My Thoughts On Those Frustrating Em Dashes (—) In AI Output

– By Evan Gutman, AICC (AI-Certified Consultant)

If you've been using ChatGPT, Claude, or any large language model lately, you've probably noticed something: em dashes are everywhere.

They show up in emails. They appear in reports. They sneak into social posts. And while there's nothing technically wrong with an em dash, their overuse has become one of the clearest signals that AI did the writing, not you.

Let's talk about why that matters, and what you can do about it.

What is an Em Dash?

An em dash (—) is a long horizontal line, longer than a hyphen (-) or an en dash (–). It's used to set off extra information, indicate a break in thought, or emphasize a concluding phrase.

For example:

• "The strategy was clear—focus on retention first."

• "We tested three approaches—automation, training, and coding—before landing on the right solution."

  
  

Em dashes are versatile. They add drama, create pauses, and can make sentences feel more dynamic. In moderation, they work beautifully.

The problem? AI models love them. And they use them constantly.

So What's the Problem?

While there's nothing inherently wrong with using AI to draft polished text, the overuse of em dashes makes your writing feel robotic. Sentences become long, meandering, and visually cluttered. Readers notice. Clients notice. And if you're trying to sound like yourself and not like a machine, em dashes are working against you.

Here's the bigger issue: if your goal is to use AI as a tool that amplifies your voice, but the output still sounds like AI, you're not using it strategically. You're just outsourcing your thinking.

Generative AI should help you work faster, think clearer, and deliver stronger results. It shouldn't replace your voice entirely.

How do I get around em dashes?

The good news? This is an easy fix. You have two options, and ideally, you use both.

1. Personalize Your AI Instructions

You can train your AI to stop using em dashes by giving it clear, predefined instructions. Add a simple line to your prompts:

"Do not use em dashes. Use commas, colons, or semicolons instead."

Better yet, build this into a custom instruction or system prompt so it applies to every interaction. That way, your AI adapts to your preferences automatically - - no need to repeat yourself every time.

(Notice what I just did? I used a double hyphen instead of an em dash. I've been doing that since way before AI, and now it helps differentiate my writing from AI's!)

2. Add Human Oversight

AI can elevate your work, but it's not a replacement for your judgment. Review the output. Adjust the tone. Make sure it reflects your actual voice, not a polished approximation of one.

Think of AI as a first draft generator, not a final product. The value comes from what you do with it after it's written.

Small Change, Big Impact

Eliminating em dashes might seem like a minor tweak, but it's part of a larger principle: AI should sound like you, not the other way around.

When you take the time to personalize your AI's output (whether that's adjusting punctuation, refining tone, or adding your own perspective), you're using the tool the way it's meant to be used. As an accelerator. Not a replacement.

Need Help Training Your AI?

If you want to sharpen your AI skills, personalize your outputs, or learn how to make generative tools work for you instead of against you, let's talk.

Contact Evitas AI today. Your future self will thank you.

Shoot me a message on LinkedIn, Instagram, or send me an email at evan@evitas.ai to get the conversation started.