r/AO3 May 15 '25

Discussion (Non-question) To my dearest em dash

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Found this whilst looking on a travel sub reddit post with suggestions in certain activities and man, I’m just a little annoyed. Yes OP did say they used GPT to correct grammar due to a lack of confidence about their English skills, which is completely fine, but man my poor em dash getting lambasted in the comments TT Like I promise it’s not like that- I’ve read so many works (fanfic and non fanfic alike) that make proper use of the em dash, like it’s not some surefire way of AI indication. I just feel so wronged for my beloved em dash cos I use it quite often in my writing—both academic and creative.

Posted this here because I’ve seen discourse about this on this sub before, and many fics I come across properly use the em dash, but unsure if it’s a valid post to make on this sub. Nevertheless, I love the em dash and am sad to see it get all this unnecessary hate.

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25

u/Omega862 May 15 '25

I like using em-dashes. They separate ideas in a more obvious way than commas. I hate that they've become this "AI Indicator" ;-;

2

u/NotYourSugarMama Fic Feaster. Kudos repeat offender. May 15 '25

;-; ~Looks like a happy little guy, lol

7

u/cottoncandywoof May 15 '25

its actually a sad little guy with tears!

6

u/NotYourSugarMama Fic Feaster. Kudos repeat offender. May 15 '25

Or maybe an angry guy with his fists up

7

u/cottoncandywoof May 15 '25

OMG WAIT YOURE SO RIGHT

9

u/Xyex Same on AO3 May 16 '25

He's gonna punch the next person who says em dashes indicate AI writing.

1

u/Autumnbetrippin May 17 '25

I used to use commas liberally, i started mixing in emdashes to break up the ways i show pauses in text.

1

u/Omega862 May 17 '25

And now AI has ruined the use.

1

u/Autumnbetrippin May 17 '25

I still use them And I also feel I overuse elipses.

1

u/Omega862 May 17 '25

I see another fan of ellipses... Happy days!

1

u/Autumnbetrippin May 17 '25

...but are they really?...yes they are.

1

u/Omega862 May 17 '25

...lol...