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How to Use Em Dashes (–), En Dashes (–), and Hyphens (-)

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650 points Stratoscope | 4 comments | 27 Mar 25 20:19 UTC | HN request time: 1.509s | source
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darajava ◴[28 Mar 25 00:11 UTC] No.43499788[source]▶
Most people don't use the em dash. It's too hard to type and looks too similar to a hyphen.

As a result, a hallmark of GPT-generated text is its (over)using of the em dash--I have stopped using it for this reason an just use two hyphens now instead.

replies(2): >>43500061 #>>43503481 #
1. emmelaich ◴[28 Mar 25 00:46 UTC] No.43500061[source]▶
You mean en dash?
replies(1): >>43500525 #
2. darajava ◴[28 Mar 25 01:49 UTC] No.43500525[source]▶
No. Em dashes are to separate two thoughts in one sentence. En dashes are for denoting ranges.
replies(1): >>43512808 #
3. emmelaich ◴[29 Mar 25 04:44 UTC] No.43512808[source]▶
OK fair enough, I was referring to the fact that visually the hyphen is more easily distinguishable to the em than the en.
replies(1): >>43520374 #
4. darajava ◴[30 Mar 25 01:26 UTC] No.43520374{3}[source]▶
Ah I see, I thought you were referring to my first point.