Methodology

LLM-isms

Rhetorical patterns that signal shallow pattern-matching rather than genuine reasoning. When you see them, increase your skepticism.

Added Dec 30, 2025

LLMs frequently take linguistic shortcuts that sound insightful but signal shallow analysis. These patterns correlate with pattern-matching from training data rather than genuine reasoning about the specific situation.

Some common patterns:

The Dramatic Reframe

"This isn't X — it's Y"

Procrustean Threes

"There are three key factors..."

The Nuanced Hedge

"The truth lies somewhere in between"

Filler Transitions

"It's worth noting...", "Interestingly..."

Buzzword Inflation

"Paradigm shift", "inflection point"

When you catch these patterns, ask: is there a concrete, falsifiable claim underneath? If not, the content needs more thought.

Examples

The LLM-isms in 'LLM-isms'

We wrote a post warning about LLM rhetorical patterns, then graded ourselves. Final score: 2 guilty, 3 acceptable, 2 intentional. The patterns are everywhere, even in warnings about them.

— Blog post

Discussed in Blog

Llm Isms Llm Isms In Llm Isms

Sources & Further Reading

LLM-isms blog post
BaseMethodology.md

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