“AI-generated content is becoming ubiquitous, raising questions about its unique linguistic footprint. This analysis delves into the recurring words and phrases that characterize machine-produced text. By identifying these patterns, we can better understand the stylistic nuances and potential tells of artificial intelligence in communication.”
Does this introduction seem familiar to you, as if you have read this somewhere, and you already know what this article is going to be about? No, you aren’t having a déjà vu, but it’s just artificial intelligence doing its job. This is the major issue with AI-generated content: it uses the same phrases and words to form a narrative.
The most common words and phrases in AI-generated content are also the major reason why AI-generated content doesn’t seem to connect with its readers. It appears to be robotic and dull, which takes away all the credit from its efficiency and swiftness.
Hence, the more you can identify the misses of robotic content, the better you will be able to refine and elevate authenticity, SEO rankings, and reader engagement. But before we begin, let us quickly understand AI-generated content in a bit of detail.
What Makes AI Writing Sound Robotic?
The fundamental difference between us and AI is how we express ourselves. As we are constantly learning and thinking in new ways, our writing also keeps on evolving and refining.
But things are a bit different with AI. A large language model, or an LLM, operates on the datasets it was trained on and has no capability to have an independent, creative viewpoint. All it knows is to identify patterns in human writing and generate a piece of work accordingly.
💡Quick Fact: So, when you ask AI to write something, it is not having a creative brainstorming session. Instead, it goes back into its datasets and starts pulling out a suitable response from the average of a million responses.
This is the reason why, in most cases, you see a similar pattern with every robotic content that you read. They largely rely on a set template, phrases, or a set outline to formulate a response for you.
▶️ Models like GPT-4 are built with an intricate learning pattern where they are trained on massive datasets containing text from books, articles, websites, and more. It mostly follows a process of predicting the next word in a sentence.
So, when you say “I like reading…”, the tool will automatically place “books” immediately at the end of it as per its dataset training. But for humans, it can mean letters, journals, texts, and so many more things in the first place. This is why most of the AI-generated answers sound rigid and painfully predictable.
Why Certain Words and Phrases Dominate AI Output
The reason why AI models tend to generate the same set of words is simple: it’s how they are built. Any popular AI writing tool like ChatGPT knows only one thing, and that is repeating linguistic patterns. Here’s a quick overview on why you see the same words and phrases dominating your writing with AI:
- Training Data Bias: AI models are trained on the available documents like texts, forums, and websites that can be accessed by the public. Many of them, being academic in nature, have many repetitive phrases like “In conclusion,” “plays a crucial role,” “a testament to,” and so on. AI tends to pick on them as its default setting.
- Predictability: An AI tool operates by predicting the next word in a sentence. This statistical nature leads to the commonly used phrases to keep popping up in any piece of work that it writes.
- Content Moderation: AI is trained to be safe, polite, and formal. So, opting for these neutral languages makes it easier for the tool to convey its point without violating the set standards.
- Lack of Intent: AI can’t think for itself, so it always plays safe when expressing an opinion. Its points of reference are only the datasets that it’s been trained on or the prompt we feed it over time.
Most Common Words and Phrases in AI-Generated Content
The reason you need to be aware of these common phrases is very simple: AI’s robotic nature shouldn’t take away the value from your writing. If you are a marketer, student, or journalist, you need to be on your toes to sound authentic and yet natural. Along with that, there’s this ever-consuming fear of SEO penalties for machine-generated content or losing out on forming a genuine connection with your readers.
AI is critical in today’s time as it gives you an upper hand with research, helps you with productivity, and saves money. So, letting go of AI is a risk, but at the same time, you need to be mindful of its robotic nature.
This is where understanding the obvious giveaways of robotic content can help you identify the sections you need to take control of the narrative. It is only then that you will be able to make the most out of popular tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, CopyAI, and so on.
