ChatGPT words to avoid
and what to write instead
The words and phrases Keyiku flags on every draft, each with a plain swap, plus a prompt you can paste into ChatGPT tonight.
We gave the model behind Keyiku twelve ordinary briefs with a plain prompt: a lawn crew headline, a cold email to a dentist, a dog daycare ad, a coffee shop announcement and eight more. Ten of the twelve drafts came back with at least one pattern our checker flags. The words are the easy part to spot. They are also the easiest part to fix.
The list
Every word below sits in the checker that reads each Keyiku draft before a person sees it. Next to it is the swap we reach for. Most of the swaps are a fact, because these words usually stand in for one.
delve- look at
leverage, utilize, harness- use
seamless- say what happens, step by step
robust- name the spec
elevate, unlock, empower- say what the reader can now do
cutting-edge, innovative- name the thing nobody else does
game-changer, transformative- the before and after, with a number
journey, landscape, realm- the steps, the market, or nothing
navigate- get through, handle
meticulous- the detail you checked
vibrant, bustling, nestled- what it looks or sounds like, where it is
ensure- make sure
comprehensive- the count: "all 40 forms"
In today's fast-paced world- cut the sentence
Whether you're a startup or an enterprise- pick one reader
Here's the thing- cut it and start with the thing
The result?- say the result
Moreover, furthermore, additionally- start a new sentence
It's worth noting that- cut it, then say it
Ready to take it to the next level?- say what happens when they click
I hope this email finds you well- the reason you are writing
best, leading, premier- a number or a name
high-quality, exceptional- the detail that proves it
trusted- who trusts it, and how many
peace of mind- the worry that goes away
a storyteller's eye- one photo they took, described
Banning words leaves the shapes behind
A word list catches part of the problem. The rest lives in the shape of a sentence, and a shape slips past any list of words. Three shapes showed up in the twelve plain drafts, and each one reads as machine-made even when every word in it is fine.
More play for them. Less juggling for you.
Every room has a webcam. Check on your dog from your desk, then let the van bring them home.
Whether you’re finding your stride or chasing a new goal, join us for fresh air, friendly faces, and a great start to your weekend.
You’re thinking about getting out for a run one of these days. Make it Saturday. Our Saturday group runs restart in March, giving you a day to put on the calendar and people to run with when that thought comes around. Come run with us.
The third shape is rhythm. Plain drafts tend to run every sentence at the same length, twelve or fifteen words, one after another. Read one aloud and you can hear it. The fix is a short sentence. Put it right after the idea that matters most.
A prompt you can paste tonight
If you write in ChatGPT, this gets you most of the way. Fill in the brackets. It still helps to read the draft aloud before you send it, because no list covers everything.
Write [what you need] for [who reads it]. Facts you may use: [list them]. Use no other facts. Where a line needs a fact I did not give, leave [a bracketed placeholder]. Rules: - No em dashes. Use a period, comma, colon or parentheses. - No "it's not X, it's Y", "not just X but Y", "X, not Y" or "no X, no Y". - No: delve, leverage, utilize, seamless, robust, elevate, unlock, empower, cutting-edge, game-changer, innovative, journey, landscape, navigate, ensure, comprehensive, peace of mind. - No openers like "In today's world" or "Whether you're". No closers like "Ready to...?". - No three adjectives in a row. No exclamation marks. No markdown. - Swap every adjective you can for a number, a name or a moment. - Mix one short sentence in with the long ones. Write one version only.
Keyiku runs these rules and about two hundred more on every draft, writes three versions, and has an editor pick the strongest. It is free to try, and the first draft takes about a minute.
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