AI writing detox
Good writing is invisible. If readers notice the writing style, it's distracting from the content. AI patterns are noticeable—they break trust.
When to use
- Writing or editing any journalism content
- Creating press releases or media advisories
- Drafting documentation or reports
- Writing social media posts
- Reviewing any AI-assisted text before publication
Banned words (delete or replace)
| Word | Why it's bad | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| delve | AI signature word | explore, examine, look at |
| realm | Pretentious | area, field |
| tapestry | Purple prose | (delete entirely) |
| landscape | Corporate speak | situation, environment |
| leverage | Jargon | use |
| utilize | Jargon | use |
| robust | Meaningless | strong, reliable |
| seamless | Almost always false | smooth, easy |
| comprehensive | Rarely necessary | full, complete |
| cutting-edge | Cliché | modern, new |
| holistic | Corporate | complete, full |
| synergy | Corporate | (delete, rewrite) |
| paradigm | Overused | model, approach |
| empower | Vague | (be specific about what capability) |
| innovative | Empty praise | (describe what's new) |
| transformative | Hyperbolic | changed, improved |
| rich | (as modifier) | (delete or be specific) |
Banned phrases
Throat-clearing (delete entirely)
- "It's important to note that..."
- "In today's [X] landscape..."
- "Let's dive/delve into..."
- "Without further ado..."
- "In this article, we will..."
- "It's worth mentioning that..."
- "It goes without saying..."
- "As we all know..."
Empty hedges
- "To be fair..." / "To be honest..."
- "At the end of the day..."
- "When it comes to..."
- "In terms of..."
- "With respect to..."
AI enthusiasm
- "This is a game-changer"
- "...and that's a good thing!"
- "Here's the thing:"
- "...and that's okay!"
- "...and I'm here for it"
Corporate buzzwords
- "Moving forward..."
- "Going forward..."
- "At this point in time..."
- "Due to the fact that..."
- "In order to..."
Banned structures
Don't start sentences with:
- "So," or "Well,"
- "Now," (when not about time)
- "Look," or "Listen,"
- "Basically," or "Essentially,"
Don't end sentences with:
- "...right?"
- "...you know?"
- "...if you will"
The substitution table
| If you wrote | Write instead |
|---|---|
| utilize | use |
| facilitate | help |
| implement | build, add, create |
| leverage | use |
| functionality | feature |
| methodology | method |
| in order to | to |
| due to the fact that | because |
| at this point in time | now |
| a large number of | many |
| in the event that | if |
| prior to | before |
| subsequent to | after |
| in close proximity to | near |
| has the ability to | can |
Case sensitivity
Always use sentence case for headings, not title case.
| Wrong | Right |
|---|---|
| Getting Started With Your Project | Getting started with your project |
| How To Use The Tool | How to use the tool |
| Best Practices For Journalism | Best practices for journalism |
Journalism-specific patterns to avoid
"Not just X—it's Y" pattern
❌ "This isn't just a news story—it's a wake-up call" ❌ "This wasn't just a press conference—it was a turning point"
✅ State the thing directly without dramatic framing
"Fundamentally transforms" pattern
❌ "This fundamentally transforms how newsrooms operate" ❌ "This represents a fundamental shift in journalism"
✅ Describe the actual change without hyperbole
Inflated claims in reporting
❌ "A bombshell revelation" ❌ "A major milestone" ❌ "A groundbreaking investigation"
✅ Let the facts speak. Readers judge significance.
Empty transitions
❌ "With that in mind..." ❌ "Building on this foundation..." ❌ "Taking this a step further..."
✅ Just make the next point
Before and after examples
Example 1: General prose
AI slop:
In today's rapidly evolving media landscape, it's crucial to understand the multifaceted nature of AI tools. Let's delve into how these robust solutions can help journalists leverage cutting-edge technology.
Human writing:
AI tools do three things well: drafting, research, and analysis. Here's when to use each.
Example 2: News lede
AI slop:
The city council meeting was a comprehensive and transformative discussion that fundamentally addressed key issues affecting residents in a meaningful way.
Human writing:
The city council voted 5-2 Tuesday to raise property taxes by 3 percent.
Example 3: Feature intro
AI slop:
In the rich tapestry of American journalism, few stories are as compelling as the one about to unfold. This isn't just a profile—it's a journey into the heart of what makes local news truly matter.
Human writing:
Maria Rodriguez has published a newspaper for 47 years. She's never missed an issue.
Example 4: Analysis piece
AI slop:
Moving forward, stakeholders must leverage innovative approaches to navigate the challenging landscape of digital transformation in the journalism ecosystem.
Human writing:
Local papers that want to survive need to find digital revenue. Most haven't.
The verbal tic test
Read your text aloud. Does it sound like:
- A TED talk introduction? Rewrite.
- A LinkedIn post? Rewrite.
- A press release? Rewrite.
- Corporate communications? Rewrite.
- How you'd explain it to a colleague? Keep it.
Quick self-check before publishing
Search your text for:
- "delve" → delete or replace
- "landscape" → delete or replace
- "crucial" → is it actually crucial?
- "robust" → what does this mean here?
- "leverage" → just say "use"
- "comprehensive" → is this word doing any work?
- Starting "So," → delete
Found any? Your writing needs another pass.
Red flags in technical/analysis writing
- Lists of near-synonyms: "comprehensive, sophisticated, and robust" (pick one or none)
- Excessive hedging: "may potentially be able to possibly..."
- Noun stacking: "production-ready deployment system infrastructure"
- Passive voice hiding agency: "It was determined that..." (by whom?)
- Circular definitions: "The system enables users to use the functionality"
The ultimate test
Before accepting any AI-assisted text, ask:
- Can I delete this word/phrase without losing meaning? → Delete it
- Is this the simplest way to say this? → Simplify
- Would I say this out loud to a colleague? → If not, rewrite
- Does this add information or just sound impressive? → If the latter, cut it
Remember: If readers think "AI wrote this," you've already lost their trust.
*Good writing is invisible. If readers notice the writing, it's getting in the way of the content.*