The AI Words List: 120+ Phrases ChatGPT Overuses, With Evidence & Human Swaps (2026)
The AI words list: 120+ words and phrases ChatGPT overuses, each with why it reads as slop and a plain human swap. Backed by the engine dictionary.
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.