● Internal Writing Standards

The AI Slop Elimination Playbook

A research-backed reference for every writer, editor, and content lead on the team. Know exactly which phrases, patterns, and punctuation habits signal AI-generated content — and what to write instead.

Research-backed from web sources Applies to all Truehost content Updated June 2025

01 — Definition

What is AI Slop? And Why Should You Care?

“AI slop” is the name given to the recognizable cluster of phrases, sentence structures, punctuation habits, and vocabulary patterns that large language models (LLMs) produce by default. Not because the AI is lazy — but because of how it is built.

LLMs are trained to predict the statistically most likely next word. Words like “leverage”, “delve”, “robust”, and “tapestry” appear so often in their training data (corporate blogs, academic papers, journalism) that the model treats them as safe, high-probability choices for almost any context.

The result: text that is technically correct but reads as lifeless, generic, and instantly recognisable to any experienced reader. Search engines are catching up too — Google’s Helpful Content system specifically targets “scaled content abuse” that lacks first-hand experience and original perspective.

Readers notice it: The “AI voice” breaks trust, especially on product and landing pages where authenticity drives conversion.
Google penalises thin content: Not because it was AI-generated, but because it lacks original perspective, data, and expertise signals.
It is invisible to you when you write it: That is the danger. These patterns feel natural to produce but jarring to read.

How Readers Detect AI Slop

Overused vocabulary (“leverage”, “delve”) Very High

Em dash overuse (—) High

Transition openers (“Moreover”, “Furthermore”) High

Uniform sentence length (no burstiness) High

Hedge phrases (“it’s worth noting”) Medium

Section-ending summaries (“In conclusion”) Medium

02 — The Master List

200+ Words and Phrases That Flag AI Content

These are not banned words. They are words that, when overused in patterns, signal machine-generated writing. Audit your drafts against these lists before publishing.

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Category	AI Slop Words / Phrases	Human Alternatives	Why AI Uses It
Power Verbs	Delve, Leverage, Harness, Elevate, Empower, Unleash, Foster, Navigate, Underscore, Facilitate, Streamline, Cultivate, Embark	Use, Help, Improve, Grow, Explore, Start, Support, Highlight, Make easier, Build	These verbs appear in high volumes in professional/academic writing — the model treats them as “safe” and sophisticated
Status Adjectives	Robust, Seamless, Cutting-edge, Innovative, Vibrant, Pivotal, Crucial, Nuanced, Comprehensive, Intricate, Transformative, Revolutionary, Game-changing	Strong, Smooth, New, Creative, Key, Critical, Detailed, Full, Complex, Useful, Big	Trained on marketing copy and press releases that overuse these to sound impressive
Landscape Nouns	Tapestry, Landscape, Ecosystem, Realm, Paradigm, Synergy, Arsenal, Myriad, Testament, Labyrinth, Symphony, Mosaic	Mix, Field, System, World, Model, Tools, Many, Sign, Proof, Challenge	Abstract nouns feel “intellectually weighty” without requiring specific knowledge — high-probability filler
Filler Openers	“In today’s fast-paced world”, “In the ever-evolving landscape”, “In an age where”, “At the end of the day”, “The fact of the matter is”, “It goes without saying”	Cut entirely. Start with the actual point. Or start with a specific fact, number, or problem.	AI is trained to “warm up” the reader with context — but these openers add zero information
Hedge Phrases	“It’s worth noting”, “It’s important to consider”, “Importantly”, “Notably”, “Arguably”, “Potentially”, “It should be noted”, “One might argue”	Cut the hedge and say the thing directly. If it’s worth noting, note it. If it’s important, state it and explain why.	RLHF training rewards “balanced”, cautious responses — so the model hedges constantly to avoid committing to a clear position
Transition Clichés	“Moreover”, “Furthermore”, “Additionally”, “Consequently”, “To that end”, “Having said that”, “With that said”, “That being said”, “In conclusion”, “In summary”	Use “Also”, “And”, “But”, “So”. Or just start the next sentence — readers don’t need a road sign for every thought.	AI structures writing like an essay with explicit signposting between every thought, regardless of whether it is needed
False Discovery	“Let’s dive in”, “Let’s explore”, “Let’s break it down”, “Let’s unpack this”, “Here’s the kicker”, “Here’s where it gets interesting”	Skip the announcement. Just start the content.	AI creates artificial “shared discovery” moments — it has no actual perspective so it performs enthusiasm instead
Significance Inflation	“A testament to”, “Game-changer”, “Groundbreaking”, “Unprecedented”, “Landmark”, “Historic”, “Pivotal moment”, “Transformational shift”	Be specific about what actually changed and by how much. Use numbers. Use dates. Use names.	AI inflates significance because it cannot verify whether something is actually important — so it defaults to superlatives
Heading Patterns	“Why [X] Matters”, “Understanding [X]”, “Navigating [X]”, “The Importance of [X]”, “A Deep Dive Into”, “Exploring [X]”, “Everything You Need to Know About”	Use specific, outcome-based headings that tell the reader exactly what they will learn or gain. Ask: what does this section DO for the reader?	These heading patterns are extremely common in SEO content — so AI reproduces them as “standard” heading structure

