AI Slop Detector

120 patterns that make writing read like AI slop, in 9 categories. Each pattern has a short explanation, a bad example and a plain rewrite.

Give the list to your AI before it writes, or check a draft against it afterwards. To check a draft in your browser, paste it into the free AI Slop Detector.

The list doesn't try to tell whether a person or an AI wrote a text. People write these patterns too, and a model can be told to avoid them. A single pattern is normal in human writing; several in one paragraph is what makes a text read as slop.

Use it with your AI

Claude Code, Codex and other agents. Give the agent this repository and ask it to install the skill:

Install the AI Slop Detector skill from https://github.com/FeedHive/ai-slop-detector

Or install it yourself for Claude Code:

git clone https://github.com/FeedHive/ai-slop-detector.git
cp -r ai-slop-detector/skills/ai-slop-detector ~/.claude/skills/

ChatGPT, Claude and other chat apps. Paste this README into the chat and ask it to avoid every pattern in what it writes next. To check a draft, paste the README and the draft and ask for every pattern it finds, with the line it found it in.

Your own tools. patterns.json has the full list as structured data. Edit it and run node scripts/build.mjs to regenerate this README and the skill.

Categories

Vocabulary

Words that show up far more often in AI output than in human writing. One is a coincidence; three in a paragraph is a pattern.

V-01 Delve and friends

delve, dive into, deep dive, unpack, explore (for "discuss").

Bad: "Let's delve into the data."
Better: "Here is what the data shows."

V-02 Tapestry words

tapestry, landscape, realm, sphere, ecosystem, fabric (used abstractly).

Bad: "the ever-evolving landscape of marketing."
Better: "marketing in 2026" or name the actual change.

V-03 Testament and beacon

testament to, beacon of, embodiment of, hallmark of.

Bad: "The launch is a testament to the team's dedication."
Better: "The team shipped it in six weeks."

V-04 Pivotal and crucial

pivotal, crucial, vital, paramount, critical (as decoration).

Bad: "plays a pivotal role in growth."
Better: "drives 40% of signups."

V-05 Showcase verbs

showcase, highlight, underscore, emphasize, spotlight (as commentary verbs).

Bad: "The results underscore the importance of testing."
Better: "Testing caught three bugs before launch."

V-06 Foster and cultivate

foster, cultivate, nurture (applied to abstract things).

Bad: "fostering a culture of innovation."
Better: Say what the team actually does.

V-07 Leverage and utilize

leverage, utilize, harness, capitalize on.

Bad: "Leverage AI to streamline your workflow."
Better: "Use AI to draft the weekly report."

V-08 Elevate and enhance

elevate, enhance, empower, supercharge, unlock, amplify.

Bad: "Elevate your content strategy."
Better: Name the result: "Post three times a week without writing on weekends."

V-09 Seamless and robust

seamless, robust, cutting-edge, state-of-the-art, best-in-class, world-class.

Bad: "a seamless, robust solution."
Better: "it syncs in under a second and hasn't gone down this year."

V-10 Intricate and multifaceted

intricate, multifaceted, nuanced, complex (as filler).

Bad: "the intricate interplay of factors."
Better: Name two of the factors.

V-11 Meticulous

meticulous, meticulously, painstakingly, carefully crafted.

Bad: "meticulously crafted templates."
Better: "templates tested on 200 posts."

V-12 Vibrant and rich

vibrant, rich, bustling, thriving, dynamic.

Bad: "a vibrant community of creators."
Better: "4,000 creators who post weekly."

V-13 Journey and embark

journey, embark, navigate, voyage, path (for ordinary processes).

Bad: "embark on your SEO journey."
Better: "start with your top ten pages."

V-14 Game changer

game changer, revolutionary, groundbreaking, transformative, paradigm shift.

Bad: "This feature is a game changer."
Better: Say what changes and for whom.

V-15 Transition adverbs

Additionally, Furthermore, Moreover, Notably, Importantly (opening sentences).

Bad: "Additionally, the tool supports exports."
Better: "It also exports to CSV."

V-16 Empty intensifiers

truly, incredibly, deeply, profoundly, remarkably, fundamentally.

Bad: "a truly remarkable result."
Better: Give the number that makes it remarkable.

V-17 Quietly

quietly, silently, subtly (adding drama to plain events).

Bad: "Costs quietly crept up."
Better: "Costs rose 12% in March."

V-18 Align and resonate

align with, resonate with, speak to, in line with.

Bad: "content that resonates with your audience."
Better: "posts your audience replies to."

V-19 Key as an adjective

key insight, key takeaway, key factor, key role.

Bad: "The key takeaway is consistency."
Better: "Post on the same days every week."

V-20 Era words

in today's fast-paced world, in the digital age, in an era of, now more than ever.

Bad: "In today's fast-paced digital world, content is king."
Better: Cut it and start with the point.

Stock phrases

Ready-made phrases that fill space without adding meaning.

P-01 Worth noting

it's worth noting, it's important to note, it should be noted.

Bad: "It's worth noting that the API is rate limited."
Better: "The API allows 100 calls a minute."

P-02 At its core

at its core, at the end of the day, when all is said and done, ultimately.

Bad: "At its core, marketing is about people."
Better: Delete, or say something specific about people.

P-03 When it comes to

when it comes to, in terms of, with regard to, in the world of.

Bad: "When it comes to scheduling, timing matters."
Better: "Posts at 9am get more reach than posts at 3pm."

P-04 Let's dive in

let's dive in, let's get started, buckle up, without further ado.

Bad: "Ready? Let's dive in!"
Better: Start with the first point.

P-05 Plays a role

plays a role in, contributes to, is a factor in.

Bad: "Hashtags play a role in reach."
Better: "Posts with 3 to 5 hashtags reached more people in our test."

P-06 Stands as

stands as, serves as, functions as, acts as (instead of "is").

Bad: "The dashboard serves as a central hub."
Better: "The dashboard shows every scheduled post."

P-07 Navigate the complexities

navigate the complexities of, the ins and outs of, the nuances of.

Bad: "helping you navigate the complexities of SEO."
Better: "explains how Google picks which page to rank."

P-08 Whether you're X or Y

Whether you're a beginner or a pro, from startups to enterprises.

Bad: "Whether you're a solo creator or a global brand, ..."
Better: Say who it is actually for.

P-09 Look no further

look no further, you've come to the right place, this is your ultimate guide.

Bad: "Looking for a scheduler? Look no further."
Better: "FeedHive schedules posts to 10 platforms."

P-10 Unlock the power

unlock the power of, harness the potential of, take it to the next level.

Bad: "Unlock the full potential of your content."
Better: Say the specific gain.

P-11 Here's the thing

here's the thing, here's the deal, let me be clear, I'll be honest, I'll be straight with you.

Bad: "Here's the thing: most people quit."
Better: "Most people quit in month two."

P-12 The truth is

the truth is, the reality is, the uncomfortable truth, the hard truth.

Bad: "The hard truth is that SEO takes time."
Better: "SEO takes about six months to show results."

P-13 Sign-off clichés

I hope this helps, happy writing, feel free to reach out, let me know if you have any questions.

Bad: A post or article ending with "Hope this helps!"
Better: End on the last useful point.

P-14 Summary openers

In conclusion, In summary, To sum up, Overall, All in all.

Bad: "In conclusion, consistency is key."
Better: End on the last concrete point; the reader was just there.

P-15 Vague future

the future is bright, the possibilities are endless, only time will tell, the sky's the limit.

Bad: "With A