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

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650 points Stratoscope | 1 comments | 27 Mar 25 20:19 UTC | HN request time: 0.206s | source
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bangaladore ◴[27 Mar 25 21:08 UTC] No.43498204[source]▶
Somewhat off topic, however, I'm thoroughly convinced that there is a very high probability something is AI generated when I see Em dashes. Anyone else noticing this?

ChatGPT for example almost always uses them. I'm sure they are more common in academic writing, but its now super common on boards like Reddit.

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pavlov ◴[27 Mar 25 21:13 UTC] No.43498258[source]▶
It’s largely the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon. You’ve started noticing it because you just learned about it.
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1. jeroenhd ◴[28 Mar 25 02:28 UTC] No.43500811[source]▶
It depends. Em dashes in news articles and written publications? Definitely expected. Em dashes on social media or reddit? Either someone who works in typesetting, or an LLM. Most likely an LLM, giving the dying nature of printed media.

Only typography nerds and professional printers care about things like these. Popular media, even modern professional media, hasn't been paying all that much attention.