Manuscript Analysis Free · in-browser · optional cloud history

Filter Word Finder

Find crutch words AI prose overuses — very, really, just, suddenly, felt — with density scoring and rewrite tips.

All tools About & FAQ Full cleanup report Adverb counter
Runs in your browser. We don’t use your drafts to train models.
0 words 0 chars < 1 min
Ctrl+Enter

Paste your text above, then click Analyze — or use Try sample for a quick demo.

Related tools

Manuscript Cleanup Report Adverb Counter Show Don't Tell Hints Cliché & Overused Phrase Finder

About this tool

Filter words weaken fiction by adding distance between the reader and the scene. This free filter word finder scans for crutch phrases AI writing often overuses — including very, really, just, suddenly, felt, seemed, and more — then groups hits by category with rewrite tips and density scoring. Paste a chapter from Story Studio or any AI novel draft; the scan runs locally in your browser with no upload.

What you can do

  • Scans dozens of filter words and hedging phrases common in AI-assisted fiction
  • Category pills for amplifiers, sensing verbs, fillers, and temporal crutches
  • Density score per 1,000 words with a target benchmark for commercial prose
  • Highlighted excerpt showing every hit in context for quick revision
  • Optional skip for quoted dialogue so you can focus on narration first
  • Rewrite tips per category — not just flags, but craft guidance
  • Export-friendly report you can reference while editing in Word or Story Studio

Cut the glass pane between reader and scene

Filter words are the fastest AI-smell fix: very, really, just, felt, seemed. Clean narration first, keep character voice in dialogue, then re-scan density before you chase line-level style.

Manuscript cleanup report · Adverb counter · Edit a book with AI

How to use it

  1. Paste your chapter or full manuscript into the text area.
  2. Click Analyze to scan for filter words and crutch phrases.
  3. Use category pills to focus on amplifiers, sensing verbs, or fillers.
  4. Read rewrite tips and inspect the highlighted excerpt line by line.
  5. Optionally skip quoted dialogue, then aim for fewer than about 8 hits per 1,000 words.

Tips for fiction authors

  • "Just" and "really" are the most common AI crutch words. Search-and-delete them first for the biggest improvement per edit.
  • Keep "felt" and "seemed" when writing an unreliable narrator — distance is sometimes the point.
  • Replace "very + adjective" with a stronger single word: "very tired" becomes "exhausted," "very angry" becomes "furious."
  • In dialogue, some filter words sound natural. Cut them from narration but keep character voice authentic.
  • Run filter words before show-don't-tell revision — the same lines often carry both problems.

Related guides

Why AI Writes Every Character Wanting the Same Thing How to Use AI to Diagnose and Fix Sentence-Level Monotony Why AI Resolves Every Scene's Emotional Beat Too Neatly Use AI to Find Where Scenes Overstay Their Welcome

Common questions
What are filter words in fiction?

Words and phrases that filter the reader's experience through the narrator — like "she felt," "very," "suddenly," or "seemed to." Cutting them often strengthens prose.

Why do AI drafts have so many filter words?

Large language models default to cautious, distanced narration. A filter-word pass is one of the fastest AI draft cleanup steps before KDP.

Should I remove every filter word?

No. Use the report to find clusters and overuse. Occasional filter words are fine when they serve rhythm or voice.

Is my manuscript uploaded?

No. The filter word finder runs entirely in your browser. Your text never leaves your device.

How is this different from the cliché finder?

Filter words add narrative distance (very, felt, seemed). The cliché finder targets stock phrases and tired metaphors like "heart pounded."

Comments (0)

Share a tip, question, or experience — keep it useful for other writers.

Prefer a public profile and edit access? Sign in or create a free account.

5,000 left

No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.