AI words to avoid
By AI Humanizer Editorial TeamUpdated
The words that most often make writing sound AI-generated include delve, tapestry, testament, realm, crucial, pivotal, robust, seamless, leverage and foster, plus phrases like “in today’s fast-paced world” and “it’s important to note”. Replace each with a plain word or cut it. Below are 65 words and phrases with what to write instead.
- This list
- 65 words and phrases, each with a fix
- Most overused
- delve, tapestry, testament, crucial, pivotal, robust
- Bigger tells
- Even sentence length, lists of three, summary endings
- Research
- 15 million+ PubMed abstracts: “delves” jumped after ChatGPT
- Check your text
- Free checker above flags AI-sounding phrases
- Free
- 1,000 words per check, no sign-up
AI words to avoid: 35 words and what to write instead
| AI word | Try instead |
|---|---|
| delve (into) | look at, examine, dig into |
| tapestry | mix, range |
| testament (to) | evidence of, proof of, shows |
| realm | area, field |
| landscape (“the AI landscape”) | field, market, situation |
| navigate | handle, deal with, get through |
| crucial | important, key, or cut it |
| pivotal | key, deciding |
| paramount | essential, the top priority |
| foster | build, encourage |
| robust | strong, solid |
| seamless | smooth |
| leverage | use |
| utilize | use |
| embark (on) | start |
| underscore | show, stress |
| multifaceted | complex |
| myriad | many |
| plethora | many, plenty of |
| holistic | whole, complete |
| nuanced | subtle, detailed |
| intricate | complex, detailed |
| vibrant | lively, or describe what you saw |
| bustling | busy |
| ever-evolving | changing |
| game-changer | say what changed |
| unlock | open, make possible |
| harness | use |
| elevate | improve, raise |
| streamline | simplify, speed up |
| showcase | show |
| meticulous | careful |
| moreover | also, and |
| furthermore | also, besides |
| additionally | also |
20 phrases that sound AI-written
| AI phrase | Try instead |
|---|---|
| In today’s fast-paced world | “today”, or cut it |
| In today’s digital age | “today”, or cut it |
| It’s important to note that | cut it and make the point |
| It’s worth noting that | cut it |
| When it comes to | for, with |
| At the end of the day | in the end, or cut it |
| A wide range of | many, or name them |
| Plays a crucial role in | matters for, helps |
| In the realm of | in |
| A testament to | shows |
| A rich tapestry of | a mix of |
| Navigate the complexities of | deal with |
| Unlock the potential of | make use of |
| Stands as a / serves as a | is |
| Not only … but also | say both plainly |
| It’s not just X, it’s Y | say what it is |
| Whether you’re a … or a … | name your actual reader |
| Let’s dive in | cut it |
| Embark on a journey | start |
| In the ever-evolving world of | in |
10 openers and closers to cut
- In conclusion, … / In summary, … / To sum up, …
- Overall, … / Ultimately, … / All in all, …
- In essence, …
- Certainly! / Great question!
- I hope this helps.
A closing paragraph that repeats the three points you just made is one of the clearest signs of an unedited AI draft. End on your last real point, a recommendation or a question instead.
Patterns matter more than single words
- Even rhythm. Sentence after sentence of the same length. Mix in a short one.
- Lists of three. “Fast, reliable and affordable.” Keep the one that matters, or give a real example.
- Contrast formulas. “It’s not just a tool, it’s a partner.” Say what it is.
- Summary sentences. Every paragraph ending with a line that restates it.
- Dashes everywhere. An em dash in every paragraph. Use commas, full stops or brackets.
- Stacked hedges. “This can potentially help to improve…” Pick one: “This helps.”
- Vague praise. “A vibrant community” instead of “300 members who meet every Thursday”.
Swapping words alone rarely changes how a text reads: the rhythm and the generic structure stay the same. Fixing sentence length, paragraph shape and vague claims changes much more.
Why AI uses these words
Language models are trained to sound polished and helpful, and they repeat the words that did that well in training. The effect is measurable: a study by Kobak and colleagues analyzed more than 15 million PubMed abstracts from 2010 to 2024 and found that
“the appearance of LLMs led to an abrupt increase in the frequency of certain style words”
Words such as “delves” jumped right after ChatGPT’s release, and the authors estimate that at least 13.5% of 2024 abstracts were processed with AI.
None of these words is wrong. “Crucial” and “robust” are normal English. The problem is density and vagueness: five of them in one paragraph, each standing in for a specific fact. Keep a word when it is the exact one you mean, and replace it when a plainer word or a concrete detail says more.
Frequently asked questions
What are common AI words to avoid?+
Delve, tapestry, testament, realm, landscape, navigate, crucial, pivotal, paramount, foster, robust, seamless, leverage, utilize, embark, underscore, multifaceted, myriad and plethora, plus openers like “moreover” and “furthermore” and phrases like “it’s important to note”.
What words are flagged as AI words?+
Detectors score the whole text, not single words, so no word is flagged by itself. But a high density of words like delve, crucial and tapestry makes readers and teachers suspect AI, and usually comes with the even rhythm detectors do pick up.
Is “delve” an AI word?+
It is a normal English word that AI models overuse. A study of more than 15 million PubMed abstracts found its use jumped after ChatGPT’s release. “Look at” or “examine” usually reads more naturally.
What words are banned from ChatGPT?+
None are banned. You can ask it to avoid words in your prompt, but it tends to drift back to them in longer texts, so check the result.
Does avoiding these words stop AI detection?+
Not on its own. Detectors look at the whole text, including rhythm and structure, so swapping words leaves most of the signal in place. Vary sentence length and replace vague claims with specifics as well. No method can guarantee a result.
Can I still use these words in my own writing?+
Yes. Use them when they are the exact word you mean, and not as filler. One “crucial” backed by a reason is fine; five in a paragraph read as AI.
Is there a prompt to avoid overused AI words?+
Try: “Write in plain English. Do not use delve, tapestry, testament, realm, crucial, pivotal, robust, seamless, leverage, foster, moreover or furthermore. Vary sentence length. No summary sentence at the end of paragraphs. No em dashes.” Then read the result and fix what slips through.
How can I find these words in my text?+
Paste it into the free checker at the top of this page. It lists AI-sounding phrases along with grammar and clarity issues, each with a suggested fix, up to 1,000 words per check with no sign-up.
Keep reading
Updated