Slop is AI-generated filler that sounds professional but says nothing. It's the phrases, structures, and cadences that make content feel assembled by a language model rather than written by someone who does the work. Google's March 2024 Core Update explicitly targeted this kind of content, reducing low-quality results by 40%. AI search platforms — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude — skip generic passages entirely in favor of specific, original analysis. If your B2B SaaS content strategy produces pages that read like template output, both traditional and AI search engines will deprioritize them.

This cheat sheet breaks anti-slop detection into 25 verifiable checks across four categories. Run it on any page in under 15 minutes. Score each check as PASS (1 point) or FAIL (0 points). Pages scoring below 17 need a full editing pass before they help your domain authority.

40%

Reduction in low-quality content Google targeted in its March 2024 Core Update

Google, 2024

Banned phrases that instantly flag AI-generated content

Content style analysis

Practitioner knowledge signals needed per page to pass the expert test

Editorial best practice

Section 1: Banned Phrase Detection (10 Checks)

Banned phrases are the most reliable signal of AI-generated content. Language models default to these terms because they appear frequently in training data. A single instance weakens perceived authority. Multiple instances tell readers — and search engines — that nobody with domain expertise reviewed this page.

Banned Phrase Detection

Search the page for these phrases. Any occurrence is a fail for that check.

No corporate buzzwords: leverage, best-in-class, synergy/synergize, cutting-edge/state-of-the-art

These four phrases appear in virtually every AI-generated B2B draft. ‘Leverage’ and ‘cutting-edge’ are the most common. Replace with specific verbs and descriptions: ‘use’ instead of ‘leverage,’ the actual technology name instead of ‘cutting-edge.’

No empty superlatives: solutions (standalone), game-changer, disruptive/disrupt

‘Solutions’ used as a standalone noun is the most frequent AI-slop signal in B2B content. ‘Game-changer’ and ‘disruptive’ lost all meaning years ago. Name the actual product, service, or outcome instead.

No hedge language: unlock/unleash, thought leadership (self-referential)

‘Unlock your potential’ and ‘unleash growth’ are metaphors that substitute for specifics. Calling your own content ‘thought leadership’ is self-congratulatory — let readers decide. State the specific outcome or insight instead.

No business clichés: touch base/circle back, low-hanging fruit, move the needle

These phrases signal that content was generated from a generic business-language corpus. They add zero information. Replace with the specific action, opportunity, or metric you mean.

No filler openers: at the end of the day, in today's digital landscape

These two phrases open more AI-generated paragraphs than any others. ‘In today's digital landscape’ has become a meme for AI-written content. ‘At the end of the day’ is a verbal tic that adds nothing in writing. Delete them entirely — the sentence after them is usually the real opening.

No overused CTAs: one-stop shop, guaranteed results

‘One-stop shop’ positions you as a commodity. ‘Guaranteed results’ is either misleading or unenforceable. Describe your specific offering and set honest expectations about outcomes.

No filler transitions: Let's dive in, Without further ado, In this section we'll explore, Let's get started

Filler transitions are padding sentences that add zero information. They exist because AI models are trained on content that uses them as paragraph connectors. Cut them. Start the next section with its actual content.

No vague authority claims: studies show (without source), research indicates, experts agree, it's widely known

Appealing to unnamed authority is a trust-destroying pattern. ‘Studies show’ without a citation is worse than no claim at all — it signals that the writer either fabricated the reference or couldn't find the actual source. Name the study, or rewrite as a qualitative observation.

No generic benefit statements: save time and money, grow your business, take your X to the next level, streamline your operations, drive meaningful results

These phrases could apply to any product in any industry. They communicate nothing specific about your offering. Replace each with a concrete outcome: ‘reduce manual reconciliation from 4 hours to 20 minutes’ beats ‘save time and money’ every time.

No adjective stacking: 3+ consecutive adjectives before a noun

‘Comprehensive, innovative, cutting-edge solution’ is a hallmark of AI-generated copy. One well-chosen adjective is stronger than three generic ones. If you need to describe something with multiple qualities, break them into separate sentences with evidence for each.

AI Slop

“In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, it's important to leverage cutting-edge solutions to unlock your business's full potential and drive meaningful results.”

Practitioner Writing

“B2B SaaS companies that restructure content for AI extraction see citation rates increase within 60 days. The structural changes are specific and measurable.”

Section 2: Voice & Tone Checks (5 Checks)

Voice inconsistency is one of the clearest tells that content was generated rather than written. AI models frequently shift between first-person singular, first-person plural, and passive corporate voice within a single page. Human writers choose a voice and maintain it.

Voice & Tone

Does the voice stay consistent and active throughout the page?

Consistent ‘we’ voice for organization content

If the page represents an organization, ‘we’ should be used consistently. Switching between ‘I,’ ‘we,’ and ‘the company’ mid-page is a common AI-generation artifact. Exception: personal essays, founder-attributed blog posts, or glossary pages (third person).

No unexplained ‘I/my’ on team or agency pages

Solo voice (‘I believe,’ ‘my approach’) on pages that represent an organization signals content was generated without voice calibration. If the page isn't explicitly a personal post, ‘I’ should not appear.

No passive corporate hedging

Search for: ‘it could be argued that,’ ‘one might consider,’ ‘there are many ways to,’ ‘it is worth noting that.’ These hedges dilute authority. State positions directly: ‘this approach fails because’ instead of ‘it could be argued that this approach may not always be optimal.’

Average sentence length varies (not uniformly long)

AI-generated content tends toward uniformly mid-length sentences (15-20 words each). Practitioner writing mixes short declarative sentences with longer explanatory ones. Read a section aloud — if every sentence has the same rhythm, it needs editing.

