Summary
The Em Dash Panic
Headlines like “Is an em dash proof of AI manipulation?” and social chatter labeling it the “ChatGPT hyphen” are everywhere. Salon’s AI Can’t Have My Em Dash calls this deduction “unbearable irony”—punctuation isn’t theft, it’s membership in a centuries-old writer’s toolkit
But, because people love false confidence and quick AI scares, they latch on to anything. Yes, AI often uses em dashes—but so do humans. Big ones: Emily Dickinson, Nabokov, Joyce—name a writer who didn’t rely on them for tone and rhythm
Here’s the Real Take
- Em dashes are tools—not garbage flags. Their purpose is to mimic speech, signal dramatic pause, or infuse a tone that commas can’t. Writers have used them as emotional support punctuation for generations .
- AI patterns mirror human style. AI writes with em dashes not because it’s quirky—it’s because it’s copying from top-tier writing. If humans did it, AI does it too—in the same places.
- Accusing writers erodes trust. When you shame someone’s punctuation, you demean their voice, not validate your tech literacy. It’s not vigilance—it’s grammar policing gone viral.
Don’t Let Punctuation Gatekeep
- AI detection isn’t typographical. Serious AI-spotting happens in algorithms—not in punctuation.
- Avoid confirmation bias. Just because someone uses an em dash—or three—doesn’t make them a bot.
- Protect writer autonomy. Embrace stylistic quirks, not flags of failure.
What If You Want to Detect AI?
- Analyze content coherence, fact patterns, and stylistic repetition—not a punctuation mark.
- Use detection tools built for textual analysis, not grammar vigilante methods.
- Remember: human errors, not flourishes, are the true signs of human writing.
Final Word
Em dashes don’t belong exclusively to AI—or to bots. They’re part of our human literary heritage—used by Dickinson, Joyce, and content creators alike. Treating them as AI “Easter eggs” doesn’t fight bots—it undermines artistry.
If you want real writing signals, look at meaning, context, and coherence—not a stupid dash.
