AI Slop Tells

# AI Slop Tells: Reference Checklist

Checklist of patterns that signal generated text, compiled from public AI-slop
reference lists (Field Guide to AI Slop, llm-cliches, Habr pattern analysis, Riedman
Report). Treat it as a heuristic: frequency and combination are the signal, not any
single instance. Each category lists the pattern and the rewrite action.

## 1. Contrastive reframing

Negates a claim nobody made, then supplies the "real" answer. Rewrite: state the claim
directly and delete the negation.

- "It's not X, it's Y" / "It's not about X, it's about Y"
- "Not just X -- Y" / "Not merely X, but Y"
- "This isn't X. This is Y." (two-sentence dramatic pair)
- "Less about X, more about Y" / "More than X, it's Y"
- "The real question isn't X. It's Y."
- "Don't think of it as X. Think of it as Y."
- "X is necessary but not sufficient" -- exception: when X and Y each hold as a
  distinct, supported claim, this states a real logical relationship, not a
  reframe. Keep both the necessity and the insufficiency; do not delete either
  qualifier.
- "Forget X -- the real key is Y" / "The secret isn't Y, it's Z"
- "It's not a question of if, but when."

## 2. Hedge-and-elevate / false balance

Presents a fake tension or stacks hedges until no falsifiable claim remains. Rewrite:
state each claim separately with its evidence, or state the condition that decides.

- "While X is true, Y is equally important"
- "That said, ..." / "However, it's worth noting that..."
- "On one hand... on the other hand..." (without a decision)
- "The short answer is X. The long answer is Y."
- "It depends." followed by obvious conditionals
- Hedging chains: "could potentially tend to..."

## 3. Snappy triads

Three-item lists used to sound profound. Rewrite: keep the one accurate claim and
quantify it, or convert a genuine enumeration into a bulleted list.

- "robust, scalable, and secure" / "fast, efficient, and reliable"
- "Think bigger. Act bolder. Move faster."
- Abstract-noun triads: "passion, purpose, and perseverance"

## 4. Dramatic pivots

A transition sentence that manufactures suspense. Rewrite: delete the pivot and start
with the fact.

- "Something shifted." / "Everything changed."
- "But here's the thing." / "Here's the deal." / "Here's why that matters:"
- "That's where X comes in."
- Mid-sentence questions: "The solution? It's simpler than you think."

## 5. Vapid openers and transitions

Throat-clearing that delays the subject. Rewrite: delete and start with the subject.

- "As technology continues to evolve," / "In today's fast-paced world,"
- "In the ever-evolving landscape of..." / "In the realm of..." / "In the digital age"
- "At the end of the day," / "At its core," / "When it comes to X,"
- "Let's dive in" / "Let's unpack this" / "Let's break this down"
- "Picture this..." / "Imagine a world where..." / "Have you ever wondered..."
- "Whether you're a beginner or an expert..." / "From X to Y, and everything in between"

## 6. Empty emphasis markers

Adverbs and framers that assert importance instead of showing it. Rewrite: delete the
marker; if the point matters, state the consequence.

- "Importantly," / "Crucially," / "Notably," / "Significantly,"
- "Interestingly," (preceding something mundane)
- "Simply put," (preceding something not simple)
- "In other words," (restating without adding meaning)
- "It's important to note that" / "Needless to say" / "It goes without saying"

## 7. Closing clichés

Summary boilerplate appended after the content ends. Rewrite: stop when the content
ends; if a summary is genuinely needed, state the one decision or fact.

- "In conclusion..." / "To sum up..." / "To wrap things up"
- "The bottom line is..." / "The takeaway is..."
- "So there you have it." / "Only time will tell."
- "One thing is clear:..." / "The future of X is bright, but..."

## 8. Sycophancy and tonal tells

Flattery and forced optimism. Rewrite: answer the substance; state tradeoffs as facts.