Paragraphs are 4 sentences or fewer

Paragraphs longer than 4 sentences signal AI-generated content, which defaults to dense blocks. Short paragraphs improve readability on screens and force tighter thinking. If a paragraph runs long, it usually contains two distinct points that should be separated.

Section 3: Structure & Rhythm Checks (5 Checks)

Structural monotony is the AI-slop signal that most editors miss. When every section follows the same pattern — intro paragraph, three bullet points, closing sentence — the content feels templated because it is. Practitioner writing adapts its structure to the content, using prose where nuance matters, tables where comparison matters, and lists where sequence matters.

Scan Openers

Check first sentence of every H2 section

Map Structure

Note format used in each section

Compare Rhythm

Verify sections use different formats

Confirm Variety

At least 3 distinct structural patterns

Structure & Rhythm

Does the content structure vary or follow a single template?

Section openers state a specific claim, not generic setup

Read the first sentence of every H2 section. Each should state a specific claim, data point, or question. ‘In this section, we'll cover...’ and ‘It's important to understand...’ are generic setup that wastes the reader's most attentive moment. Lead with the insight.

Prose rhythm varies between sections

Content should alternate between prose, lists, tables, callouts, and visual elements. Scan the page at a distance — if every section looks identical in shape, the content is structurally monotonous. AI systems also prefer varied structure for extraction.

No identical section structures repeated across the page

If three or more consecutive sections follow the exact same pattern (paragraph, list, paragraph), the content reads as templated. Each section should be structured to serve its specific content — not to match a repeating formula.

Transitions earned through logical flow

Sections should connect through logical progression, not through explicit transition phrases like ‘Moving on to...’ or ‘Now let's talk about...’ If you need a transition phrase to connect two sections, the sections may not belong next to each other.

At least 1 structured element per 1,000 words

Tables, lists, comparison grids, stat cards, or visual diagrams should appear at least once per 1,000 words of body content. All-prose pages are harder to scan, less likely to earn featured snippets, and less likely to be cited by AI search platforms.

Anti-Slop Detection Layers

Practitioner Knowledge Test

Does the content require domain expertise to write, or could a generic prompt produce it?

Data Integrity

No fabricated stats — all claims traceable to a named, verifiable source

Structural Variety

Section openers, rhythm variation, formatting mix between prose and structured elements

Voice Consistency

We vs I, active vs passive, hedge language patterns across the full page

Banned Phrase Scan

Automated check for 16+ flagged phrases that instantly signal AI-generated content

Section 4: Data & Authority Checks (5 Checks)

Fabricated data is the highest-risk form of slop. A single invented statistic discovered by a reader, a journalist, or an AI system can destroy months of authority building. These checks verify that every data claim on the page traces to a real source — and that authority claims are specific rather than vague.

Data & Authority

Are all data claims verifiable and all authority signals specific?

Zero fabricated statistics, case studies, or testimonials

Search the page for any specific numbers, percentages, dollar amounts, or attributed claims. Every one must trace to a verifiable source. If a stat can't be verified, rewrite the sentence using qualitative language: ‘a majority of enterprises’ instead of an unverifiable ‘73% of enterprises.’

All data claims traceable to a named source

Every statistic should have an identifiable origin: the organization that produced it, the report name, or the year of publication. ‘According to Forrester's 2025 B2B Buyer Survey’ is traceable. ‘A recent study found’ is not.

No ‘studies show’ without a specific citation

‘Studies show,’ ‘research indicates,’ and ‘data suggests’ without a named source are the most common authority-faking patterns in AI content. Either name the study or remove the appeal to unnamed authority entirely.

Competitor references are fair and specific

When mentioning competitors, name them directly — no ‘some agencies’ or ‘many providers.’ Note what they do well before identifying limitations. Vague competitor references signal that the writer has no actual competitive knowledge.

Honest limitations stated openly

The page includes at least one boundary or limitation: ‘this approach won't work if...,’ ‘this is specifically for X, not Y,’ or ‘results depend on...’ Content that claims to solve everything earns trust from no one. Stating what you can't do builds credibility for what you can.

Scoring Guide

Score each of the 25 checks as PASS (1 point) or FAIL (0 points). Sum for a total out of 25.

Score	Verdict	Action
22-25	Clean copy	No slop detected. Content reads as practitioner-written. Ship it.
17-21	Minor issues	Targeted fixes needed. Most likely 1-2 banned phrases or a voice inconsistency. Fix the specific failures and re-check.
12-16	Significant slop	Major editing pass required. Multiple sections need rewriting with practitioner input. The content is hurting domain authority in its current state.
Below 12	AI draft	Full human rewrite needed. This content was likely generated without meaningful editorial review. Publishing it risks domain authority and search performance.

Priority order for fixes: Start with Section 1 (Banned Phrases) and Section 4 (Data & Authority). Banned phrases are the fastest to fix — find and replace. Fabricated data is the highest-risk issue — a single unverifiable stat damages credibility more than a dozen filler transitions.

What to Do Next

Run this checklist on your highest-traffic page first. If it scores below 17, the content your audience sees most frequently has structural weaknesses that undermine trust and search performance.

For the full 50-check content quality audit that covers technical SEO, internal linking, E-E-A-T, anti-slop, and AI extraction readiness, see the QA Content Audit Checklist.

For the complete SEO methodology for B2B SaaS behind these checks — including how content quality, technical foundations, and AI optimization work together — read the service overview. If you want hands-on help running these audits across your site, get in touch.