03 — Punctuation Tells

The Em Dash Problem — and Other Punctuation Patterns

AI does not just betray itself through vocabulary. It has distinct punctuation habits that, when you know what to look for, are as obvious as a watermark.

—

Em Dash Overuse

AI treats the em dash as a universal punctuation shortcut — it replaces commas, colons, semicolons, and parentheses with it indiscriminately. One or two per page is fine. One per sentence is a red flag.

🤖 AI Pattern: “This tool — designed for teams — helps you — quickly and efficiently — manage your projects.”

✓ Human Fix: “This tool helps teams manage projects quickly. It was designed to cut the back-and-forth.”

The Colon-Into-List Habit

AI almost always converts a paragraph into a colon followed by a bulleted list of exactly three points. It does this even when a flowing sentence would be clearer. Bullet lists are only better when the items are genuinely parallel and discrete.

🤖 AI Pattern: “There are three benefits:
• It saves time
• It reduces errors
• It scales easily”

✓ Human Fix: “It saves time on repetitive tasks, catches errors before they reach production, and grows with your team without extra infrastructure.”

Random Bold Emphasis

AI bolds phrases at random within paragraphs to simulate the “key insight” technique. Human writers bold sparingly — only for genuinely critical terms or numbers. When everything is bold, nothing is bold.

🤖 AI Pattern: “It is crucial to note that regular backups are a key part of any robust strategy.”

✓ Human Fix: “Back up daily. Losing a week of data is expensive in both time and client trust.”

≡

Forced Structural Symmetry

AI writes in perfectly balanced, parallel structures: “Not only X, but also Y.” “On one hand… on the other hand.” These constructions feel deliberate and academic. Human writing takes positions and moves forward.

🤖 AI Pattern: “Not only does it improve speed, but it also enhances reliability and optimises your overall workflow.”

✓ Human Fix: “It is faster. And it stops breaking on you at the worst possible moment.”

04 — Structural Patterns

The AI Essay Skeleton: How Machine Writing is Structured

Word choice is only half the problem. AI follows a predictable essay skeleton that feels formulaic at a structural level — regardless of what words it uses.

① The “Definition, History, Benefits, CTA” Loop

AI structures every topic the same way: define it, give background, list benefits in bullets, add a summary, then a CTA. This is the SEO blog template. It is predictable because AI was trained on thousands of pieces following this exact skeleton.

② The Paragraph-Closing Summary

AI almost always ends a paragraph with a sentence that restates what was just said: “Taken together, these factors illustrate why X is so important.” This is wasted text. If the paragraph made the point, the summary is redundant. Delete it.

③ Uniform Sentence Length (No “Burstiness”)

Linguistics researchers call sentence variety “burstiness.” Humans write with it naturally — short punchy sentences followed by longer flowing ones. AI produces sentences of near-identical length and complexity. The result feels like it was written by a very competent robot.

④ False Balance / Both-Sidesing

AI avoids taking positions because its RLHF training rewards “balanced”, non-controversial answers. So it presents “on one hand… on the other hand” even when only one hand is right. Human writers take a position. They say what they actually think. Hedged, balanced writing reads as cowardly.

The AI Essay Skeleton vs. Human Structure

🤖 AI Structure

Introduction opener cliché

Definition of topic

Historical background

3-bullet benefit list

3-bullet drawback list

Balanced conclusion

“In conclusion…” summary

Generic CTA

✓ Human Structure

Specific problem or story

Clear position taken

Concrete evidence (data, names)

Objection addressed directly

Specific outcome or next step

Action-led CTA

05 — Heading Quality

AI Heading Patterns and What to Write Instead

AI headings are abstract label-headings. They say what the section is about but not what the reader will get. Swap every AI heading for an outcome-specific replacement.

