Speaking to an AI chatbot in informal language, as many users do, can lower the accuracy of its responses. This suggests that either users need to communicate more carefully, or chatbots need to be better trained to handle casual language. Researchers Fulei Zhang and Zhou Yu at Amazon examined how people initiate conversations with human agents compared to a large language model (LLM)–powered chatbot assistant. Using the Claude 3.5 Sonnet model to evaluate the interactions across various criteria, they found that users tended to make more grammatical errors and were less polite when speaking to chatbots than to humans. Additionally, they used a slightly more limited vocabulary.

Figure 1. Clear, Formal Language Boosts Chatbot Accuracy.

Why Language Style Matters

Chatbots rely on patterns in human language to understand intent. Using clear, formal language reduces ambiguity, making it easier for the AI to interpret what you mean accurately. Informal phrasing, slang, or fragmented sentences can confuse the model, leading to mistakes in its responses. Figure 1 shows Clear, Formal Language Boosts Chatbot Accuracy.

Grammar and Clarity Improve Accuracy

Proper grammar and well-structured sentences help chatbots parse your message correctly. Errors like missing punctuation, typos, or run-on sentences can make the AI misinterpret context, reducing the quality and relevance of its answers.

Politeness and Social Cues

Studies show that users tend to be less polite when interacting with chatbots. Clear, formal language often includes polite phrasing, which helps the chatbot maintain context, follow instructions more effectively, and provide more coherent responses.

Vocabulary and Precision

Formal language tends to use a broader and more precise vocabulary. Specific word choices help the chatbot understand nuanced requests and produce more accurate, detailed answers, while vague or overly casual language can lead to generic or incorrect responses.

Implications for Users and AI Development

For users, this means that careful phrasing improves the experience with chatbots. For developers, it highlights the need to train AI to better handle informal speech, slang, and typos so that conversational AI can understand natural human language more effectively.

Source:New Scientist

Cite this article:

Priyadharshini S (2025), Chatbots Perform Best with Clear, Formal Language, AnaTechMaz, pp. 315