ChatGPT writes by predicting statistically safe language.
When it isn’t given strong direction, it leans on the same recycled adjectives, polite filler, brochure-style verbs, and corporate jargon — the things that show up in almost every AI-generated draft. These patterns are exactly what people refer to when they talk about the “ChatGPT overused words and phrases problem”.
Our previous guide on the telltale signs of ChatGPT writing shows how these patterns reveal themselves. This article goes deeper. It gives you the complete, categorised reference list of the words and phrases that make writing sound generic, predictable, or machine-made.
Everything here is organised in clean sections and grid tables so you can scan, save, and remove these fingerprints from your work immediately.
Intros and Lead-Ins
Formulaic openers that instantly reveal AI-generated writing.
| Time-Based Framing Intros |
| In today’s digital age… |
In the age of… |
In the realm of… |
In the world of… |
In the context of… |
In the field of… |
In the climate of… |
In the industry of… |
| In the ever-evolving landscape of… |
In the ever-changing world of… |
In the rapidly shifting landscape of… |
In the constantly evolving field of… |
In the dynamic world of… |
In the modern age… |
In the current era… |
In the not-too-distant future… |
| In the near future… |
In the final analysis… |
In the event that… |
Insofar as… |
Inasmuch as… |
With the advent of… |
In reference to… |
In the process of… |
| Importance Markers and Hedged Openings |
| It is important to note that… |
It was important to note that… |
It would be important to note that… |
It is worth noting that… |
It was worth noting that… |
It would be worth noting that… |
It should be noted that… |
It’s worth mentioning that… |
| It goes without saying that… |
It has been said that… |
It is often said that… |
It is widely believed that… |
It would appear that… |
It was found that… |
There is no doubt that… |
Without a doubt… |
| Needless to say… |
As a matter of fact… |
For all intents and purposes… |
Be that as it may… |
In light of the fact that… |
Due to the fact that… |
In spite of the fact that… |
In actual fact… |
| Topic-Staging Phrases |
| Let’s take a closer look… |
Let’s examine this further… |
Let’s dive into the topic… |
Let’s delve into this… |
Let’s look into this idea… |
Let us explore this… |
Let us consider… |
Let us break this down… |
| To begin with… |
To start with… |
To kick things off… |
To open the discussion… |
To get started… |
As we get into this… |
Before we proceed… |
At the outset… |
| When it comes to… |
When discussing… |
When looking at… |
When examining… |
When exploring… |
As we look at… |
As we explore… |
As we examine… |
| To put it another way… |
To frame it differently… |
To look at it from another angle… |
To rephrase the idea… |
Said another way… |
Put differently… |
Viewed another way… |
In simpler terms… |
| Article-Starter Clichés |
| This article explores… |
As we begin… |
With the advent of… |
Embarking on a journey… |
Delving into… |
Navigating the complexities of… |
Unlocking the secrets of… |
A testament to… |
| In conclusion… |
At the end of the day… |
First and foremost… |
In order to… |
The fact that… |
To put it simply… |
With that being said… |
To summarize… |
| This paper aims to… |
This study focuses on… |
One could argue that… |
To a certain extent… |
With regard to… |
With respect to… |
With the exception of… |
The purpose of this… |
Quickly flag the opening lines that make writing feel generic so you can replace them with sharper, more grounded starts.
Transitions and Connectors
Robotic connectors and filler transitions that instantly signal LLM-generated writing.
| Academic and Corporate Connectors |
| Accordingly |
Additionally |
Moreover |
Consequently |
Hence |
Indeed |
Thus |
Ultimately |
| Undoubtedly |
Certainly |
Arguably |
Nevertheless |
Nonetheless |
Notwithstanding |
Specifically |
Generally |
| Alternatively |
Notably |
Essentially |
Also |
While |
Unless |
|
|
| Cause and Effect Indicators |
| As a result… |
Because |
Due to |
Given that |
Even if |
Even though |
Although |
Despite |
| Contrast and Comparison Transitions |
| However |
On the other hand… |
On the contrary… |
In contrast… |
With that said… |
That said… |
In light of the above… |
As previously mentioned… |
| Summary and Conclusion Markers |
| In conclusion… |
In summary… |
To summarize… |
To put it simply… |
To wrap things up… |
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| Examples and Illustration Starters |
| For instance… |
For example… |
To illustrate… |
One way to… |
You may want to… |
Another option is… |
This is not an exhaustive list… |
You could consider… |
| One approach is… |
Based on what you’ve said… |
|
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|
|
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| Clarifying and Framing Phrases |
| In terms of… |
In general… |
It’s important to note that… |
It’s worth noting that… |
To elaborate… |
In light of… |
|
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Cutting these mechanical transitions sharpens flow and makes the writing feel naturally human.