If you look at the popular tools, they offer one remarkable feature after another. However, they have one thing in common: all they know is “groundbreaking” and “revolutionize” to express themselves. Here is a glance at how every AI writing tool somehow offers the same perspective:
Most Overused Words in AI-Generated Content
Before we begin the list, it is important for you to know that content written by a human can also have the following words. But when it comes to AI, these words are being overused to the point that it has become a pattern.
| Overused Words in AI-Generated Content | Why It Feels Robotic |
| Aforementioned | We don’t speak like this anymore in marketing. |
| Augment | Sounds vague, helps with no visual clue |
| Boost | Overused in the marketing field. |
| Broadly speaking | It’s just another clichéd filler. |
| Cutting Edge | Another exhausted word that never explains what’s new. |
| Core | There is no emotional depth. |
| Cognizant | It sounds complex and mechanical for no reason. |
| Delve | Every AI tool is heavily dependent on it. |
| Digital realm | Vague attempt to create a visual image. |
| Daunting | Dramatic attempt for no reason |
| Explore | Weak overused verb |
| Expertise | Has lost importance due to overusage |
| Excels | Feels like reading from a brochure |
| Foster | Mostly used without proper context |
| Furthermore | Feels very academic and rigid |
| Fundamentally | Takes away from the basics and can’t add weight |
| Game changer | Repeated usage has led to a loss in value |
| Grasp | Artificial way of saying “understand” |
| Groundbreaking | Too frequent to feel authentic or true |
| Holistic | Very basic and not specific |
| However | Does not affect the transition |
| In effect, detail, essence | Formalized filler language |
| Industry best practices | Buzzphrase: feels copied and pasted |
| Innovative | Has no special meaning owing to repeated usage |
| Key takeaways | summarization cliché |
| Landscape | Vague attempt |
| Leverage | Mechanical and insincere |
| Market penetration, trends | Very cold and technical |
| Modernize | Repetitive word for “make better” with no specifics |
| Multifaceted | Offers no real clarity |
| Navigating | Feels like an overloaded metaphor |
| Nevertheless | Formal filler language |
| Nonetheless | Adds unnecessary complexity |
| Optimize | One of the most used technical terms |
| Pain point | Futile attempt at empathy |
| Paradigm shift | Inflated language |
| Realm | Overpolishing has no effect |
| Revolutionize | Wildly overused lacks that effect |
| Risk Mitigation | Too technical for a casual or marketing tone |
| Root cause analysis | Engineering jargon |
| Thought leaders | Has no specific impact |
| Transform | Too bland to assert a change |
| Thrive | Vague motivational speak |
| Tapestry | Attempt to be poetic for no reason |
| Touchpoint | Marketing speak; not human at all |
| User Feedback | Lacks human-specific context |
| Utmost | Archaic and overused |
| Utilize | Formal filler |
| Value Added | Generic business filler |
| Whilst | Unnatural in most contexts |
Most Overused Phrases in AI-Generated Content
You will find these phrases used in human writing, too. But it becomes a problem when AI uses it, as it is not capable of maneuvering it with naturally sounding, context-rich sentences that reflect nuance, tone, or genuine intent.
