the em dash

Inspired by @AMB to elegize the em dash!! Beloved punctuation of my good friend Emily Dickinson. It’s heavily associated with AI now, which I find offensive, because I’ve been using the em dash for forever. Time for the poets to reclaim it from the robots :)

words <3

5 months ago

Comments

Steve M

@citizenactualMay 15, 2026

My favorite form of punctuation.

Lida Richardson

@lidarichardsonMay 15, 2026

It’s essential

AMB

@riverbankxMay 15, 2026

Yes! Reclaiming it! I hate how people automatically assume something is written by chat gpt if there are any em dashes present

Lida Richardson

@lidarichardsonMay 15, 2026

It’s letting the robots set the terms!!

Priscilla Robinson

@artichokemeMay 18, 2026

I’ve never seen someone with my mom’s name Lida! I wonder if you pronounce it the same. Also agree

Lida Richardson

@lidarichardsonMay 18, 2026

Oh my gosh! Is she eastern European? I’m named after a Russian-Jewish ancestor, but there seem to be multiple Lidas across cultures. I pronounce it Lee-da

Priscilla Robinson

@artichokemeMay 21, 2026

She’s Argentinian from a small town called Jujuy, but I believe she has some Ashkenazi heritage. Pronounced the same, how lovely <3

Juliet Blehm

@julietblehmMay 25, 2026

em dashes have always been one of my favorite forms of punctuation! yes yes yes to reclaiming

Lindsay CD

@lindsaycdMay 29, 2026

Same I use it all the time and I’m so sad I need to think about it now

Roger

@rogerAug 12, 2026

I learned to wield the mighty em as a young reporter for Forbes back when it was a magazine and a collection of Faberge eggs. Perhaps the AI’s enthusiasm for the em dash is actually the first sign of super intelligence.

Across Rec League

Em Dash

Lanh

“Necessary after my temporary ban from parentheses. While I am back to my parentheses’d parantheticals, I am maintaining the human claim to the em dash (because I will not be bested by a robot). I would, however, love for my fellow human people writers to recognize the difference between these: -, —, - -, because they are different and serve different purposes!”

AMB

“I love me a good em dash too gotta be one of my favorite punctuation marks. So versatile”

Haley

“Love the em dash- hate its associated with AI.”

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