Defending the Em Dash: Why This Punctuation Mark Is Human, Not AI
By
FromTheArchives
8mo ago· 10 min readenOpinion
100/100
Golden Brown
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A five-star bake. Worth schmearing, sharing, saving.
Score100TypeopinionSentimentpositive
Summary
The article passionately defends the use of em dashes in human writing against claims that their usage indicates AI-generated content. The author argues that em dashes are actually the most human punctuation mark, used by writers for centuries to create natural flow, dramatic pauses, and authentic voice. The piece refutes the notion that em dash usage is a telltale sign of AI writing, positioning it instead as a hallmark of skilled human authorship.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledI stand before you today with violence in my heart. I do not come in peace. I come to obliterate, disparage, and destroy.
The idea—the terrible, mistaken idea—is that the use of em dashes in a piece of writing is a sign that the text was generated by AI.
Human writers have always used the em dash. In fact, it's the most human punctuation mark there is.
In this fallen world of ours, there exist certain ideas that must be annihilated before goodness can flourish.
Human writers have always used the em dash. In fact, it’s the most human punctuation mark there is.
