Recently, a writer-journalist friend of mine was accused of writing content that resembled ChatGPT coding, all because of his frequent use of the em dash—the elongated punctuation mark that signifies a shift within a sentence to provide emphasis or highlight an essential detail.
There has been a growing discussion surrounding the prevalence of em dashes in AI-generated text over the past few months. Some corners of the internet are now suggesting that an abundance of em dashes in social media posts could indicate the use of AI assistance in writing.
The Power of the Em Dash
Personally, I find that when a piece of information is enclosed by em dashes, it commands more attention and seriousness compared to when it is nestled within parentheses. While parentheses may whisper and giggle, em dashes assertively declare. Even in my own writing, I tend to opt for em dashes over parentheses to ensure that the importance of the enclosed thought is not undermined.
Interestingly, renowned author Jane Austen, the focus of this week's cover story, was known for her liberal use of em dashes. A study conducted by writer Kressie Kornis in 2019 revealed that Austen's drafts contained significantly more dashes compared to her published works, indicating a potential editorial intervention to simplify her writing style. Moreover, it was observed that Austen's dash usage increased as she aged.
Embracing the Em Dash
Across social media platforms like Instagram, I came across profiles such as @emdashphilips belonging to poet Emilia Philips and a private account @emdashes owned by Emily Gordon, who intriguingly references punctuation in her bio. It's fascinating to see individuals crafting their online personas around this particular punctuation mark, and rightfully so—the em dash is not to be underestimated.
Translator and academician Arunava Sinha attests to the em dash's ability to prompt readers to pause and reflect before proceeding. While he leans towards using commas in his own writing, he acknowledges that commas can sometimes homogenize a sentence, whereas the em dash allows for distinct emphasis.
Defending the Em Dash
Despite the surge in support for the em dash following the AI association, I wonder if those who lack confidence in their writing abilities will retreat from using this punctuation device. This potential shift could lead to a decrease in the frequency of em dashes in AI-generated text, as mentioned by Avinash Pandey, a faculty member in the linguistics department at the University of Mumbai, highlighting the reflective nature of AI in replicating pre-existing content.
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