Cold-email slop is fake personalisation. The phrases below imply that the sender looked you up, while saying nothing that supports the claim. Recipients may recognise this pattern because similar messages are common.
The phrases, and what to write instead
| Avoid | Write instead |
|---|---|
| I hope this email finds you well | Delete. Start with why you are writing. |
| I hope you're doing well! | Delete. |
| I came across your impressive work | Name the exact thing, and what you thought about it. |
| I saw your profile on LinkedIn and was impressed | Cite one specific fact. Otherwise leave it out. |
| I wanted to reach out | You are reaching out. Say the thing. |
| Quick question | Ask the question. Put it in the subject line. |
| Just circling back | "Following up on the 3rd — did that reach you?" |
| Just bumping this to the top of your inbox | Say what changed since last time, or do not send it. |
| Dear Sir or Madam | Use their name. If you do not have it, you are not ready to send. |
| leverage synergies | Say what you would actually do together. |
| optimize outcomes | Name the number you think you can move. |
| a robust, seamless solution | Name the capability and the setup time. |
| Here's the truth: | Cut. Then say the thing. |
| I'd love to pick your brain | Ask one specific question you cannot answer yourself. |
| Let me know if this resonates | "Worth 15 minutes on Thursday?" |
Complete example
Before
I came across your impressive work and wanted to reach out with a quick question. Your March post says the support team is moving from Intercom to Zendesk, and we help teams test that migration before the first queue moves.
After
Your March post says the support team is moving from Intercom to Zendesk. We help teams test that migration before the first queue moves.
I hope this email finds you well is fine for a genuine relationship. In a cold email, it often delays the reason for writing.
I saw [specific source] about [specific situation]. I can help with [specific task]. Would [small next step] help?
Use only details you can verify.
Check this draft in the anti-slop editor
The editor checks general writing patterns. This guide includes context advice that the general checker does not test. Your draft stays in the browser; you choose each change.
Open the editor →The rule underneath all of them
Every replacement above does the same thing: it swaps a claim for evidence. That is the whole method, and it is why no tool can finish the job for you. A model can delete results-driven. Only you know the number that belongs there.
Density matters more than any single word. One phrase may be ordinary. Several nearby tells can make a draft feel templated. The full 200+ tell list covers vocabulary, sentence patterns and machine artifacts that apply across many drafts.
Questions
Why do AI-written cold emails get ignored?
They often follow a shape the recipient has seen many times: warm opener, vague compliment, unearned ask. The words are polite, but the structure is easy to dismiss. An email that opens with a specific fact about the recipient's situation has a better chance of earning attention.
What makes a cold email subject line sound automated?
Fake urgency ("Quick question", "Following up"), and anything that could be sent to any recipient. A subject naming the recipient's actual situation gives the message a specific reason for being sent.
Can I use ChatGPT for cold email without it sounding automated?
Use it for structure, not recipient-specific facts. Check every sentence that mentions the recipient against your source. A model may produce a compliment that fits many people when the prompt lacks a real detail.