A curated reference list of words and phrases that signal AI-generated content. Built for marketers, content teams, and writers who use AI tools but want their output to read like a human wrote it.
AI language models default to a recognizable vocabulary. The same words appear in every blog post, every email, every LinkedIn update. Readers can't always name what feels off, but they feel it. The words on this list are the tell.
This is not a list of bad words. Some of them are perfectly legitimate in the right context. The problem is frequency and context-AI reaches for these words by default, which means content that relies on AI output without editing ends up sounding like every other piece of AI content on the internet.
Use this list as an editing checklist. If you find these words in your draft, that is a signal to rewrite - not because the word is wrong, but because the AI put it there and you probably have something better to say.
These are dead giveaways. No human writer defaults to these.
- As an AI language model
- It's important to note
- It's worth noting that
- It is advisable
- I hope this email finds you well
- As previously mentioned
- To summarize / In summary
- In conclusion
- Remember that
- To put it simply
- There are a few considerations
- My friend
- Hey (as opener in professional writing)
- Certainly
- Firstly / Moreover / Furthermore / Additionally / Subsequently
- Specifically / Consequently / Importantly / Indeed / Notably
- Essentially / Ultimately / Generally
- However / Therefore / While / Unless / Even if / Even though / Although / Despite / Because / Due to / Given that / Arguably / In contrast / On the other hand
Note on connectors: Words like "however" and "therefore" are not inherently wrong. The problem is when AI uses them as sentence openers to create the appearance of logical flow without the substance. If the connector is doing real work in your sentence, keep it. If it is just transition padding, cut it.
Words that have been used so often they no longer carry meaning.
- best-in-class
- cutting-edge
- revolutionary / revolutionize / redefine
- seamlessly / seamless
- robust
- game-changer / game-changing
- next-generation / next-gen
- powerful (as a generic descriptor)
- comprehensive
- holistic
- solution (as a generic noun — name the actual thing instead)
- innovative / innovation (unless naming a specific named thing)
- leverage (when you mean "use")
- utilize (use "use")
- enhance / elevate / unleash / harness / foster
- unlock
- embark
- tailored (as a generic descriptor)
- ensure / crucial / essential / vital / it's critical to
- future-proof
- supercharge / turbocharge / energize / galvanize
- optimize / streamline
- unprecedented
- intuitive (as a generic usability claim)
- scalable / agile / dynamic (as empty descriptors)
- disruptive / disruption / democratizing
- synergy / synergize
- thrilled (in professional communication)
- augmented (in buzzword context)
- key (as a vague descriptor — e.g. "key benefits", "key takeaways")
- enable (as a vague verb)
- testament
- landscape (as a metaphor for an industry or field)
- intersection (as a buzzword)
Verbs AI reaches for when it wants to sound dynamic.
- dive / dive into / take a dive into / delve into
- navigate / navigating (metaphorical use)
- explore (as a rhetorical opener)
- unravel
- master / mastering
- imagine (as a rhetorical device)
- propel / catalyze / illuminate / cultivate / elucidate / reimagine / spearhead
- excels
- embark
- whispering / reverberate (out of context)
Adjectives and nouns that cluster in AI output, especially in storytelling or descriptive passages.
- meticulous
- complexities
- realm / in the realm of / in the world of
- ever-changing / ever-evolving / everchanging
- daunting
- tapestry
- bustling / vibrant / metropolis
- keen / fancy
- labyrinth / gossamer / enigma / indelible
- nestled / remnant
- understanding (as a vague noun — e.g. "a deeper understanding")
Phrases that pad sentences without adding meaning.
- In today's digital age
- In today's rapidly evolving landscape
- In the ever-changing world of
- In the world of / In the realm of
- When it comes to
- In order to (use "to" instead)
- As well as (use "and")
- Also (as a sentence opener)
- Designed to enhance
- As a professional
- You may want to
- The goal? / The result? / The bottom line (rhetorical question format)
- Important / distinct / aligned / proactive / explicitly / nuanced (as filler descriptors)
- Analogies to being a conductor or to music
- Em dashes used for dramatic effect (—). Rewrite the sentence instead.
As an editing pass: After any AI-assisted draft, run a find-and-replace scan for words on this list. Each hit is a prompt to rewrite that sentence in your own voice.
As a team standard: Share it with anyone producing content. Make it part of your editorial checklist before anything publishes.
As a prompt instruction: Paste the list into your AI prompt as a negative constraint. Tell the model not to use any words on the list. Output quality improves noticeably.
Found a word that should be on the list? Open a PR or raise an issue. The list grows over time.
Compiled by Yotam Gutman, VP of Marketing at Zeroport.
Built from direct experience editing AI-assisted content at scale, cross-referenced against published red-flag lists from Blake Stockton, Content Ladder, and community sources.
If this list is useful, star the repo. If you have additions, open a PR.