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Pattern	🤖 AI Heading Example	✓ Human Heading	Why It’s Better
`Understanding X`	Understanding Domain Registration	How Domain Registration Works (and What to Watch Out For)	Tells the reader what they will learn, not just that they will learn
`X Matters`	Why Your Domain Extension Matters	Your Domain Extension Is Directly Linked to Your Google Rankings in Kenya	Makes the stake concrete instead of abstract
`Navigating X`	Navigating the KeNIC Registration Process	How to Register a .go.ke Domain Without Getting Stuck on the Paperwork	Addresses the actual pain point (being stuck) with a promise (not getting stuck)
`The Landscape`	The Kenyan Domain Registration Landscape	Kenya Has 127,000 Active Domains. Here’s Where Your Business Fits In.	Specific number creates instant credibility and curiosity
`A Deep Dive`	A Deep Dive Into .ke Domain Extensions	Every .ke Extension Explained: Who Qualifies, What It Costs, Which One You Need	Specificity — reader knows exactly what they will get from reading on
`Exploring X`	Exploring the Benefits of Local Hosting	Local Hosting Cuts DNS Response Time by 91% for Kenyan Visitors	Specific metric replaces vague “exploring” with a concrete claim worth reading
`Introduction to X`	An Introduction to SSL Certificates	Your Site Is Showing “Not Secure.” Here’s the Fix — and It Takes 2 Minutes	Starts with the reader’s problem, promises a specific solution in a specific time
`Everything You Need`	Everything You Need to Know About Web Hosting	The Four Hosting Questions Every Kenyan Business Owner Gets Wrong	Curiosity gap — the reader wants to know which four, so they keep reading
`The Importance of X`	The Importance of Domain Security	Domain Hijacking Takes 4 Hours to Execute. It Takes 6 Months to Recover From.	Specific risk framing creates urgency without manufactured intensity

06 — The Edit Checklist

Run Every Draft Through This Before Publishing

This is the internal standard. Each item is a yes/no question. If you answer “yes” to any of them, the draft needs revision before it goes live.

1. Does it open with a world-stage cliché?

Phrases like “In today’s fast-paced digital world…”, “In the ever-evolving landscape of…”, or “As businesses navigate an increasingly complex…” are automatic delete. They add zero information and signal immediately that what follows was not written by someone with a point of view.

Fix: Start with the specific problem, a concrete number, a story, or the actual claim you are making.

2. Does it contain “delve”, “leverage”, “tapestry”, “robust”, or “seamless”?

These five words are the clearest statistical indicators of AI-generated text. Delve appears at roughly 4× its baseline rate in AI content. Leverage and robust are marketing clichés that lost meaning years ago. If you see them, replace them with the simplest direct verb or adjective that communicates the same thing.

→Delve → explore, look into, examine
→Leverage → use, apply, rely on
→Robust → strong, reliable, solid
→Seamless → smooth, frictionless, quick
→Tapestry → mix, combination, range

3. Does every paragraph end with a summary sentence?

Phrases like “Taken together, these factors illustrate…”, “As we have seen…”, or “Ultimately, this underscores the importance of…” are classic AI paragraph closers. They restate what was just said and add nothing. Delete them. Trust the reader to understand what they just read.

4. Are all the em dashes (—) necessary?

One em dash per 300 words is normal. Two or three in a single paragraph is an AI tell. Count them. For every em dash, ask: could this be a comma, a period, or a colon instead? If yes — replace it. Em dashes are useful for adding a sudden thought or a dramatic pause. They are not a universal connector.

5. Are the headings outcome-specific or label headings?

If a heading answers “what is this section about?” it is a label heading. If it answers “what will I learn or gain?” it is an outcome heading. We use outcome headings. Check every H2 and H3: does it tell the reader what they will GET from reading the section?

Any heading containing “Understanding”, “Navigating”, “Exploring”, “The Landscape of”, “Why X Matters”, or “The Importance of” is automatically a label heading — rewrite it.

6. Does it take a position, or does it hedge everything?

AI hedges because it was trained to avoid controversy. Look for “arguably”, “potentially”, “one might suggest”, “it could be said that”, “in many ways”, or “it’s worth considering”. These phrases signal that the writer (or AI) does not actually believe what they are writing.

If the claim is true — state it directly. If it is uncertain — say what is known and what is not, specifically. Never hedge just to feel safe.

