I've noticed some folks are really critical of using the em dash (—) lately. Some say it's a marker of low effort, suggesting that texts using it are often AI-generated, like from ChatGPT. Personally, I use the em dash quite a bit because I see it in the books by authors I admire. Plus, I don't mind when ChatGPT uses it to help me with grammar and spelling, especially as someone who's learning English as my fourth language. So my question is: should I stop using the em dash altogether?
5 Answers
I use the em dash all the time, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. It can visually enhance your writing, making it clearer and more engaging! Whatever works for you!
For me, using em dashes can make text look AI-generated, so I'd say you might consider dropping it if that's a concern for you.
People complain that their work gets flagged as AI because of the em dash. It seems it’s seen mostly in professional writing, which might be why some don't appreciate it in casual contexts.
There’s nothing wrong with em dashes! They're just a way to creatively structure your ideas. If a dash helps break up thoughts better than commas or parentheses, go for it. I just get a little picky about spacing around them sometimes!
Honestly, I think it's just that most people don't even know how to type an em dash, so you won't see it much. That doesn't mean it’s bad, though! It's all about personal style, right?
That really puts it into perspective!