07/01/2025
There’s an em dash rumor. If there’s an em dash in your writing, you must have used AI. BS!
Yes, AI tends to overuse the em dash. But the em dash is a classic, time-tested tool in strong writing. It adds emphasis, creates drama, and helps guide the reader’s eye — when used intentionally.
Writers have been using em dashes long before AI came along — from Emily Dickinson to modern essayists.
1) Use an em dash to show a break in a thought.
✅ Example: I chose to visit my favorite country—Italy.
Sometimes they're used singly, sometimes in pairs.
Example: I bought some dark chocolate—the kind you like—so I can make cookies tonight.
2) Use an em dash to show “that is” information.
✅ Example: I got the ingredients we were missing to make mac and cheese—namely, milk, butter, pasta, and cheese.
⭐️ Bonus tip #1 ⬇️
Keyboard shortcut on a Mac is Shift + Option + –
Keyboard shortcut on a PC is Control + Alt + –
⭐️ ⭐️ Bonus tip #2 ⬇️
Do not put spaces around the em dash for Chicago Manual of Style. (For books)