7. Does it use “Moreover”, “Furthermore”, or “Additionally” to connect thoughts?

These academic transition words are the written equivalent of clearing your throat. Replace with “Also”, “And”, or “Plus” — or simply cut them. If a thought cannot stand alone without a transition label, restructure the paragraph so it can.

8. Does it contain any specific numbers, names, or dates?

This is the single most powerful humanising test. AI generalises because it cannot verify. If a paragraph contains no specific numbers, proper names, dates, or concrete details — it reads as AI slop regardless of how well-written it otherwise is.

Every substantive claim should be anchored by something specific: a percentage, a date, a product name, a person’s name, a price, a city, a time duration. Specificity is the fingerprint of a human who actually knows what they are writing about.

9. Does it pass the “coffee shop” test?

Read the copy aloud. If you would feel embarrassed saying any sentence in a conversation with a colleague at a coffee shop — rewrite it. If a sentence contains words you would not say naturally, replace them with what you would actually say. This test catches AI vocabulary instantly.

Common fails: “synergistic ecosystem”, “transformative paradigm shift”, “holistic approach to leveraging”, “in today’s interconnected world”.

10. Do the sentences vary in length, or are they all the same?

Read three consecutive paragraphs and count the words per sentence. If they are all between 18–25 words, the rhythm is AI. Human writing has “burstiness” — short sentences (3–8 words) mixed with longer ones (30+ words). The variation creates a natural reading pace that AI writing lacks.

Quick fix: Find your longest paragraph. Split the longest sentence into two. Add one very short sentence (under 8 words) after a key claim. The rhythm immediately feels more human.

07 — Before & After

Real Rewrites: AI Slop to Human Copy

These are actual patterns found in Truehost content. Each example shows the AI-generated version alongside the rewritten human version, with the specific change noted.

Hero Lede

🤖 Before (AI Slop)

“Establish instant administrative credibility for your state department, ministry, agency, or county government. Secure public trust and enable local search presence in Kenya.”

Problems: No pain point opened. Vague benefit language. No specificity. No “you” voice. No reason to care now.

✓ After (Human)

“Citizens can’t tell a real government site from a fraudulent one. A .go.ke domain fixes that — it signals verified state authority the moment someone reads your URL.”

Improvements: Opens with reader’s fear (citizen fraud). Contractions used. Specific mechanism (URL signals authority). Direct.

Section Heading

🤖 Before (AI Slop)

“The Expiration Timeline & Recovery Cycle.”

Problems: Abstract label. Does not tell the reader why they should read this section. Sounds like a table of contents entry.

✓ After (Human)

“What Happens If Your .go.ke Domain Expires?”

Improvements: Question format creates mild anxiety (stake). “Your” is possessive — personal. Specific domain extension named. Reader immediately understands the threat.

Body Paragraph

🤖 Before (AI Slop)

“Speed advantage of Nairobi-based Anycast DNS nodes. A local audience deserves local routing. See how Truehost’s DNS nodes in Nairobi improve response speed for Kenyan queries.”

Problems: No specific numbers. “Deserves” is brand-speak. “See how” is an AI announcement before the actual content. Vague.

✓ After (Human)

“Your .go.ke portal loads in 14ms for Kenyan citizens. A European server takes 154ms. Every time a citizen clicks your link, the DNS lookup resolves inside Safaricom or Airtel’s local network — not through an overseas cable.”

Improvements: Specific numbers (14ms, 154ms). Named networks (Safaricom, Airtel). Explains the mechanism simply. “Your portal” — direct.

08 — Quick Swap Reference

Copy This List. Use It Every Time You Edit.

Print it. Bookmark it. Pin it above your monitor. Every swap below makes your copy more direct, more human, and more trustworthy.

Verb Swaps

Leverage→Use

Delve→Explore, Look into

Harness→Use, Apply, Run

Elevate→Improve, Lift, Raise

Foster→Build, Grow, Create

Navigate→Handle, Work through

Streamline→Simplify, Speed up

Underscore→Show, Confirm, Prove

Empower→Let, Help, Enable

Facilitate→Help, Make easier, Run

Embark→Start, Begin

Adjective Swaps

Robust→Strong, Reliable, Solid

Seamless→Smooth, Quick, Simple

Cutting-edge→New, Latest, Current

Innovative→Name the specific feature

Pivotal→Key, Central, Critical

Vibrant→Active, Growing, Busy

Transformative→Say what it changed + by how much

Crucial→Say why it’s critical, specifically

Nuanced→Explain the nuance, don’t name it

Intricate→Complex, Detailed, Layered

Phrase Swaps

It’s worth noting→Just say the thing

In today’s world→Delete entirely. Start with the fact.

