Banned AI Patterns

Source: MEMORY.md (feedback_voice-check-mandatory.md), /Users/jonathon/Auto1111/Claude/OmniPresenceClaudeCode/ (omnipresence:banned-patterns skill, omnipresence:grammar-rules skill)

Every script, caption, email, and piece of client-facing content must pass through the banned AI patterns filter. This is not optional polish — it is a hard gate. Content that sounds like AI wrote it destroys trust with both the internal team (Mel will reject it) and the end audience (dental practice owners who are increasingly AI-literate). The ban list covers 99 specific phrases, structural patterns, and grammar rules enforced via Chicago Manual of Style.

99 Banned Phrases (Partial List)

These words and phrases must never appear in any script, caption, or outreach content:

• diving, dive into, deep dive
• unleash, unlock
• tapestry
• delve into, delve
• elevate, elevating
• seamless, seamlessly
• cutting-edge
• game-changer, game-changing
• leverage, leveraging
• robust
• empower, empowering
• revolutionize, revolutionary
• paradigm, paradigm shift
• synergy, synergize
• holistic
• ecosystem (when used metaphorically)
• disrupt, disruptive
• best-in-class
• world-class
• next-level
• state-of-the-art
• groundbreaking
• trailblazing
• innovative (overused to meaninglessness)
• transform, transformative (unless describing a specific, real transformation)
• harness
• optimize (use “improve” instead)
• streamline
• spearhead
• navigate (the complexities of)
• realm
• landscape (the marketing landscape)
• journey (your dental journey)
• embark
• foster
• cultivate
• curate, curated
• bespoke
• actionable insights
• at the end of the day
• it goes without saying
• in today’s world
• moving forward
• let’s be honest
• here’s the thing
• the truth is
• the reality is

The full list of 99 is maintained in the omnipresence:banned-patterns skill file. When in doubt, ask: “Would a real person say this in conversation?” If not, cut it.

Banned Sentence Patterns

Beyond individual words, these structural patterns are banned because they signal AI-generated content:

• “No X. No Y. Just Z.” — Maximum 1 use per entire content guide. This pattern is the most recognizable AI fingerprint in marketing copy
• Short rhetorical question fragments — “The good news?” “The catch?” “The problem?” as standalone sentences before the answer. Use full sentences instead
• Short punchy fragment stacking — “One visit. Done.” “Three months. Transformed.” This reads as AI trying to sound punchy. Write real sentences
• “No [thing]” repetition lists — “No guesswork. No confusion. No wasted spend.” is the same pattern as “No X. No Y. Just Z.” in a different costume
• Em dash overuse — One em dash per script is acceptable. Three or more is an AI tell. Restructure sentences instead

Voice Check Protocol

This applies beyond scripts to ALL client-facing content:

• Screen every email, outreach message, and document for AI language before showing to the user or sending to a client
• The voice check is mandatory, not suggested — any content that reaches a client with AI-sounding language reflects poorly on the entire operation
• When editing, read the final version aloud. AI patterns are easier to hear than to see
• If you catch yourself writing “leverage” or “elevate,” stop and ask what the plain English version is

Grammar Rules (Chicago Manual of Style)

These are enforced across all OmniPresence and WEO Promo content:

Rule	Correct	Incorrect
Direction	toward	towards
Medical	checkup	check-up
Dental compounds	gumline, jawbone, mouthguard, nightguard	gum line, jaw bone, mouth guard, night guard
Medical adjective	preventive	preventative
Numbers 1-9	Spell out (one, two, three)	1, 2, 3
Numbers 10+	Use numerals (10, 25, 100)	ten, twenty-five, one hundred
Headlines	Title Case	sentence case
Subheads	Sentence case	Title Case

Speakability Test

Every script line must pass the speakability test:

• Read aloud. If you stumble, the doctor will stumble. Rewrite
• Check for breath. If a sentence requires the speaker to take a breath mid-thought, it is too long. Split it
• Listen for formality. Dental scripts should sound like a conversation, not a lecture. “You might be wondering” is better than “One may find oneself contemplating”
• Watch for written-not-spoken patterns. “Furthermore,” “in addition,” “moreover” — these are written transitions. Spoken transitions are “and,” “plus,” “also,” or just starting a new sentence

Key Takeaways

• The 99 banned phrases are a hard gate, not a style preference — content with these phrases will be rejected
• Sentence patterns (“No X. No Y. Just Z.”) are as important to catch as individual banned words
• The voice check applies to everything client-facing: scripts, emails, outreach, documents
• Grammar follows Chicago Manual of Style with dental-specific compound word rules
• The speakability test is the final filter: if you cannot say it naturally aloud, rewrite it
• For the design-focused counterpart to this ban list, see Anti-AI Slop Guide

Related

• Mel’s Feedback Rules (internal editorial-rules doc)|Mel’s Feedback Rules (internal editorial-rules doc) — Mel is the one who catches and rejects AI-sounding patterns
• OmniPresence System (internal WEO Marketly script-production system)|OmniPresence System (internal WEO Marketly script-production system) — Banned patterns are enforced as part of the 25-point quality checklist
• Voice Profile Extraction (internal)|Voice Profile Extraction (internal) — The voice profile helps replace AI patterns with the doctor’s natural language
• WEO Marketly Promo (internal)|WEO Marketly Promo (internal) — Same banned patterns apply to corporate scripts
• Anti-AI Slop Guide — The design-focused counterpart to this production-focused ban list
• Building Skills Guide — The banned patterns list is implemented as a Claude Code skill
• Hermes Marketing Applications (internal)|Hermes Marketing Applications (internal) — Any content Hermes generates for marketing must also pass these filters

Try It

1. Run a banned-phrase scan on your most recent script or email — search for each of the top 20 banned phrases
2. Count em dashes in your last piece of content. If more than 1 per page, restructure
3. Read your next script aloud before submitting. Mark every line where you stumble or take an unnatural breath
4. Add the banned phrases list to your editor’s custom dictionary as flagged words so they highlight automatically
5. When you catch a banned pattern, replace it with the plainest English alternative — “leverage your network” becomes “use your network”