Work-email slop is formality padding. A model writes email at the register of a formal letter, so an ordinary message to a colleague comes back sounding like a legal notice. The tell is that it is too polite for the relationship.
The phrases, and what to write instead
| Avoid | Write instead |
|---|---|
| I hope this email finds you well | Delete. State the reason for writing. |
| Kindly note that | "Note that", or just say it. |
| It would be greatly appreciated if you could | "Could you…" |
| Please be advised that | Delete. |
| Looking forward to your prompt response | "Let me know by Thursday." |
| At your earliest convenience | Give the actual date. |
| Per my last email | Link it. Skip the edge. |
| I wanted to circle back regarding | "About the invoice —" |
| a comprehensive overview | Say what is in it. |
| multifaceted | List the parts. |
| That being said | But. Or start a new sentence. |
| Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out | "Any questions, just reply." |
| Thank you in advance for your cooperation | "Thanks." |
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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 is what readers notice, not any single word. One phrase from this table is a coincidence. Four in a short piece is a pattern, and people now recognise the pattern quickly. The full 200+ tell list covers the vocabulary, sentence patterns and machine artifacts that apply everywhere, whatever you are writing.
Questions
Why do colleagues think my emails sound like ChatGPT?
Usually register, not vocabulary. A model defaults to formal-letter English, so a two-line message to someone you sit near arrives sounding like correspondence from a bank. Read it aloud: if you would not say it to their face, it is too formal for email.
What makes a work email sound overly formal?
Politeness stacked in front of the request: "I hope this finds you well", "it would be greatly appreciated if", "at your earliest convenience". Each delays the ask. Deleting all three usually improves the email.
How short should a work email be?
Short enough that the ask is visible without scrolling. One line of context, one line of ask, one date. Most AI drafts are three times that length and carry the same information.