- "Great question!" / "You raise an excellent point."
- False empathy: "I understand how frustrating that can be"
- Reluctant negativity: never "bad", only "presents challenges"
- Relentless optimism: every tradeoff reframed as opportunity

## 9. Slop verbs

Substitute the plain verb.

delve, dive (deep dive), plunge, explore, scrutinize, unearth, uncover, unravel,
dissect, illuminate, shed light on, leverage, harness, unleash, foster, cultivate,
spearhead, revolutionize, streamline, optimize, maximize, empower, elevate, embark,
embrace, envision, galvanize, orchestrate, redefine, transcend, unlock, usher,
demystify, unpack, navigate, deliver (value), drive (growth), facilitate, enhance,
accelerate, bolster, amplify, nurture, catalyze, ignite, fuel, propel, supercharge

## 10. Slop adjectives

Delete, or replace with the measured property.

robust, seamless, holistic, game-changing, cutting-edge, groundbreaking, revolutionary,
transformative, unprecedented, unparalleled, unmatched, unwavering, pivotal, paramount,
profound, multifaceted, nuanced, dynamic, intricate, captivating, esteemed, exquisite,
formidable, meticulous, paradigm-shifting, quintessential, trailblazing, ubiquitous,
visionary, iconic, actionable, best-in-class, world-class, top-tier, state-of-the-art,
industry-leading, comprehensive, definitive, ultimate

## 11. Slop nouns

Name the thing literally.

tapestry, landscape, realm, journey, odyssey, paradigm, pinnacle, epitome, facet,
nexus, panorama, symphony, testament, trajectory, ecosystem, synergy, blueprint,
roadmap, cornerstone, bedrock, mosaic, fabric (of society), value proposition,
pain points, low-hanging fruit, bandwidth (non-technical), thought leadership

## 12. Metaphor and analogy clichés

Replace with a literal description.

- "A tapestry of..." / "The backbone of..." / "The lifeblood of..."
- "A catalyst for..." / "The tip of the iceberg" / "A double-edged sword"
- "The gold standard" / "A perfect storm" / "Silver bullet" / "Holy grail"
- "The elephant in the room" / "Connecting the dots" / "A sea change"
- "The intersection of X and Y" / "A delicate balance between X and Y"
- "The power of X" / "The art of X" / "The secret to X" / "The key to X"
- "X paints a picture" / "X speaks to..." / "X resonates with..."

## 13. Business-jargon stacking

Use the plain verb or delete.

leverage, optimize, streamline, drive results, deliver value, scale up, align with,
best practices, key stakeholders, touch base, circle back, win-win, move the needle,
think outside the box, end-to-end, reduce friction

## 14. Repetition and intensity filler

Delete, or replace with a measurement.

- "Time and time again" / "Over and over"
- "Now more than ever" / "Like never before" / "In ways we never imagined"
- Empty intensifiers: truly, genuinely, absolutely, definitely, undoubtedly,
  undeniably, arguably, very, really, extremely
- Vague quantifiers: a wide range of, a variety of, numerous, countless, myriad

## 15. Structure tells

Match the structure to the content.

- "Not only X, but also Y" / "From A to Z"
- "Everything you need to know about" / "The ultimate guide to"
- "X ways to" / "X reasons why"
- "First and foremost" / "Last but not least"
- Bulleted lists for content that reads better as prose, and the reverse
- Bolded lead-in phrases before every point; headers on short responses
- Random bolding that does not mark a warning or a defined term

## 16. Cadence tells

Vary what genuinely varies; do not inject variety for its own sake.

- Sentences all roughly the same length across a whole document
- Identical paragraph rhythm throughout
- Em dashes used pervasively

## 17. Hallucinated authority

Cite the specific source or delete the claim.

- "Research shows that..." (no citation)
- "Many experts agree that..." / "It's widely believed that..."
- "One could argue that..."

## 18. Content tells

Cut to the assertion.

- Four sentences saying what one sentence could
- Lists that cover points but never relate them to each other
- Analogies that gesture at meaning without landing it