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Avoid terms are words and phrases your organization has decided not to use. When you add an avoid term to the glossary, AI tools connected through the MCP server will never produce that term during content generation. Instead, they substitute one of the alternatives you specify. This is how you eliminate jargon, outdated language and filler phrases without relying on manual editing.

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When to use avoid terms

Add an avoid term when a word or phrase consistently appears in your content but does not meet your brand’s standards. Common examples include corporate jargon (“leverage,” “utilize”), filler phrases (“in order to”) and words that sound vague or overused (“delve”). Avoid terms are also useful for retiring outdated product names or deprecated terminology that team members might still reach for out of habit.

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Fields

Each avoid term supports the following fields. Name. The word or phrase to block. AI tools will never produce this term in generated content. Enter it exactly as it appears in typical usage, including capitalization. If the term can appear in multiple forms, add each form as a separate entry. Related names. A list of one or more recommended alternatives. When AI tools encounter a context where the avoided term would naturally appear, they use one of these alternatives instead. The tool selects the alternative that best fits the surrounding sentence. You should provide at least one related name for every avoid term so the tool has a clear replacement path.

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Examples

Here are a few examples to illustrate how avoid terms work in practice. Corporate jargon. Name: “utilize.” Related names: “use,” “apply.” Whenever content would include “utilize,” the AI tool substitutes “use” or “apply” depending on context. Filler phrase. Name: “in order to.” Related names: “to.” This removes a three-word phrase that adds no meaning and replaces it with a single word. Overused verb. Name: “leverage.” Related names: “use.” A straightforward swap that keeps content clear and direct. Vague language. Name: “delve.” Related names: “explore,” “dig into,” “look at.” Multiple alternatives give the AI tool flexibility to choose the option that reads most naturally in each sentence.

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How alternatives are selected

When an avoid term has multiple related names, the AI tool evaluates the surrounding context and picks the alternative that fits best. You do not need to specify when to use which alternative. However, ordering matters as a soft signal. The first related name in the list is treated as the default choice, and the tool will prefer it when multiple alternatives are equally appropriate.

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Best practices

  • Always provide at least one alternative. An avoid term without a related name gives the AI tool no replacement path, which can produce awkward phrasing.
  • Be specific about what you are blocking. “Leverage” as a verb and “leverage” as a noun may need separate entries if you only want to block one usage.
  • Do not overload the avoid list. A focused list of 10 to 20 terms is more effective than a sprawling list of 100. Target the terms that actually appear in your content.
  • Review avoided terms alongside your preferred terms. Sometimes a term belongs in the preferred list rather than the avoid list, especially if the issue is inconsistent spelling rather than unwanted language.
  • Check your list against real content. If your team never actually writes “delve,” you do not need an entry for it. Focus on the terms that cause real problems.
  • Glossary for an overview of how the glossary works.
  • Preferred terms to define the correct names and acronyms your team should always use.
  • Voices to configure tone and rules that work alongside your terminology.