, the signpost, and the promise to “unlock” anything. It also breaks the even rhythm: the first sentence is six words, the last is twenty-two.
A prompt that keeps ChatGPT away from these words
If you draft with a chatbot, add this to your prompt. It will not catch everything, especially in long answers, so check the result.
Write in plain, specific language. Do not use these words or phrases: delve, tapestry, testament, realm, landscape (as a metaphor), pivotal, crucial, multifaceted, foster, leverage, harness, navigate (as a metaphor), embark, unlock, seamless, holistic, vibrant, "plays a crucial role", "it is important to note", "in today's digital age", "a wide range of". Do not start sentences with Furthermore, Moreover, Additionally, or In conclusion. Vary sentence length. Do not use em dashes.
Check your own writing
Paste a draft into the free AI Phrase Checker to see which of these words and patterns it contains. To revise a whole essay or paper in one pass, the Natural Quill humanizer rewrites each paragraph and keeps your citations and numbers exactly as written. Writing for a journal or a class? See the research paper humanizer.