Stock Templates and LLM Shells
Structural templates that instantly reveal AI writing and make content feel formulaic or auto-generated.
| Sentence Shells |
| Not only X, but also Y |
It is not just about X, it is also about Y |
To put it simply… |
In order to… |
By doing X, you can achieve Y |
The [noun] has revolutionized the way we [verb] |
A key aspect of… |
Understanding [topic] is essential for… |
| The purpose of this [article/study/guide] is to… |
This [tool/approach] is a game changer for… |
| Framing Cliches |
| This article explores… |
Let us delve into the world of… |
With the advent of… |
To unlock the power of… |
As we navigate the complexities of… |
To illustrate this point… |
To further explore… |
To shed light on… |
| To embark on a journey… |
To pave the way for… |
To unlock the secrets of… |
| Templated Constructions |
| To explore… |
To unlock… |
To navigate… |
To delve… |
To understand… |
To illustrate… |
To highlight… |
The power of… |
| The complexities of… |
The importance of… |
The potential of… |
The secrets of… |
The benefits of… |
|
Eliminating these stock templates removes the generative scaffolding that gives writing a generic, AI shaped feel.
Buzzwords and Empty Action Verbs
Inflated corporate-speak and hollow action verbs that add noise instead of clarity.
| Empty Action Verbs |
| Empower |
Leverage |
Enable |
Enhance |
Drive |
Deliver |
Transform |
Optimize |
| Facilitate |
Implement |
Engage |
Streamline |
Execute |
Unlock |
Foster |
Champion |
| Revolutionize |
Support |
Catalyze |
Amplify |
Harness |
Elevate |
Achieve |
Spearhead |
| Pioneer |
Orchestrate |
Maximize |
Undertake |
Utilize |
|
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| Buzzword Descriptors |
| Robust |
Scalable |
Innovative |
Cutting-edge |
Next-generation |
Mission-critical |
Holistic |
Seamless |
| Comprehensive |
Impactful |
Strategic |
World-class |
Best-in-class |
Dynamic |
Turnkey |
Revolutionary |
| Action Constructions |
| To empower… |
To leverage… |
To enable… |
To unlock… |
To drive… |
To deliver… |
To streamline… |
To transform… |
| Aims to enhance… |
Aims to foster… |
Aims to champion… |
Aims to elevate… |
Aims to maximize… |
Aims to achieve… |
Aims to implement… |
Aims to pioneer… |
Stripping out these vague buzzwords forces writing to rely on real meaning, not inflated corporate padding.
Adjectives and Adverbs
Modifiers that inflate sentences without adding real meaning.
| Adjectives and Adverbs |
| Crucial |
Seamless |
Robust |
Dynamic |
Pivotal |
Vital |
Essential |
Unparalleled |
| Innovative |
Transformative |
Strategic |
Compelling |
Groundbreaking |
Holistic |
Agile |
Efficient |
| Empowering |
Insightful |
Comprehensive |
Revolutionary |
Exemplary |
Impactful |
Versatile |
|
| Wildcard Modifier Constructions |
| A crucial… |
A seamless… |
A robust… |
A vital… |
A strategic… |
A pivotal… |
A transformative… |
A revolutionary… |
| Highly innovative… |
Truly transformative… |
Deeply efficient… |
Highly empowering… |
Highly versatile… |
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Removing vague modifiers keeps prose crisp and forces meaning to come from specifics, not inflated descriptors.
Nouns
Abstract nouns that sound polished but say nothing.
| Abstract Nouns and Corporate Jargon |
| Synergy |
Solution |
Framework |
Paradigm |
Initiative |
Offering |
Opportunity |
Platform |
| Capability |
Deliverable |
Architecture |
Ecosystem |
Methodology |
Strategy |
Process |
Alignment |
| Roadmap |
Blueprint |
Model |
Engagement |
Experience |
Synergy of… |
Framework for… |
Roadmap towards… |
| Blueprint for… |
Ecosystem of… |
Solution designed to… |
Initiative created to… |
Platform built to… |
Offering meant to… |
|
|
Clear the vague nouns that weaken meaning and replace them with concrete, specific language.
Filler and Padding Language
Language that inflates sentences without adding value.
| Intensifiers and Inflated Emphasis |
| Very important |
Truly unique |
Really valuable insight |
Absolutely essential |
Extremely helpful |
Especially critical |
Deeply insightful |
Remarkably important |
| Really quite impressive |
Incredibly significant |
Undoubtedly important |
Definitely notable |
Truly compelling |
Highly significant |
Quite important |
Extremely important point |
| Hedging and Softening Constructions |
| It seems that… |
It appears that… |
It feels like… |
It would seem that… |
It might be worth noting… |
It goes without saying that… |
It is worth noting that… |
It cannot be overstated that… |
| Needless to say… |
Needlessly enough… |
Unsurprisingly… |
That said… |
With that said… |
May potentially help |
Can often be beneficial |
Indeed… |
| Pseudo-Significance and Empty Framing |
| In other words… |
To put it another way… |
Truly unique insight |
Crucial insight |
Significant point |
Notable idea |
Compelling point |
Especially noteworthy |
Strip away the filler so the core meaning stands on its own without padding or inflated emphasis.
