## Rhetorical Formula Patterns by Model

### Repetitive sentence structures that reveal AI writing across all major LLMs

#### Binary Contrast

“It's not X. It's Y.”

#### Stop/Start Parallel

“Stop chasing leads. Start building relationships.”

#### Question Negation

“The question isn't whether. It's whether your strategy reflects that.”

#### Rule of Three

“fast, efficient, and user-friendly”

#### Reframe Formula

“That's not failure. That's data.”

#### Old/New Contrast

“Old approach: manual. New approach: automated.”

#### False Comfort

“You may not control the market. But you can control your response.”

#### Temporal Contrast

“We used to X. Now we Y.”

#### Concession + Pivot

“Yes, X. But also Y.”

#### Nuanced Hedge

“That's a fair point. The nuance is Y.”

#### Challenge Formula

“Popular opinion: X. Reality: Y.”

#### Identity Redefinition

“I'm not a X. I'm a Y.”

#### Parallel Contrast

“Done beats perfect.”

#### Escalation

“X is good. But Y is better.”

#### Drama Starters

“This changes everything. Nobody's talking about this.”

#### Truth Announcement

“The truth is, customers don't care about features.”

#### Here's Setup

“Here's why this matters:”

#### Let That Sink In

“Let that sink in.”

## Setup Phrases & Transition Crimes

### Instant AI tells: these phrases scream artificial writing

#### Setup Phrases That Scream AI

“Here's why:”  
Fix: Start with the reason

“Here's what:”  
Fix: Start with the content

“Here's the thing:”  
Fix: Delete entirely

“What this means:”  
Fix: State implication directly

“The reality is:”  
Fix: State directly

“The truth is:”  
Fix: Just be truthful

“Let's be honest:”  
Fix: Delete, just be honest

“It's important to note that”  
Fix: Just note it

“It's worth noting that”  
Fix: State the fact

“Think about it like...”  
Fix: State comparison directly

### Transition Crimes

Moreover,

Better: Also, or new sentence

Furthermore,

Better: Additionally, or new sentence

Additionally,

Better: Start new thought

Consequently,

Better: So, Therefore, This means

That said,

Better: But or delete

That being said,

Better: Delete entirely

At the end of the day,

Better: Delete (meaningless)

The bottom line is,

Better: Delete, state it

On the flip side,

Better: But or However

With that in mind,

Better: Delete

## AI Signature Words by Category

### Overused vocabulary patterns organized by semantic function

#### Corporate Buzzwords

synergy: coordination, cooperation  
leverage: use, apply, build on  
streamline: simplify, improve, speed up  
optimize: improve, refine, enhance  
holistic: complete, comprehensive, full  
seamless: smooth, easy, integrated

### Empowerment Verbs

foster: encourage, support, build  
harness: use, apply  
unlock: access, enable, achieve  
empower: help, enable, support  
catalyze: drive, start, accelerate

### Aspirational Adjectives

transformative: significant, major, substantial  
seamless: smooth, easy, integrated  
vibrant: Describe actual qualities  
revolutionary: new, different, innovative  
unparalleled: unique, distinctive, unusual  
groundbreaking: new, first, innovative

### Grandiosity Terms

paradigm: paradigm shift  
revolutionary: revolutionary approach  
unprecedented: unprecedented results  
game-changer: this is a game-changer

## Syntactic & Punctuation Patterns

### Syntactic Structure Tells

#### Sentence Length

AI Pattern: Uniform 25-27 words  
Human Pattern: Highly varied (5-40+ words)

#### Burstiness

AI Pattern: Low (B < 30)  
Human Pattern: High (B > 50)

#### Present Participles

AI Pattern: 2-5× human rate  
Human Pattern: Occasional

#### Nominalizations

AI Pattern: 1.5-2× frequency  
Human Pattern: Moderate use

#### Passive Voice

AI Pattern: GPT-4o: half human rate  
Human Pattern: Varies by context

#### Coordination

AI Pattern: Higher frequency  
Human Pattern: Balanced with subordination

### Punctuation Usage Patterns

#### Em dash (—)

AI Behavior: 10× increase GPT-3.5→GPT-4o  
Human Behavior: Occasional, varied

#### Oxford comma

AI Behavior: Almost never omitted (100%)  
Human Behavior: Inconsistent usage

#### Colon-reveal

AI Behavior: Result: 80% fewer  
Human Behavior: Rare in body text

#### Exclamation marks

AI Behavior: Conservative, formula-based  
Human Behavior: Emotional, spontaneous

## Purple Prose: AI Creative Writing Patterns

### Why AI defaults to ornate, melodramatic language in fiction and creative content

#### Comparative Examples

**AI-Generated**

“The wizard approached cautiously, his robes flowing like purest velvet, the shimmering fabric catching ethereal moonlight as it cascaded down in waves of mystical elegance.”

**Human Revision**

“The wizard's velvet robes shimmered in the moonlight.”

**AI-Generated**

“Her heart was a tapestry of emotions, woven with threads of joy and sorrow, creating a symphony of feelings that resonated through her very soul.”

**Human Revision**

“She felt both happy and sad.”

**AI-Generated**

“Tears streamed down her face like diamonds, each one a precious testament to the depth of her overwhelming anguish.”

**Human Revision**

“Tears streamed down her face.”

**AI-Generated**

“The changeling's fur was soft as butterfly wings, shimmering with an otherworldly luminescence that seemed to pulse with ancient magic.”

**Human Revision**

“The changeling's soft fur glowed.”

### How to Spot Purple Prose

**Look for:** Elaborate adjectives before every noun and metaphor clusters. **Fix:** Replace adjective clusters with single concrete details. Cut metaphors by 80%. Use one-syllable verbs. Delete emotional amplifiers.

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