Has AI Ruined the Em Dash?

Indicates required field

As artificial intelligence reshapes how we write, one small punctuation mark is raising a larger question: can style still signal something distinctly human? The em dash once signaled something unmistakably human: a mind mid-thought, shifting and interrupting itself. Now, it may signal something else entirely.  

So, what do you think? Has AI ruined the em dash? 

Has AI ruined the em dash?*
Collection and Use of Personal Information
By submitting, you confirm that you own or have permission to share the content and grant Trent University Alumni Engagement & Services the right to publish your submission online, in Trent Magazine, and on social channels, in perpetuity. All submissions may be edited for style, content, and length. Trent University Alumni is not responsible for verifying the accuracy of submissions, and notes must not infringe on any third-party rights. The personal information on this form is collected under the authority of the Trent University Act, 1963 Section 18 (3) (c) and will be used to keep you informed of upcoming events, provide you with philanthropic opportunities, share news about the University, and provide us general statistics about the demographics of our Trent family members. If you have any questions about the collection or use of this information by the University, please contact: the Director of Advancement Services, 1600 West Bank Dr. Peterborough, ON K9L 0G2 705-748-1011/ cdarmitage@trentu.ca.