| Overused Words in AI-Generated Phrases | Why It Feels Robotic | Alternate Phrases (Human-like) |
| A game changer in the industry | Has now become a vague hype phrase | A refreshing perspective/ Something that elevates the experience. |
| Empower users to | Little actionable value | Makes it easier for the users/ Give you control of the Narrative |
| Harness the power of | Overused metaphor | Make the most of/ Utilize efficiently. |
| In today’s digital age | Cliché opening that adds no freshness | In today’s technologically progressive time / As technology reshapes our habits |
| A treasure trove of… | Futile attempt at visual imagery | Filled with valuable insights |
| Cannot be overstated | Overemphasizes a point | Worth highlighting every step of the way |
| Profound impact | Lacks the desired effect due to overusage. | Left a lasting mark / turned the tide |
| A testament to… | Filler phrase to add unnecessary context | Speaks volumes/ stands a proof of |
| This is not an exhaustive list.. | Filler is used to continue the narrative | Just to name a few |
| Drive insightful data-driven decisions | Overemphasized corporate jargon. | Help you make smarter decisions backed by data |
| Unlock the power of | Sounds futuristic, but is vague and overused | Make the most of |
| Unparalleled excellence | Sounds like a tired sales pitch | Outstanding performance |
| One might argue that | Used by AI to avoid strong opinions or sound formal | It’s fair to say that |
| Comprehensive analysis | Surface level information | In-depth review |
| Scalable solution | Filler buzzword | A solution that grows with you |
| Seamless integration | Common filler in SaaS and tech blurbs | Fits together like a glove |
| Enhanced user experience | Another vague catchphrase | Helping users get more out of it |
| The core elements of | Rarely natural in casual or humanized text | The basics that matter most |
| Evokes a sense of | Overused literary phrasing | Brings to mind |
| Gain valuable insights | Tired sales pitch | Find out what really matters |
| Plays a crucial role | Overused by AI without a follow-up of valuable insights. | Is at the heart of |
Why These Phrases Hurt Your Content
When you are selling a product, presenting research, or just writing an academic essay, you have to sound original and yet assure your readers you know what you are talking about. With AI-generated content, people are quick to identify the gap that makes them question your credibility.
Even though you have done your research and are sincere about your product placement, these phrases and words can be an overkill. It might make your users feel vulnerable in trusting you.
💡Quick Fact: A study published by CHI Extended Abstracts shows that users distrust content that they believe to be AI-generated.
- Low Engagement, High Bounce Rates: The problem with robotic content is that they are fast, but nobody likes to read it. Think about it yourself: would you like to read a blog that offers nothing new apart from “In today’s fast-paced world…”? “Unlock your potential…?” and so on? It is easy to lose reader’s interest when they have no means to connect with your product.
- Google’s Algorithm Red Flag: Google has always been clear about robotic content. Even though it doesn’t penalize AI-generated content, it will never push it to its audience. Overtly machine-generated content ranks lower in search results and goes against Google’s people-first policy. Google prefers content that satisfies search intent, not just keyword stuffing or surface-level answers. So, this is where the humanization of content comes in. Google doesn’t care who wrote it; all it knows it should meet the algorithmic expectations and the emotional needs of real readers
- Loss of Brand Authenticity: The problem with using AI-generated text in marketing is that your users might think you don't care about them. In today’s competitive times, someone will only trust you with a purchase if they know you have made an effort. They tend to think AI-generated content is all about AI taking over the operations and selling them something it has no idea about. This is why the risks are so high; two or three repetitive phrases can take away your entire brand’s legacy.
- Fails to Connect Emotionally with Readers: No user will buy from a brand that only relies on technical jargon to talk about the features of the products. It has to highlight the stress of missing out on the given product and how it plans to upgrade its users’ lives. As in, it needs to talk about how stressful it is to organize a meeting or write a paper, and it knows the struggle. The technicalities of it rarely help.
How to Fix Robotic Writing
AI writing needs to be “fixed” or taken care of to make sure it serves its intended purpose. If you don’t have content that brings in new users, what’s the point of posting daily anyway? The idea behind all this is to make sure you have the numbers more than anything else.
With AI, you will always have the speed and efficiency, but you will have to step in to make sure it also helps you with sending out a message that’s genuine to your readers.
💡Quick Fact: Ahrefs reports that most companies refine AI-generated content before publishing; 97% edit or review it, and 80% check it for accuracy. Only 4% use it without any changes.
Add Personal Anecdotes, Brand Voice, and Specificity
Will you buy from a brand that sells life-changing products with real-life implications but starts their pitch with something like “A game changer in the industry”? You would start having your doubts the moment you start reading the blog itself.
