Is there some innocent pleasure that you’re avoiding because other people frown on it?
First, I need to tell you what the em dash is: a long hyphen.
Back in the day of metal type printing, the square unit of measurement was a piece of metal whose height and width matched the point size of the type, making it a perfect square. This square ended up being called the “em square” because the metal piece used for the capital letter M was almost as wide as it was tall, while other letters were more narrow—rectangular slices of the square. Because the longer hyphen is the width of that unit of measurement, it is called the em dash.
Part of my job involves sending out a monthly newsletter of stories and news items from our region of the world. Last year, a colleague who checked it over before I hit “send”, pushed back on my use of the em dash.
I am very fond of the em dash. It helps me feel like I’m really communicating with the reader. Also, sometimes a sentence needs to catch its breath before the period. And the em dash feels like a natural way to emphasize something—like this.
So I resisted and we agreed to disagree. Which meant I did not take the em dash out of my article.
This past week, however, a colleague read the newsletter over for me, and sent this comment:
“I would refrain from adding this kind of hyphen. This is a clear indication of AI :)”
“What?” I said out loud with great indignation—righteous indignation. Because it is very unfair that this beloved bit of punctuation has been hijacked by AI.
Where did AI get it in the first place?
It turns out that there is quite a list of noteworthy writers and poets who have not only used the em dash generously (perhaps most notably Emily Dickenson), but have even defended it (Edgar Allan Poe reportedly complained when printers replaced it with other punctuation).
I stared at the computer screen. What to do?
I don’t know anyone who wants their writing mistaken for a robot’s.
So I took it out.
But I’ve been mulling it over and have decided that em dashes are part of what makes my writing my writing. Perhaps I will use the em dash with more moderation. I will certainly use it with greater intentionality—and delight.
How about you? Is there anything you might be missing out on because you’re afraid of how someone might judge it?
Oh my goodness, yes! I love the em dash, and used to use it all the time. I feel like it was a part of my author voice. It gives a certain rhythm that other punctuation does not. Yet I am so opposed to AI that I remove the em dash from most of the things I write now. Because it does make things suspect. Also, the word "quietly." But don't get me started!