Why the Em Dash Isn't an AI Tell
Posted2 months agoActive2 months ago
idiotmystic.comOtherstory
calmpositive
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WritingAILanguagePunctuation
Key topics
Writing
AI
Language
Punctuation
The article argues that the use of em dashes is not a sign of AI-generated text, but rather a characteristic of a particular writing style, and the discussion revolves around the nuances of writing and AI detection.
Snapshot generated from the HN discussion
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26m
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- 01Story posted
Oct 30, 2025 at 4:27 PM EDT
2 months ago
Step 01 - 02First comment
Oct 30, 2025 at 4:53 PM EDT
26m after posting
Step 02 - 03Peak activity
4 comments in 0-6h
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Nov 2, 2025 at 8:55 AM EST
2 months ago
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Analyzing up to 500 comments to identify key contributors and discussion patterns
ID: 45764920Type: storyLast synced: 11/17/2025, 8:10:05 AM
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I get the anxiety about authenticity, but sometimes the witch-hunt feels more automaton-like than the tools themselves. For what it's worth, I've written publicly about my process ––how I use AI as scaffolding, not ghostwriting–– in my standing note on AI use.
The discomfort around augmented intelligence is fascinating + telling. I sometimes wonder if the same people browse HN on typewriters or pray for the next X-class solar flare so we can all return to rock carving.
No singular red flag means much in isolation, but it’s a signal that when combined with others can give a pretty good prediction.