{"id":6706,"date":"2025-06-20T18:58:39","date_gmt":"2025-06-21T01:58:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ultimatewb.com\/blog\/?p=6706"},"modified":"2025-06-27T01:38:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T08:38:20","slug":"is-the-em-dash-a-red-flag-for-ai-writing-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ultimatewb.com\/blog\/6706\/is-the-em-dash-a-red-flag-for-ai-writing-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the Em Dash (aka Long Dash) a Red Flag for AI Writing Now?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \"AI\n <\/picture>\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Note:<\/strong> This is the one post where I\u2019m continuing to use the em dash \u2014 just to show everyone how pretty it is! No, I\u2019m not a robot :-)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve always liked using the em dash – some may call it the “long dash”. There\u2019s something about how it breaks up a sentence \u2014 smoother than a comma, less formal than parentheses \u2014 that adds a bit of style and flow. It looks nice on the page and feels natural when I write.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But lately, I\u2019ve been thinking twice about using it \u2014 because the em dash has actually started raising red flags for AI writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Em Dash and AI: Why It\u2019s Becoming Controversial<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The em dash has become kind of controversial, especially since AI-generated content often uses it a lot. In fact, for some people, the em dash has started to feel like a red flag for AI writing \u2014 something that instantly makes them question whether the content is authentic. Some might even stop reading when they spot one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, why not just use a simple hyphen (-) instead? It\u2019s easier, it doesn\u2019t carry that AI \u201csignature,\u201d and it still creates a pause \u2014 though it\u2019s not exactly the same as a proper em dash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Easy Is It to Type an Em Dash?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the thing: typing an em dash isn\u2019t actually hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n