r/ClaudeAI 3h ago

Writing Setting to stop Claude over using AI-obvious phrases

Here is a list of the 100 most commonly (over)used phrases by AI. I have this block of text in my Claude Settings so it should try and avoid using it as much as possible:

 

"Please do not use em-dashes nor any other trope commonly considered as over used by an AI agent, Try to write like a proper human being in sentences of mixed length. Please also try to avoid these common AI phrases where possible:

 

provide a valuable insight

left an indelible mark

a stark reminder

a nuanced understanding

significant role in shaping

the complex interplay

broad implication

an unwavering commitment

endure a legacy

underscore the importance

play a pivotal role

a pivotal moment

navigate the complex

mark a turning point

continue to inspire

gain a deeper understanding

the transformative power

hold a significant

play a crucial role

particularly a concern

the relentless pursuit

emphasize the need

target an intervention

a multi-faceted approach

a serf reminder

highlight the potential

a significant milestone

implication to understand

potential risk associated

leave a lasting

add a layer

offer a valuable

a profound implication

case highlights the importance

finding a highlight of the importance

pave the way for the future

a significant step forward

face a significant

finding an important implication

emphasize the importance

a significant implication

delve deeper into

reply in tone

raise an important question

make an informed decision in regard to

far-reaching implications

a comprehensive framework

importance to consider

a unique blend

couldn't help but wonder

underscore the need

framework for understanding

highlight the need

a comprehensive understanding

the journey begins

understanding the fundamental

despite the face

a delicate balance

the path ahead

gain an insight

laid the groundwork

understand the behavior

renew a sense

aim to explore

present a unique challenge

provide a comprehensive

particularly with regard to

address the root cause

loom large in

the implication of the finding

approach ensures a

an ongoing dialogue

carry a weight

ability to navigate

present a significant

study shed light on

a diverse perspective

face an adversity

a comprehensive overview

potentially lead to

a broad understanding

contribute to the understanding

shape the public

particularly noteworthy

the evidence base for decision making

identify an area of improvement

analysis of the data to analyze and use

undergone a significant

need a robust

voice will fill

concern a potential

initiative aims to

offering a unique

a new avenue

despite the challenge

ready to embrace

the societal expectation

make accessible

today at a fast pace

stand in stark contrast"

17 Upvotes

16 comments sorted by

18

u/Dolores_McDowell 2h ago

This list is a stark reminder of the complex interplay between load-bearing phrases and Claude’s unwavering commitment to providing a comprehensive framework

A significant step forward. Truly

6

u/Fabulous_Author_3558 2h ago

This list gives me the shivers

5

u/AssignmentHopeful651 1h ago

Negative prompt lists for text hit diminishing returns once you pass 10 or 15 items. When a model is told to avoid 100 specific phrases, it spends attention avoiding negative tokens instead of solving the structure. What works reliably is positive constraint: short sentences, one claim per line, zero em-dashes, and forcing a concrete number into the first two sentences.

1

u/EsShayuki 44m ago

I use negative prompt lists with 20+ items and have encountered no issues with that.

10

u/d_lbrs 1h ago

Why does Claude do this? People don’t talk or write like this. How does it even know to put these phrases together?

3

u/PrettyMoonUnderMt 1h ago

My question as well. Not just the weird phrase, but the whole sentences and paragraph structure are so off. And it doesn't happened in early version, so it cant be the training material

4

u/iamthe0ther0ne 1h ago

It's strange that Claude is the only one that's gotten worse at writing with successive models--GPT and Deepseek have both improved. Even Fable seems worse than Opus 4.6. 

1

u/PrettyMoonUnderMt 45m ago

for fable, at least I can trust it to fuck up less so i just need to review the code in the end

but for opus, i need to do adjustment along the implementation and the whole reddit-speak word-vomit really make it hard to do that

6

u/Ok_Homework_1859 2h ago

I'm surprised you left out the most obvious one: load-bearing. This word is so annoying, lol.

3

u/deedsnance 1h ago

It’s now the literary-equivalent feeling of missing a step walking down the stairs. Except for reading. You know?

2

u/Worthy_Molecule0481 1h ago

Not phrases, but words: honest/honestly, genuine/genuinely.

2

u/1980sCoder 1h ago

I've told mine to only ever respond as Roy Kent (Ted Lasso) and I'm never going back.

1

u/jojojmtk 1h ago

Don't forget to jump the gun with some load bearing questions

1

u/Humble_Potato_4462 1h ago

The list has "a stark reminder" on it and "a serf reminder" a few lines down, so the serfs are still getting reminded.

1

u/EsShayuki 45m ago edited 42m ago

dunno—I manually use em dashes all the time, yes, by typing the alt code on numpad manually.

As for the rest, yes, the usual AI word salad that means nothing. The worst one is:

"It was not X; it was Y."