At the end of the day→Ultimately / delete

Let’s dive in→Delete. Just start.

A testament to→Proof that / Shows / Confirms

That being said→But / Still / However

In conclusion→Delete. End on your last point.

Here’s the thing→Just say the thing

The good news is→Delete. State the good news.

Moreover/Furthermore→And / Also / Plus

09 — SEO Reality Check

What Google Actually Penalises (It’s Not AI)

There is a lot of confusion about AI content and Google rankings. Here is what the research actually shows — and what the real risk is.

✓ Google does NOT penalise AI-generated text

Google’s official stance: content is evaluated on quality, helpfulness, and E-E-A-T signals — not on whether it was produced by a human or a machine. Third-party AI detectors have no correlation with Google ranking signals.

✗ Google actively targets “scaled content abuse”

Mass-produced content with no original perspective, no first-hand experience, and no real expertise gets deindexed. This describes most default AI output. The problem is not the tool — it is the absence of human judgment applied to what the tool produces.

⚠ The real risk is user trust, not algorithm penalties

Readers who recognise AI slop stop trusting the brand behind it. On conversion pages, generic AI copy directly reduces click-through and purchase rates. A visitor who reads “leverage our robust ecosystem” clicks away. A visitor who reads “923 .go.ke domains exist — and yours is probably still available” stays.

Google E-E-A-T: What AI Copy Usually Fails On

Experience (the first E) AI cannot demonstrate that it has actually done the thing it is writing about. Human writers add real-world context, specific situations, and honest observations about what does and does not work.

Expertise (the second E) Expertise shows up as specific knowledge: exact procedures, technical specifications, named contacts, dates, regulations. AI generalises. Experts get specific.

Authoritativeness (the A) Authority comes from taking a clear position and backing it with evidence. AI hedges. Authoritative content makes strong claims and supports them with data, not qualifiers.

Trust (the T) Trust is broken the moment a reader senses the text was not written by someone who actually cares. AI slop signals “this brand did not bother.” Human copy signals “this brand knows its product and respects you.”

The AI Slop Elimination Playbook

What is AI Slop? And Why Should You Care?

How Readers Detect AI Slop

200+ Words and Phrases That Flag AI Content

The Em Dash Problem — and Other Punctuation Patterns

Em Dash Overuse

The Colon-Into-List Habit

Random Bold Emphasis

Forced Structural Symmetry

The AI Essay Skeleton: How Machine Writing is Structured

① The “Definition, History, Benefits, CTA” Loop

② The Paragraph-Closing Summary

③ Uniform Sentence Length (No “Burstiness”)

④ False Balance / Both-Sidesing

The AI Essay Skeleton vs. Human Structure

AI Heading Patterns and What to Write Instead

Run Every Draft Through This Before Publishing

Real Rewrites: AI Slop to Human Copy

Copy This List. Use It Every Time You Edit.

Verb Swaps

Adjective Swaps

Phrase Swaps

What Google Actually Penalises (It’s Not AI)

✓ Google does NOT penalise AI-generated text

✗ Google actively targets “scaled content abuse”

⚠ The real risk is user trust, not algorithm penalties

Google E-E-A-T: What AI Copy Usually Fails On

Apply This Guide to Every Page You Publish.

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What is AI Slop? And Why Should You Care?

How Readers Detect AI Slop

200+ Words and Phrases That Flag AI Content

The Em Dash Problem — and Other Punctuation Patterns

Em Dash Overuse

The Colon-Into-List Habit

Random Bold Emphasis

Forced Structural Symmetry

The AI Essay Skeleton: How Machine Writing is Structured

① The “Definition, History, Benefits, CTA” Loop

② The Paragraph-Closing Summary

③ Uniform Sentence Length (No “Burstiness”)

④ False Balance / Both-Sidesing

The AI Essay Skeleton vs. Human Structure

AI Heading Patterns and What to Write Instead

Run Every Draft Through This Before Publishing

Real Rewrites: AI Slop to Human Copy

Copy This List. Use It Every Time You Edit.

Verb Swaps

Adjective Swaps

Phrase Swaps

What Google Actually Penalises (It’s Not AI)

✓ Google does NOT penalise AI-generated text

✗ Google actively targets “scaled content abuse”

⚠ The real risk is user trust, not algorithm penalties

Google E-E-A-T: What AI Copy Usually Fails On

Apply This Guide to Every Page You Publish.

GET TO WORK