Ban all words

Just don't sound like AI.

I’ve seen several posts now on Insta, LinkedIn, & co. about people making lists of words AI uses “too much” that they now avoid. This becomes a problem when content bosses make these lists and then ask in-house or freelance writers to avoid them.

It’s an issue because:

• It shows you don’t trust your writers.

• The lists only get longer. Where does it end?

• Models continue to train on our writing and update their usage. Lists soon become obsolete.

• You’re only addressing a symptom, not the root issue: a lack of clarity.

I’m not going to be a hypocrite here. I also notice trends in writing and in the AI style, and I avoid certain formulas and words. But the intention behind these moves is important.

The goal shouldn’t be “not sound like AI”. You’re just going to beat yourself up, stripping your writing of many good words and useful em dashes.

People are now intentionally making spelling or grammar errors to show they’re human. That’s a strange place to end up: degrading our writing on purpose just to prove it wasn’t generated by a machine.

If banning words isn’t the answer, what actually helps?

The goal should be to write as clearly as possible for the given audience and problem.

The lists I’ve seen mostly contain abstract terms that have long been overused in business writing because people think they make them sound smart. But if a writer on your team is not hitting the mark, it’s most likely not a problem a list of words will solve.

Instead of banning words, constructions, and em dashes, aim for clarity:

• Focus on meaning before vocabulary.

• Avoid long sentences. Cut and simplify.

• Read out loud. See where you stumble.

• Avoid jargon. When you need to use it, briefly explain it.

• Favor concrete over abstract language. Paint pictures people can see.

• Mix and match for rhythm and texture: vary sentence length and word types.

In general, focus less on form and more on content.

This week’s writing exercise

Pick a few words people say AI overuses — actionable, ecosystem, delve, framework, gap, fluff, leverage, landscape, methodology, navigate, unlock, etc., whatever you like.

Write a paragraph where those words actually belong.

If you’d like more writing exercises designed to help you establish a writing practice and focus on clarity, check out the 30-day writing toolkit.