While riding shotgun with my dad, we belt “Who gives a f_ about an oxford comma?”, and I begin to hum to the all-familiar song that always makes me laugh, “Oxford Comma” by Vampire Weekend. The singer satirizes the classist practice of using grammar to make snap judgments about someone’s value, shedding humorous light on the topic. With the rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) such as ChatGPT, embracing literary authenticity and fighting for individuality has never been more relevant.
As a society, we are practicing just as the song preaches: judging people who use certain punctuation as evidence of writing lacking humanity. ChatGPT’s excessive use of the em dash led to it becoming the subject of controversy – a strange fate for a piece of punctuation. Ironically, the em dash brings a human voice – and sometimes even visual elegance to writing. Despite this, writers are developing a growing fear of the em dash as they act as a sign of AI usage. So, writers often find ways around the punctuation – and, in doing so, forfeit their personal writing voice to ChatGPT.
Em dashes previously indicated sophisticated writing and a clever use of punctuation. They add emphasis, clarification or function as an interruption – more flexible than any other punctuation – and are perfect when a thought branches into a sub-thought. When em dashes are used in poetry, they convey a physical distance or a pause that no other punctuation can accomplish visually. While small on the page, em dashes are dramatic and depict thoughts and desires that are distinctly human.
ChatGPT excessively utilizes em dashes, making them a red flag for AI usage. However, because ChatGPT has access to vast resources on the internet, it can analyze historical patterns from classic literature with em dashes, according to OpenAI. Classical literature uses em dashes to great effect – like Emily Dickinson creating witty, complex breaks or Toni Morrison conjuring up a devastating pause – such that centuries of great writers have put their stamp on this special punctuation. The AI model understands the power and punch the punctuation holds, and how the simple symbol can transform writing into a work of art.
With AI chatbots advancing, over 80% of Americans are reported to use four or more AI tools weekly, according to GPT Zero. The task of decoding AI versus authentic human writing is escalating in difficulty. Because there are few ways to catch a writer using AI, teachers are forced to employ simple tricks to catch the cheater in the act like using AI checkers. Seeing the em dash directly signals AI usage to the human eye, leading to many teachers choosing not to use AI checkers.
Consequently, as students refrain from using the punctuation to avoid suspicion, their personal writing styles crumble. ChatGPT drastically reduces the valuation, strength and capability of human writing, according to the National Library of Medicine. Even if ChatGPT is used predominantly in the brainstorming process, it destroys critical thinking skills and individuality as a whole. Writers can’t solely rely on ChatGPT for their writing substance, nor should they allow it to dictate their writing style. They should not be forced to lose their voice and creativity for the fear of being falsely accused of using AI.
In an interesting turn of events, on Nov. 14, 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman introduced a program update where ChatGPT users can personalize the AI assistance, and prevent the chatbot from using em dashes, according to Business Insider. While this information triggered humorous social media responses, the principle and greater impact on future writing styles being dictated by a program is considerably more serious. When writers remove em dashes from their writing in fear of being accused AI, they surrender their writing voice. While this may seem like a minimal consequence, the act of submitting to AI instead of arguing for keeping all tools to personalize writing is just the beginning of the loss of individuality.
Writers need to stand up for their personal writing style and, in essence, their individuality. They need to have the ability to advocate for their writing styles with editors, teachers or AI checkers when confronted with false accusations. If everyone conforms to Gen AI in fear of being accused of cheating and therefore adopts the same mundane robotic voice, then the quiet defiance of creativity and individuality in the AI revolution will vanish. This results in a flat, lifeless world – instinctively inhumane. Writing has the power to invoke passion, love, defiance and connection – but if writers conform to a uniform style, then that power extinguishes. The intimacy of literature and articles will disintegrate.
Ultimately, writers need to fight for their rights, as the stigma around em dashes is just the beginning of losing personalized writing style. Therefore, we should take this as an opportunity to fight for our artistic writing styles and individuality by extension our individuality. So, Who gives a f_ about an em dash? – Those concerned with the future of authenticity do!