Metaphors and Analogy Tropes
Metaphors that add drama instead of clarity.
| Abstract Visual Metaphors |
| A tapestry of insights |
An iceberg of complexity |
A black box of information |
A mirror of behaviour |
A magnifying glass on trends |
A symphony of strategy |
A tsunami of slop |
A web of insights |
| A mosaic of ideas |
A constellation of data |
A prism of perspectives |
A fog of uncertainty |
A labyrinth of decisions |
A canvas of possibilities |
A tapestry of complexity |
A spectrum of solutions |
| Action and Adventure Tropes |
| Embark on a journey… |
Venture into the unknown… |
Decode the secrets… |
Unlock the potential… |
Navigate the frontier… |
Explore the depths… |
Unleash the power… |
Pushing the boundaries… |
| Blazing a trail… |
Forging a new path… |
Scaling the summit of innovation |
Taming the wild west of the internet |
Paving the way for a brighter tomorrow |
Conquering new frontiers… |
Delving into the unknown… |
Journey through the data jungle |
| Sci-Fi and Fantasy Analogies |
| AI wizardry at its finest |
AI wizard |
Digital knight |
Data dragon |
Magic wand solution |
Rocketship to innovation |
Tech cosmos |
Strategy sorcery |
| Insight guru |
Data wizard |
Tech dragon |
Innovation knight |
Blasting off into the tech stratosphere |
Harnessing the stratosphere of innovation |
Conquering the cosmos of strategy |
Unleashing the digital dragon |
Avoid metaphor-based framing unless the prompt explicitly asks for figurative language — clarity beats decoration every time.
Outros and Conclusion Patterns
Closing lines that rely on generic wrap-ups or summary scaffolding instead of actual final insight.
| Clichéd Conclusion Openers |
| In conclusion… |
To summarize… |
To sum up… |
In closing… |
Ultimately… |
At the end of the day… |
In the final analysis… |
In brief… |
| Reflective and Summative Fillers |
| With that said… |
With all of this in mind… |
As we’ve seen… |
It’s clear that… |
All things considered… |
To wrap things up… |
All in all… |
In light of the above… |
| Inference and Takeaway Templates |
| Therefore, it is clear that… |
Thus, we can conclude that… |
As a result, the takeaway is… |
This highlights that… |
This underscores the idea that… |
We can infer that… |
This demonstrates that… |
This reinforces the point that… |
Strip out automated-sounding wrap-ups and end with something specific, grounded, and tied to the actual content — not a template.
Wildcard Phrase Templates and Syntax Patterns
Structural shells and phrasing templates that signal AI-generated rhythm rather than natural human sentence flow.
| Intro Shells |
| In the context of… |
In the realm of… |
In the field of… |
In today’s world… |
When it comes to… |
In the landscape of… |
In the age of… |
In the discipline of… |
| In the world of… |
In the area of… |
In the domain of… |
In the context of… |
As we look at… |
As we explore… |
As we examine… |
In today’s evolving landscape… |
| Framing Structures |
| To understand the… |
To explore the… |
To investigate the… |
To navigate the… |
To shed light on the… |
To unlock the… |
To illustrate the… |
To delve into the… |
| To harness the… |
To evaluate the… |
To examine the… |
To better understand the… |
To uncover the… |
To grasp the… |
To highlight the… |
To approach the… |
| Paired Constructions |
| Not only X, but also Y |
Not only does it…, but it also… |
It’s not just about X, it’s about Y |
It’s not only X, it’s also Y |
Not only is it X, but it’s Y |
Not only does this X, it also Y |
It’s not just X, Y also matters |
Not only that, but it also… |
| Conclusion Frames |
| It is clear that… |
It’s evident that… |
It’s worth noting that… |
It’s important to note that… |
Thus, we can conclude that… |
Therefore, we can infer that… |
Ultimately, we can see that… |
In summary, we may conclude that… |
| This underscores that… |
This highlights that… |
This reinforces the idea that… |
This demonstrates that… |
As a result, we can see that… |
Therefore, it’s clear that… |
Thus, the takeaway is… |
Therefore, it becomes evident that… |
Strip out these shells wherever they appear so your writing stays grounded, varied, and unmistakably human.
Stop Writing Like Default ChatGPT
Most of the issues in this guide come down to one thing: models fall back on whatever feels linguistically “safe”. That’s why the same meaningless buzzwords, transitions, templates, metaphors, and sentence shells show up again and again — because they’re statistically convenient.
Once you strip out those defaults, your writing changes.
It stops sounding generic.
It stops drifting into filler.
It stops revealing how it was made.
What’s left is the part that actually matters: your voice, your intent, and the choices that make your writing feel authored instead of auto-assembled.
We built the Content Writing Assistant
— a fully-trained, guardrailed, voice-aware writing system designed to remove the overused phrasing, structural habits, rhythm patterns, and “ChatGPTisms” mapped throughout this guide.
GET YOUR FREE TRIAL HERE
