How the em-dash became AI's tell

Opinion: Em-dash nation-how punctuation becomes a fingerprint of artificial writing

Punctuation tells on us. The em-dash is the loudest tell.

It has replaced the ellipsis as the crutch of choice. Where writers once trailed off, they now pivot with a dramatic swipe that promises depth but often delivers filler.

Why the dash feels artificial

AI leans on a formula: setup, dash, inflated claim. You've seen it a thousand times.

• "It's not just coffee-it's a mindful ritual."
• "Not your usual launch-it's a movement."
• "This isn't a menu-it's a journey."

It spreads because it's easy. Influencers use it. Press releases use it. Then writers copy the rhythm without noticing the message got thinner.

The dash isn't the villain. Lazy thinking is.

The em-dash has legit jobs: set off a parenthetical, replace a colon for punch, interrupt a thought for effect. Use it on purpose, not as spackle for weak transitions.

If the dash is doing the heavy lifting, the idea probably isn't.

A quick "AI-smell" test for your draft

• Count the dashes. More than one every 150-200 words? You're probably padding.
• Spot the pivot script: "Not just X-it's Y." If you can swap X and Y with any topic, it's a cliché.
• Read it out loud. If the dash replaces a word you'd naturally say (and, but, because, which), rewrite.
• Look for symmetry. AI loves mirrored phrasing and balanced opposites. Humans meander a bit.

Fix the formula without losing the punch

Try these swaps. They keep the energy without the plastic aftertaste.

• Use a colon for clean definition: "This café delivers what matters: quiet, light, and good beans."
• Use "because" for clarity: "The launch matters because it cuts a week of admin to an hour."
• Use a period for finality: "It isn't luxury. It's maintenance for your future self."
• Use a comma and conjunction for flow: "The brief is simple, and the work is not."
• Use structure, not spin: claim, proof, example. No props required.

Dash detox: a 10-minute edit

• Pass 1: Delete every em-dash.
• Pass 2: Rebuild meaning with periods, commas, or a colon. Keep what still hits.
• Pass 3: Restore one or two dashes where interruption creates honest tension.
• Pass 4: Replace "Not just X-it's Y" with a concrete detail, stat, or scene.

Write like a person, not a prompt

Humans leave fingerprints that AI struggles to fake: specificity, odd angles, earned transitions. Show your thinking. Cut the slogan voice.

• Trade big claims for small proofs. One crisp example beats a sweeping statement.
• Favor verbs over vibes. "Ship weekly" beats "drive momentum."
• Use concrete nouns. Places, tools, timestamps. Make it verifiable.
• Let one sentence breathe. Short. Then follow with one that stretches, unpacks, and lands.

Mini style guide for dashes

• Use one space on either side? No. Em-dash sticks to the words.
• Two dashes for an aside? Use one pair of em-dashes, or commas if the tone is calm.
• Stacking dashes? That's a sign the paragraph wants a period.

If you want a refresher on standard usage, this primer is clear and neutral: How to use dashes.

If you write with AI, set constraints

• Tell it: "No em-dashes. Use periods or colons."
• Ask for three versions: direct, narrative, and analytical. Merge the best lines.
• Feed it your examples. Style transfer beats generic training.
• Do a human pass: cut 20%, replace slogans with details, and run the dash detox.

If you're refining prompts and workflows, these resources can help you steer outputs away from clichés: Prompt engineering ideas.

The point

The dash isn't the problem. Defaulting to it is.

Make every mark earn its place. If the sentence stands without a stunt, let it stand.