These 9 Annoying Words Make it Obvious That Your Text is Written By A.I
Dodging AI red flags the smart way.
Stanley Udegbunam
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Image Generated By Author Using Microsoft Copilot and Canva
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come a long way in mimicking human language, but there are still some signs that give away its non-human origins.
If you’re an avid reader or you use tools like chatGPT often, then you should be able to differentiate “human-written” articles from “A.I generated” articles.
I work as an SEO Manager as a full-time job, managing content processes for firms alongside reviewing over 40–50 articles weekly from content writers.
I’ve been in the content-related field for the past 7 years, the repetitive and systematic process has subconsciously trained me to pinpoint A.I article at a glance.
Don’t get me wrong, this post isn’t to dismiss AI.
I use chatGPT regularly, especially for brainstorming ideas and I encourage everyone to adapt and utilize A.I tools as it help you stay ahead of the game.
However, it has to be in a way that feels and sounds natural.
You just can’t be lazy and publish A.I generated stories without any form of human editing.
Here are 9 common words to be mindful of when crafting stories with AI.
We’ll also discuss their usage and provide alternative solutions for each of them.
1. “Tapestry”
Someone please tell me why chatGPT is so obsessed with this word.
Tapestry this, tapestry that, a tapestry of, rich tapestry, what the heck.
Frustrated Beyond Words: Image Provided by Author from Giphy
The chatbot uses it at any slight chance it gets to describe any form of complex situation.
Unless you’re discussing actual textiles, “tapestry” can seem out of place in regular conversation.
A.I Example:
“The city is a tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions.”
Human Solution:
You can replace the word with something more natural like “diversity”.
2. “Treasure trove”
If the chatGPT finds out that something valuable exists somewhere in large quantities, be prepared to read the phrase “A treasure trove of”.
A.I Example:
“Excitedly, they entered the cave and found a treasure trove filled with gold and jewels, but there was something else that caught Captain Saltbeard’s eye.”
Human Solution:
If you want to describe a large quantity of something valuable without resorting to the phrase “treasure trove,” consider using alternative expressions such as: “An abundance of”, “A wealth of”.
3. “Testament”
“Testament” is a word that ChatGPT seems to adore.
While this word may have religious connotations or evoke thoughts of wills and testaments, it’s not commonly used in casual discourse.
When was the last time you said “testament” when discussing with your friends?
Probably never.
A.I Example:
“His success was a testament to his hard work.”
Human Solution:
Replace with something simple and relatable like “proof” or “evidence.”
4. “Peril”
A.I chatbots often use this word to create a sense of danger or urgency.
Truthfully, “peril” sounds dramatic, but it’s perceived as overly formal or outdated in casual writing.
A.I Example:
“We faced grave peril on our journey.”
Human Solution:
Go for more straightforward terms like “danger” or “risk” to convey the same sense of urgency without the archaic flair.
5. “Landscape”
This word gets more annoying when paired with “digital” → “digital landscape”.
“Landscape” is often used by A.I chatbots to describe a broad overview of a field or situation.
Image Generated By Author Using Microsoft Copilot
A.I Example:
“As we navigate the digital landscape, we must remain vigilant.”
Human Solution:
Consider using alternative terms that convey a similar meaning without sounding overly technical or artificial. For example: “As we navigate the digital world…”
6. “Delve”
A.I chatbots often use this word in the intro section of stories to signify deeper exploration.
It’s a good phrase but can feel formal or out of place in casual writing.
A.I Example:
“Let’s delve into the details.”
Human Solution:
For a more casual tone, try phrases like: “explore”, “dig into”, “look closely at” or “investigate.”
7. “Pertinent”
“Pertinent” is a word ChatGPT uses for relevance or appropriateness.
It’s formal and precise, but can feel stiff in casual writing.
A.I Example:
“This information is pertinent to our discussion.”
Human Solution:
Consider using simpler terms like “relevant” or “applicable” to convey the same meaning without the stuffy tone.
8. “Synergy”
This word is highly abused not only by A.I chatbots but also by people working in corporate fields.
Photo by Mapbox on Unsplash
Despite the fact that it’s a buzzword in the corporate space, it can sound jargon-heavy in more general content.
A.I Example:
“The synergy between the two companies was evident.”
