"It seems a day does not go by without seeing someone confidently assert on social media that an em dash is not an indicator of AI-written text. Those social media posts are in response to an ongoing debate about whether or not the em dash is a dead giveaway of writing produced by generative AI. Some writers and academics resent that their cherished em dash is getting a bad rap. As one writes, "You can take my em dash from my cold, dead hands.""
"An em, in typesetting vernacular, is a square measurement where, as Bringhurst explains, "One em is a distance equal to the type size": therefore "the em is a sliding measure." In other words, an em is not a fixed horizontal length; it is a horizontal space proportional to the point size. So if someone is using 12-point type, then one em would be 12 points horizontally."
Em dash usage has become entangled with claims about generative AI detection, prompting strong reactions from writers and academics who value the mark. Some observers insist the em dash does not indicate AI authorship, while others worry about overuse and misattribution. An English composition instructor notes both the frustration and the pedagogical temptation to adopt quick identification rules. Historical typographic guidance explains the em as a sliding measure tied to point size and distinguishes the en as half an em. Typographic authorities recommend using spaced en dashes rather than nonspaced em dashes for setting off phrases.
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