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AI Detection Part 1

May 17, 2025
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Hey,

True story:

A while back, I was writing website copy for a client and I popped it into an AI detector just out of curiosity. To my surprise, it was flagged as AI-generated.
 
I was stunned.
 
How is this possible?
 
The content was thoughtful, well-written, and most importantly – original.
 
What if my client thought I was cutting corners? 
 
That’s when I dove into figuring out why this happens—and how to fix it.
 
Why Content Gets Flagged
 
AI detection tools look for certain vocabulary as well as patterns in word choice, phrasing, and sentence structure.
 
They’re not magical.
And they’re far from perfect.
They’re just looking for clues.
 
And with the right tweaks, you can reduce the chances of your original AND AI-assisted content from getting flagged.
 

Here’s the Fix: Step 1 - Vocabulary
 
This email is step 1 of a mini-series on passing AI detection.
 
There are a couple layers to detection: word choice, sentence structure, formatting and information sources.
 
Today, we’re focusing on word choice / vocabulary.
 
After some trial and error I discovered you can greatly improve your results by telling AI which words and phrases to exclude.
 
(We all know AI’s love of the “In the dynamic world of…” opener.)
 
The result of avoiding these phrases? Stronger likelihood of passing AI detection.
 
Grab the Free Exclusion List
 
We put together a free cheat sheet with some of the more common words and phrases to avoid in your content. 

Simply copy and paste this list into your ChatGPT prompt proceeded by the line: “exclude the following words and phrases:”

Alternatively, can add these words to your Custom Instructions or your GPTs (so you don't have to continue the "copy / paste" exercise).

--start list--
 
make a significant impact, aligns, gained traction, offer unique, face uncertainty, significant impact, make a significant, advantages and challenges, unique advantages, willingness to learn, powerful tool, sets you apart, setting clear, clear and compelling, continues to evolve, immense potential, addressing these challenges, journey is just, enhancing customer, challenges will require, require careful, realizing this potential, willingness to learn, crucial to ensure, recognizing the importance, foster a sense, fostering, technology continues to advance, presents challenges, emphasizing, shape the future, bridging the digital divide, sense of community, maintaining a strong, offers many benefits, clear communication, approach allows, morale and productivity, play a critical role, literally, certainly, basically, delve, embark, enlightening, esteemed, shed light, crafting, realm, game-changer, unlock, discover, skyrocket, abyss, in a world where, revolutionize, disruptive, dive deep, tapestry, illuminate, unveil, pivotal, enrich, intricate, elucidate, hence, realm, harness, groundbreaking, cutting-edge, remarkable, glimpse into, navigating, landscape, stark, testament, boost, bustling, ever-evolving, technology continues to evolve, requires ongoing, offers many advantages, showcase your work, global reach, key strategies, paving the way, encourages individuals, policies that promote, contributes significantly, significant contributor, gaining traction, revolutionized the way, nuanced, approach challenges, create environments, overcome obstacles, driven world, meaningful impact, stay ahead of the curve, reach a broader, broader audience, allowing you to focus, approach significantly, consistency is key, leveling the playing field, crucial factor, lasting impression, unexpected ways, focus on understanding, achieve similar results

--end list--
 
Note – you should consider excluding these phrases when writing original copy too.

 

What’s next?
 
In our next email, we’ll dive into the second step of avoiding AI detection: Sentence structure. Stay tuned.
 
Question: What's your favorite "AI phrase to avoid"?

Talk soon, 
Brian & Andrea

P.S.

Got questions about AI detection? Hit reply—we’re happy to help.


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