But what about the same brand that does something that’s more human? They do consider their product a groundbreaking innovation, but they acknowledge your need for it first. Here’s a quick example:
Imagine you are looking for a tool that helps you manage your entire content operations. Now you know it has to “harness the power of AI in today’s digital age” and so on. But what if, along with that, it starts talking about how managing content is a stress, highlights its anxieties, and the loopholes in the available tools? That’s when you start opening up to the idea of a purchase. It works because it did a few things correctly:
✅ Added a personal anecdote to make you feel understood.
✅ Highlighted how the brand’s identity is different from others and gained your trust.
✅ Made sure you know what it brings to the table and offered you clarity.
AI can’t write like this, as it lacks a lived experience to understand the vulnerability you go through. It can surely create a structure and outline, do your research, and help you with your creative block, but it can’t offer a narrative that’s personal. This is where it makes all the difference.
Use Tools Like Humanize AI to Refine Your AI-Generated Content
We have a problem refining AI-generated content; manually it takes time and a lot of effort. As we will need to go through the entire thing and make necessary adjustments at every step of the way. This restricts us from utilizing the various features of an AI writing tool and staying ahead of the curve.
This is where a tool like Humanize AI can make all the difference. All you need to do is copy and paste your AI-generated content, and Humanize AI will take care of the rest. The tool is designed to pick up every AI residue in your text and polish it to make it more human, authentic, and a piece of content that connects.
Here’s a quick example of the same. I asked ChatGPT to generate a quick introduction for an AI content manager tool, and this is how it went:
Now, this is how Humanize AI modified the tone, intent, and brand voice and created a space to connect with the readers:
✅ It took Humanize AI less than a minute to change the entire tone of the writing. It relied on imaginative imagery rather than dry buzzwords to prove a point. Even though it said the exact same thing as ChatGPT did.
✅ The writing is not too polished nor extremely robotic, it takes a safe middle ground and mimics the nuances of actual human conversation.
✅ Phrases like “ leggy blog posts” add a certain individual identity to the post, which AI-generated content usually doesn’t have. The writing feels less templated with “smoothen” and “SEO-oriented content in which technology meets creativity.” Plus, the hint of an introspection at the ending connects quickly with the audience and helps them think.
Before You Hit Publish: Make It Human
The reason you need to be aware of the most common words and phrases in AI-generated content is that it can bring down the entire essence of your writing. As content creators, marketers, and everyday professionals trying to make an impact, we must remember that speed and efficiency are not always the end goal.
While AI tools can help you with a solid first draft, using them blindly can disrupt the trust you have with your users. Overused words, clichéd phrases, and robotic patterns not only drive away genuine conversions but also invite Google penalties.
But having said all this, there is always an easy way out. You have to understand how to use which tool in what context. If you solely rely on one writing tool without human oversight, that’s where the problem begins.
That’s where tools like Humanize AI come in. Instead of replacing AI, it works with it. You need speed and efficiency, but that needs to be backed by an emotional layer that speaks to your readers.
FAQs
What are the most common words in AI-generated content?
Some of the common words that you can find in AI-generated content include "cutting-edge," "game changer," "seamless," "scalable," "empower," "optimize," "whilst," "nevertheless," "delve," "insights," "pain points," and others.
Why does AI writing sound robotic?
AI-generated content often sounds robotic because it lacks emotion, personal experience, and intuition. Instead of thinking or feeling, AI pulls from the massive datasets it was trained on and tries to identify a pattern to follow.
Can Google detect AI-written content?
Yes, Google can flag AI-generated content that’s used to manipulate search rankings and violate the norms. While there’s no specific ban on AI-generated content, Google has been clear that it values original, people-first content more.
How can I humanize AI-generated content?
You can humanize AI-generated content with personal stories, brand-specific tone, cultural context, and emotional nuance. Or you can rely on a tool like Humanize AI that makes your robotic content sound authentic, approachable, and mindful of the human nuances in seconds.