arXiv abstracts show LLM-style words peaked after ChatGPT, then started fading

james_y_zou · x · 2026-08-04

A chart tracking LLM-associated words in arXiv abstracts from 2021 to 2026 shows a clear post-ChatGPT shift in academic writing.

The terms “delve,” “pivotal,” “intricate,” “realm,” and especially “em dash” are tracked over time. According to the plot, some LLM-ish phrasing rose sharply after ChatGPT’s launch and later declined, while em dash usage keeps climbing. The post suggests researchers may now be consciously avoiding obvious AI-sounding words.

Related event: AI Buzzwords in Academic Papers Peak and Decline(2 posts)→

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