AI words to avoid, and what to say instead

None of these words is wrong. The problem is density: when a draft stacks them, readers stop trusting it. Here are the worst offenders and plain swaps.

Instead ofTry
delve intolook at, dig into, cover
in today's fast-paced worldcut it, start with your point
landscape, realmmarket, field, or name the actual thing
leverageuse
seamless, seamlesslydescribe what doesn't break: "no re-login," "one click"
robustsay what it survives: "handles 10,000 rows"
unlock, unleash, elevateget, start, improve
empowerlet, help
pivotal, crucial, paramountimportant, or show why it matters
fosterbuild, encourage
a testament toshows, proves
tapestry, rich tapestrymix, range, or cut
embark on a journeystart
navigate the complexitiesdeal with, handle
it's important to note thatcut it and state the point
moreover, furthermore, additionallyalso, and, or nothing
in conclusion, ultimatelycut the summary paragraph entirely
cutting-edge, next-level, game-changernew, faster, or a specific number
whether you're a X or a Ypick the one reader you're writing for
meticulous, intricate, nuancedcareful, detailed, or show the detail

Sentence patterns that give it away

"It's not X, it's Y"

"It's not just a tool, it's a movement." Say the Y and skip the setup.

Everything in threes

"Fast, reliable, and secure." One triplet is fine. Five in a row reads like a template. Use two items, or four, or one strong one.

The rhetorical question answered right away

"The result? Happier customers." Just say what happened.

Even rhythm

When every sentence runs 15 to 20 words, prose sounds produced. Write a short one. Then let the next one stretch out because the idea needs room.

Em dashes everywhere

Real writers use them. Generated text uses them in nearly every paragraph. Swap most for periods or commas.

Check your own draft. The free scanner highlights every one of these in seconds. Scan your text