The AI Words List: 120+ Phrases ChatGPT Overuses, With Evidence & Human Swaps (2026)

TL;DR: No single word convicts a text — but frequency patterns do. This is the working dictionary behind our detector, condensed to the tiers that matter, with a plain-English swap for each entry. Use it to edit, not to accuse.

Why ChatGPT overuses these specific words

Language models learn from what is over-represented in polished text: marketing copy, corporate blogs, self-published ebooks. Those genres favor words that sound substantive while committing to nothing. The model optimizes for “reads as professional”, and these words are the cheapest way to fake it. The result is a dialect: low-risk, high-gloss, interchangeable.

Tier 1: Kill on sight (the heavy hitters)

These carry so much slop association that a single appearance in a short text measurably shifts the score:

Word	Why it reads as slop	Human swap
delve (into)	Nobody talks like this at work	look at, dig into
tapestry	Only ever metaphorical, always ornamental	mix, landscape, story
testament to	Inflates any noun into a monument	shows, proves
pivotal	Weight without information	key, deciding
multifaceted	Hides vagueness behind syllables	complicated
seamless(ly)	The promise of no friction, every time	smooth
realm	Grandeur rental	field, world, area
unlock	Everything is a locked chest now	reveal, get
leverage	Corporate for “use”	use
holistic	The wellness tell	whole, complete

Tier 2: Suspicious in clusters

Furthermore, moreover, additionally, consequently, nonetheless — the transition-word parade. One is normal; four in six paragraphs means the skeleton was templated. Swap rule: most transitions can simply be deleted, and the text gets better.

Also here: ever-evolving, fast-paced, game-changer, cutting-edge, paradigm, synergy, robust, foster, embark, journey (non-travel senses), navigate (metaphorical), landscape (metaphorical), elevate, empower, unleash, supercharge.

Tier 3: Light signals

Crucial, essential, vital, comprehensive, innovative, dynamic, ensure, enhance, explore, embrace, transform. Common in human writing too — count them, do not ban them. Suspicion starts around 5+ per 500 words.

The cliché phrases: where AI really gives itself away

Single words are deniable; full phrases are confessions:

• “In today’s rapidly evolving [industry]”
• “It’s important to note that…”
• “It’s not just about X — it’s about Y”
• “Whether you’re a [novice] or [expert]”
• “At the heart of… lies…”
• “Look no further than…”
• “In conclusion” (as an opener for the final paragraph)
• “Serves as a testament to…”

How to use this list without becoming paranoid

The list is a mirror for your own drafts, not a gun for other people’s. Count hits, compare against length, and look for clusters — two or more tiers firing together. Or skip the counting: paste your draft into the detector and see exactly which entries tripped, with the score breakdown to prove it to yourself.

Related reading

• Signs of AI Writing: 12 Patterns With Reproducible Thresholds — how many hits are too many, with numbers.
• How to Spot AI Writing in 60 Seconds — the fast manual method this list supports.
• What Is AI Slop? — the full definition, origin, and history of the term.