Word Choice
Overused words and phrases that signal AI authorship
"Quietly" and Other Magic Adverbs
word-choiceOveruse of "quietly" and similar adverbs to convey subtle importance or understated power. AI reaches for these adverbs to make mundane descriptions feel significant. Also includes: "deeply", "fundamentally", "remarkably", "arguably".
“quietly orchestrating workflows, decisions, and interactions”
"Delve" and Friends
word-choiceUsed to be the most infamous AI tell. "Delve" went from an uncommon English word to appearing in a staggering percentage of AI-generated text. Part of a family of overused AI vocabulary including "certainly", "utilize", "leverage" (as a verb), "robust", "streamline", and "harness".
“Let's delve into the details...”
"Tapestry" and "Landscape"
word-choiceOveruse of ornate or grandiose nouns where simpler words would do. "Tapestry" is used to describe anything interconnected. "Landscape" is used to describe any field or domain. Other offenders: "paradigm", "synergy", "ecosystem", "framework".
“The rich tapestry of human experience...”
The "Serves As" Dodge
word-choiceReplacing simple "is" or "are" with pompous alternatives like "serves as", "stands as", "marks", or "represents". AI avoids basic copulas because its repetition penalty pushes it toward fancier constructions (I've studied this!).
“The building serves as a reminder of the city's heritage.”
4 tropes in Word Choice
References
Wikipedia: Signs of AI writing