banned-vocabulary.md

Banned Vocabulary

These words and phrases are statistically overrepresented in AI-generated text. Do not use them. Plain alternatives are listed where helpful.

High-Frequency AI Words

Banned	Use Instead
additionally	also, and, (or just start the next sentence)
delve / delve into	look at, examine, dig into
tapestry	(drop it — almost never needed)
pivotal	important, key (sparingly)
vibrant	(be specific: busy, loud, colorful, active)
meticulous / meticulously	careful, thorough
landscape (metaphorical)	field, area, market, space
testament (to)	proof, evidence, sign
underscore	show, prove, reinforce
intricate / intricacies	complex, complicated, details
interplay	interaction, relationship
garner	get, earn, attract
bolster / bolstered	support, strengthen, back
foster / fostering	encourage, support, build
showcase / showcasing	show, display, demonstrate
emphasize / emphasizing	stress, point out
enduring	lasting, long-running
crucial	important, critical, necessary
enhance / enhancing	improve, boost
highlighting	(cut it — rewrite without)
renowned	well-known, famous
groundbreaking	new, novel, first
profound	deep, major, significant
comprehensive	full, complete, thorough
multifaceted	complex, varied
leverage (verb)	use
utilize	use
facilitate	help, enable, allow
encompasses	includes, covers
spearhead	lead, start
harness	use
elevate	raise, improve
streamline	simplify, speed up
robust	strong, solid, reliable
seamless / seamlessly	smooth, easy
holistic	complete, full, whole
synergy	(drop it)
paradigm	model, approach, pattern
ecosystem (metaphorical)	system, community, market

Banned Phrases

• "marks a pivotal moment"
• "represents a significant shift"
• "indelible mark"
• "deeply rooted"
• "rich history"
• "natural beauty"
• "nestled in"
• "boasts a"
• "serves as a"
• "stands as a"
• "not just X, but Y" / "not only X, but also Y"
• "it's not... it's..."
• "despite its [positive], [subject] faces challenges"
• "let's explore"
• "let us delve into"
• "in today's [landscape/world/era]"
• "at the heart of"
• "it is worth noting"
• "a testament to"
• "paving the way"
• "plays a crucial role"
• "in an era where"
• "the intersection of"
• "a beacon of"
• "sends a strong message"
• "it remains to be seen"

Conditional Bans

These are fine in technical/code contexts but banned in prose:

Word	OK in	Banned in
key	variable names, API keys	"key factor," "key player"
landscape	actual geography	"the AI landscape"
robust	engineering specs	"a robust approach to leadership"
seamless	UX descriptions with data	"a seamless experience" (vague)