| Question sentences | "The result? Improved conversions." | "This led to improved conversions." |
| X/Y juxtapositions | "It's not just about features, it's about benefits." | "Features matter less than benefits." |
| Negation-reveal fragments | "The gap isn't talent. It's action." / "It was never about the money. It was about freedom." | Collapse into one specific, provable claim: "Most people know the playbook. Under 5% ship it in week one." |
| Subject-dropped fragment openers | "Sounds like..." / "Saw your post..." / "Noticed you..." / "Ran a quick check..." (verb-first, no "I/It/That") | Add the subject and make it a full sentence: "It sounds like..." / "I saw your post..." / "I noticed you..." / "I ran a quick check..." Reads as clipped, text-speak shorthand rather than someone actually talking, not conversational the way it's aiming for. |
| Performative honesty preamble | "I want to be honest…" / "to be honest" / "here's the honest truth" / "the honest part most people skip" / "let me be real with you" | Cut the preamble and just say the thing. Honesty is shown by the plain claim, not announced. |
| AI-setup opener | "Here is the move most people never think to make." / "Here is the part [they] leave out." / "Here's the thing nobody tells you." | Start with the substance. Delete the "Here is the [move/part/thing]…" scaffold and lead on the actual point. |
| Filler crutch phrases repeated | "the loud accounts online," "the noise online," "most people never" used as a recurring tic across a piece or series | Vary or cut. A phrase that shows up in every section (or every article) reads as a template. |
| Copula avoidance | "Notion serves as a testament to flexible workflows." / "The page boasts three tiers." | Let it "be": "Notion is flexible." / "The page has three tiers." |
| "-ing" significance tails | "They launched a free tier, highlighting their commitment to accessibility." | End at the fact, or state the real consequence: "They launched a free tier. Signups tripled." |
| Rule-of-three padding | "Fast, powerful, and intuitive." / "Plan, build, and scale." | Break the count. Use one, two, or four: "Fast. Almost annoyingly so." |
| Formal transition openers | "Furthermore," "Moreover," "Additionally," "Notably," "Consequently" | "It also...," or start with the substance |
| Hedge preambles | "It's worth noting that," "It's important to note that," "One might argue that" | Cut the preamble, state the point |
| Phantom authority | "Studies show...," "Experts say...," "Research suggests..." | Name the real source, or make the claim in your own voice with a number |
| Signposted conclusions | "In conclusion," "In summary," "Ultimately," "the possibilities are endless" | End on your last real point. No wind-down |
| Stakes inflation | "a new era of," "leaves an indelible mark," "a pivotal moment," "reshaping the industry" | State the concrete effect: "saves about an hour a week" |
| AI vocabulary | "delve," "tapestry," "realm," "crucial," "pivotal," "intricate," "meticulous," "showcase," "garner," "foster," "underscore," "bolster," "harness," "unlock," "elevate," "embark," "navigate" | Plain words: "look at," "area," "important," "show," "gather," "build" |
| Title Case headings | "How To Improve Your Conversion Rate" | Sentence case: "How to improve your conversion rate" |
| Generic jargon | "leverage," "utilize," "synergy," "game-changer," "paradigm shift" | Plain, specific language |
| Intro phrases | "picture this," "in the realm of," "in the world of" | Start with substance |
| False urgency | "you need to," "you must," "essential" | State facts, let readers decide |
| Vague qualifiers | "very," "really," "quite," "actually" | Remove or use specific descriptors |
| Cliche transitions | "at the end of the day," "when all is said and done" | Natural transitions or none |
| Command phrases | "Remember," "Keep in mind," "Don't forget" | Reframe as statements |
| Filler openers | "It's time to...," "Let's dive in," "The future of X is here" | Cut entirely |
