AI's Love Affair With a Punctuation Mark

One of the most discussed topics among content writers these days is the Em dash. 

Yes, this: —

Why? Because ChatGPT seems to have fallen in love with it.

The result: Texts that include frequent — raise suspicion.

That's a shame. I personally love the Em-dash.

When I first started writing, I didn't even know it existed. It wasn't until I took a basic English grammar course and then an advanced English grammar course that I discovered the powerful little beauty. I treated it like a jewel.

Why use the Em dash at all?

When used properly, the Em dash does two things to the reader's brain.

First, it gives it a break. The brain immediately understands that it's time to stall. This isn't the regular break where a period indicates one thought ends and another starts, and not the comma, which signals you'll now look at the thought from a different angle or get some details.

The Em-dash is where you take a deep breath and anticipate. It's where your brain gets ready for the punchline.

Because the second thing is emphasis. This long dash tells the brain to pay attention because what's next is important and can't be skipped.

In contrast to text placed in brackets, which you can pass over, this is usually the dot on the i: stripped of meaning without—separated, yet inseparable.

When an Em-dash appears instead of a comma, it's clear that something that's unrelated in the current context but vital for the understanding of the story will follow.

What does this mean for you?

If you don't want your readers to think your texts are AI-generated,

1. Understand when and how to use the Em dash correctly (The Punctuation Guide)

2. Use this lovely punctuation mark sparingly and honor its uniqueness.

3. Keep it simple. In many cases, a comma or a colon will do, be more accurate, and provide more clarity.

If you use ChatGPT or any of its AI pals, make sure to edit rigorously. Believe it or not, grammar knowledge helps. In fact, any traditional language and writing skills you acquire are useful, whether you rely on AI or not.