Some phrases have been used so often by writing assistants that readers now flinch at them. None of them is grammatically wrong. The problem is frequency: when the same dozen expressions show up in every LinkedIn post, cover letter and product page, they stop meaning anything and start signalling "generated".
Below are the common offenders, grouped by the habit behind them, with what to write instead. If you only fix one group, fix the first.
Openers that warm up instead of starting
| Phrase | Write instead |
|---|---|
| In today's fast-paced world… | Start with your actual point. |
| In an era of rapid change… | Name the change, if it matters. |
| In the ever-evolving landscape of… | Name the field: "In payroll software…" |
| When it comes to… | Usually deletable. |
| Let's dive in / Let's delve into… | Just begin. |
These sentences exist to get the writer going. The reader didn't need them.
Announcements of importance
| Phrase | Write instead |
|---|---|
| It is important to note that… | Delete it; keep the fact. |
| It's worth mentioning that… | Delete it; mention the thing. |
| It goes without saying… | Then don't say it, or say it plainly. |
| Needless to say… | Same. |
| This underscores the importance of… | "This shows…", or name the consequence. |
If a fact is important, its importance should be visible in the sentence itself.
Inflated verbs and nouns
| Phrase | Write instead |
|---|---|
| plays a crucial / pivotal / vital role | Say what it does: "decides", "keeps", "drives". |
| leverage | use |
| foster | build, encourage, grow |
| harness the power of | use |
| unlock the potential of | Say the concrete benefit. |
| embark on a journey | start |
| navigate the complexities of | handle, deal with, or name the problem |
| a rich tapestry of | a mix of, or describe the mix |
| a testament to | shows, proves |
| a myriad of | many, or give the number |
Connectors that hold up weak paragraphs
| Phrase | Write instead |
|---|---|
| Moreover, / Furthermore, | "Also", or start a new sentence. |
| Additionally, | Often deletable. |
| In conclusion, / In summary, | End on your strongest point instead. |
| Overall, / Ultimately, | Usually deletable. |
| Not only… but also… | Two plain statements. |
Hollow adjectives
| Phrase | Write instead |
|---|---|
| seamless | Say what got easier. |
| robust | strong, reliable, or the actual spec |
| cutting-edge, state-of-the-art | Say what is new about it. |
| holistic | Say what is included. |
| game-changer | Say what changed. |
| ever-evolving | Usually filler. |
Email and message habits
| Phrase | Write instead |
|---|---|
| I hope this message finds you well. | Start with why you're writing. |
| I wanted to reach out regarding… | "I'm writing about…", or just the subject. |
| Please don't hesitate to reach out. | "Happy to answer questions." |
| Thank you for your understanding. | Only if you actually asked for some. |
Patterns, not just phrases
Swapping words only gets you halfway. The other half is structure:
- The triple. Three adjectives, three benefits, three bullet points, every time. Keep the triads that contain three real ideas.
- The flat rhythm. Every sentence is the same length. Mix short and long.
- The recap. Each section ends by restating itself. End on the strongest line instead.
- The em dash habit. One em dash is punctuation. Five per paragraph is a tell.
We cover these in more depth in how to make writing sound less like AI.
Should you ban these phrases entirely?
No. "Furthermore" is a fine word in a legal brief, and "robust" means something precise in statistics. The goal is not a blacklist; it is noticing when a phrase is doing work and when it is filling space. A good test: delete the phrase and reread. If nothing is lost, it was filler.
Find them in your own draft
Paste your text into the free Sounday style check. It highlights these phrases and patterns in your browser and suggests an alternative for each, without sending your text anywhere. For the single words assistants reach for most, see words ChatGPT overuses.