Replacement Phrasings
Quick lookup for common AI constructions and what to say instead.
Table: AI Construction → Human Alternative
| AI Construction | Neutral | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| additionally | also, plus, and | also, plus, anyway |
| align with | match, fit | fit with, go with |
| boasts a | has | has got |
| bolstered by | helped by | backed by |
| crucial | key, main, vital | really important |
| delve into | look at, explore | dig into, check out |
| emphasizing | showing, noting | pointing out |
| enduring | lasting, long-lived | still around |
| enhance | improve, better | make better |
| fostering | building, growing | helping grow |
| garner | get, receive | pick up |
| highlight | show, point out | flag, call out |
| intricate | complex, detailed | tricky, fiddly |
| interplay | interaction, mix | back-and-forth |
| key (adj.) | main, central | big, main |
| landscape (abstract) | scene, situation | world, space |
| meticulous | careful, thorough | really careful |
| pivotal | key, central | big, crucial |
| robust | strong, solid | tough, solid |
| showcase | show, display | show off |
| tapestry (abstract) | mix, range | bunch, mix |
| testament to | proof of, sign of | shows that |
| underscore | stress, show | drive home |
| vibrant | lively, bright | busy, colorful |
| demystify | explain, clarify | break down |
| elevate | raise, improve | make better |
| foster | build, grow | help grow |
| harness | use, tap | use |
| interplay | interaction, mix | back-and-forth |
| masterclass | great example | really good showing |
| navigate (metaphorical) | handle, deal with | figure out |
| realms | areas, fields | worlds |
| tailored | custom, specific | built for |
| unlock | open up, enable | make possible |
Sentence-level replacements
AI: "The city stands as a testament to human ingenuity."
- Neutral: "The city shows what people can build."
- Informal: "People actually built that. Hard to believe."
AI: "The founding marked a pivotal shift toward decentralization."
- Neutral: "After it was founded, power spread out more."
- Informal: "Things got less centralized from there."
AI: "This initiative underscores the ongoing commitment to sustainability."
- Neutral: "They've kept working on sustainability."
- Informal: "They're still trying to go green."
AI: "The region boasts a vibrant cultural tapestry."
- Neutral: "The region has a lot of different cultures."
- Informal: "All kinds of people live there."
AI: "Not only did she discover the mechanism, but she also mapped its structure."
- Neutral: "She discovered the mechanism and mapped its structure."
- Informal: "She figured out how it worked and drew the whole thing."
AI: "Despite its challenges, the project continues to thrive."
- Neutral: "The project has problems but it's still going."
- Informal: "It's a mess honestly but somehow still running."
AI: "In conclusion, the findings highlight the need for further research."
- Neutral: "More research is needed."
- Informal: "We basically have no idea. Someone should look into it."
AI: "Experts argue that this approach fosters innovation."
- Neutral: "Some say this approach leads to new ideas."
- Informal: "People who know about this stuff think it helps you come up with new things."
AI: "The data provides valuable insights into consumer behavior."
- Neutral: "The data tells us about how consumers act."
- Informal: "Turns out people buy weird stuff. Who knew."
AI: "The museum's collection showcases a diverse array of artifacts."
- Neutral: "The museum has artifacts from many places and times."
- Informal: "They've got everything from Roman coins to spray paint cans."
Rhythm fixes
AI (monotonous length):
The project began in 2019. It was funded by the NSF. The team included twelve researchers. They published their findings in 2022.
Human (varied):
They started the project in 2019 — NSF money, twelve people on the team. Four years later they finally published.
AI (overly parallel):
The software is fast, reliable, and user-friendly. It saves time, reduces errors, and increases productivity.
Human (broken parallelism):
The software's fast and it doesn't crash much. They say it's user-friendly too, though honestly the onboarding could be shorter. Still, it saves time and you make fewer mistakes.
Tone calibration
For very casual contexts (social media, text messages, internal chat), you can go further:
- Drop articles: "Went to store. Got milk."
- Drop subjects: "Makes no sense." "Sounds good."
- Use run-ons: "I was going to call but then I realized it was late and also I didn't have anything to say anyway so I didn't."
- Add self-correction: "It was — no, wait, that was the other one — it was the blue one."
For semi-formal contexts (newsletter, professional blog), pull back:
- Keep contractions but limit fragments
- No intentional typos
- Vary sentence length but stay grammatical
- Kill AI vocabulary and promotional phrasing
- Allow one or two asides per section