5 ChatGPT Phrases That Made My Client Ask "Did AI Write This?"
The email looked fine to me. Then my client replied with three words that made my stomach drop: "Did AI write this?"
Never send "I hope this helps!" to a client again
DeGPT automatically removes ChatGPT's telltale phrases. Free Chrome extension.
The Email That Changed Everything
I'd been working with this client for three months. Project management, email handling, the usual VA stuff. I used ChatGPT for maybe 80% of the emails—it's how I kept up with the workload.
Then one Tuesday afternoon, I got this reply:
"Hey—did AI write this? It doesn't sound like you. 'I hope this helps'? You've never said that in 3 months."
I scrolled back to my sent message. There it was, right at the end:
"I hope this helps! Please let me know if you need anything else."
I'd been deleting these phrases for months. This one time, I was rushing. I missed it. And it cost me.
The 5 Phrases That Give You Away
After that incident, I paid attention. These are the phrases ChatGPT adds to almost every response—phrases that instantly reveal AI wrote your message:
"I'd be happy to help you with that!"
Nobody starts emails this way. It's the ChatGPT equivalent of a neon sign.
Example:
"I'd be happy to help you with that! Here's the project update you requested..."
"Certainly!"
When was the last time you said 'Certainly!' in a real email? It's bizarrely formal.
Example:
"Certainly! I can reschedule the meeting to Thursday..."
"Great question!"
Clients don't want to be praised for asking questions. They want answers.
Example:
"Great question! The deadline is actually next Friday..."
"I hope this helps!"
The classic ChatGPT sign-off. If your client has ever read a ChatGPT response, they'll recognize this instantly.
Example:
"...attached the documents. I hope this helps!"
"Please let me know if you need anything else!"
Combined with 'I hope this helps,' this is the most obvious AI tell of all.
Example:
"I hope this helps! Please let me know if you need anything else!"
Why This Matters More for VAs
If a regular employee gets caught using AI, it's awkward. Maybe they get teased. Maybe HR has a conversation.
If a VA gets caught:
- Trust evaporates — "What else have they been lying about?"
- The client questions everything — "Were all those emails AI?"
- You might lose the contract — Some clients have explicit no-AI policies
- Word spreads — In VA communities, reputation matters
The stakes are higher. One "I hope this helps!" at the wrong time can cost you a client.
Why Manual Checking Doesn't Work
"Just delete them before sending." That's what I told myself. Here's why it fails:
Fatigue
By email #30, your brain stops seeing the phrases. They blend in.
Speed pressure
When you're rushing to meet a deadline, careful proofreading goes out the window.
Variation
ChatGPT doesn't always use the exact same phrases. Sometimes it's "I'd be glad to help." Sometimes "Happy to help!" You can't catch them all.
Volume
30-50 messages per day. You will miss one eventually. It's not a matter of if—it's when.
The tool that catches what you miss
DeGPT automatically removes AI phrases from ChatGPT output. No more manual checking. No more missed phrases. Free Chrome extension.
Install Free Chrome ExtensionThe Automatic Solution
After that client called me out, I found DeGPT. It's a Chrome extension that adds a button inside ChatGPT. One click, and it:
- ✓Removes opening phrases — "I'd be happy to help," "Certainly," "Great question"
- ✓Removes closing phrases — "I hope this helps," "Let me know if you need anything else"
- ✓Catches variations — "Happy to help," "Glad to assist," all the ways ChatGPT phrases these
- ✓Fixes formatting too — Broken bullets, weird spacing, markdown artifacts
I don't have to remember to check anymore. The extension catches everything.
Before and After
BEFORE (Raw ChatGPT):
I'd be happy to help you with that! Here's the status update for the Johnson project:
• Phase 1 is complete
• Phase 2 starts Monday
• Budget is on track
I hope this helps! Please let me know if you need anything else.
AFTER (Cleaned with DeGPT):
Here's the status update for the Johnson project:
• Phase 1 is complete
• Phase 2 starts Monday
• Budget is on track
The second version sounds like a human wrote it. Because you're removing the parts that don't.
What Happened With That Client
I was honest. I told them I use AI to draft messages but always review and edit them. That particular email slipped through without my usual editing.
They appreciated the honesty. We're still working together.
But now I use DeGPT on every single ChatGPT response before copying it anywhere. No exceptions.
I've never had a client question my emails since.
Never Send "I Hope This Helps!" to a Client Again
DeGPT automatically removes the phrases that reveal AI wrote your message. It's free, it takes 10 seconds to install, and it works inside ChatGPT.