Human Solution:
Instead, try using terms like “collaboration” or “cooperation” to describe working together effectively.
9. “Cognizant”
A.I Chatbots uses this word to describe awareness or knowledge of something.
Impressive much but still not a word commonly used in everyday conversation.
A.I Example:
“We must remain cognizant of the risks.”
Human Solution:
Opt for simpler terms like “aware” or “conscious” to convey the same idea without sounding overly formal.
Final Thoughts
Incorporating AI into your workflow as a writer is a necessity as I firmly believe people who don’t adopt AI will be replaced by people who use AI tools to their advantage.
But as mentioned earlier, you have to use it the right way if you want to have a quality output at the end of the day.
Take out these nine A.I words opt for simpler, more straightforward alternatives to make your text sound more natural and human-like.
Photo by Anastasiia Chepinska on Unsplash
New Update 🔥
After reading awesome diverse contributions from other writers via comments, I’ve decided to share some insights that’ll benefit us all.
Firstly, I understand that some of these words may have been part of our everyday vocabulary even before the rise of AI writing tools.
However, it’s important to be mindful of their usage, particularly when writing for the web.
With the implementation of new policies regarding the use of AI, writers should exercise caution to prevent their content from being unnecessarily flagged.
For example:
The recent March 2024 Core Update by Google resulted in the de-indexing of hundreds of websites across various niches, with over a 70% traffic loss reported by affected bloggers.
Google claimed to have targeted sites target sites with unhelpful or AI-generated articles while prioritizing high-quality, human-generated content.
Not only Google, but Medium has also recently made an announcement:
“Beginning May 1, 2024, stories with AI-generated writing (disclosed as such or not) are not allowed to be paywalled as part of our Partner Program.”
This story is not against AI, see it as an eye-opener of what to expect as a writer for the web.
The reality is that many AI content detectors aren’t entirely accurate.
There are instances where you may write an article yourself, only for it to fail the AI detection test.
So, what should we do in such cases?
Should writers completely avoid these words, even if they are already familiar with some of them, just to avoid being flagged by AI?
Not necessarily.
I’d suggest feeling free to use any word that best describes your thoughts. However, it’s essential to take note of these common AI words to avoid repeating them excessively in your articles, to the point where it feels unnatural.
Here are 3 insightful comments snippets on this article from Medium writers:
Melissa Fougere
“…Write like you are writing for a fifth grader, remove the jargon, industry terminology, or trendy words and it will attract more readers. Stay away from cutesy it confuses people and if you confuse you lose.”
Melanie Wijeratna
What I love about language, any language, is that once you have the structure downpat (and any native speaker will already know the syntax phonology morphology semantics etc without having to think it through), then you can play with language.
Create symphonies. Toy with syntax. Build new alliterations. That takes skill. That is true of any activity you’re passionate about.
Libby Winkler
Yes to all of these! Plus, I would consider adding the word “amidst.”
As content creators, let’s be honest. We are all using AI to help with some research and increase our output. But AI is no replacement for our human element of creativity.
I agree with them all, I’ve previously published a story titled: Why AI will Never Replace Human Writers Even for Years to Come.
Why AI Will Never Replace Writers Even for Years to Come
Mastering the Art of Writing Beyond the Reach of AI
medium.com
Also,
I created an ebook that further extends on this topic to cover all major words commonly used by AI.
Over the past seven days, I analyzed exactly 250 AI-generated articles ranging from 800 to 1300 words in length, using AI content detection tools.
After scanning roughly 275,000 words, I identified commonly repeated words with a high susceptibility to AI detection.
All nine words mentioned in this article were also flagged as highly common words used by AI chatbots and listed among the 37 common words.
Through analysis, it was confirmed that replacing these words significantly reduces the AI score.
If interested, you can get the ebook for $7 here: Common A.I words.
Commonly Used A.I words ebook: Image By Author
As a way of showing gratitude, this ebook will be freely available to both my Buy Me a Coffee supporters and writers in my membership program.
I’d also make this ebook available to Melissa Fougere, Melanie Wijeratna and Libby Winkler, all three of whom had their comments featured above.
Do you have any experiences with AI words or a unique perspective to share? Your thoughts matter!
Drop a comment below — I’d love to hear from you.
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Stanley Udegbunam
Write A Catalyst
Written by Stanley Udegbunam
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