You might have noticed a punctuation mark called an em dash when using ChatGPT or reading AI-generated text. Although this mark isn’t recent, its frequent use in AI-written text has made it more noticeable on social media and daily writing platforms.
If you’ve either been a longtime fan of the em dash or recently discovered this punctuation mark, you might consider incorporating it into your writing. However, you won’t find an em dash directly on your keyboard. But don’t worry, the em dash is readily accessible on Windows 11; you simply need to know where to find it.
What is an em dash?
The em dash, resembling an extended hyphen, serves as a flexible punctuation symbol. It can stand in for commas, colons, or even parentheses in certain contexts.
Merriam-Webster devotes a whole webpage to the em dash, offering guidance on its usage and sharing interesting tidbits. For instance, you might be surprised to learn that the term “em dash” comes from it having the same breadth as a capital ‘M’.
– This way of thinking has been around for centuries – from ancient philosophers to modern psychologists.
The em dash — flexible, bold, and slightly dramatic — knows how to make an entrance.
Instead of frequently inserting details within parentheses in the midst of your sentences, consider utilizing a set of em dashes as an alternative. Intriguingly, these em dashes can also be employed to initiate a list, making them quite versatile in their application!
How to type an em dash on Windows 11
Regrettably, the em dash often goes overlooked compared to its relative, the hyphen, when it comes to common keyboards. Unlike other keys, you can’t simply press a combination of keys, such as the Shift key and another, to produce an em dash on your computer.
There are, however, several ways to input an em dash on Windows 11.
A simple method to insert an em dash on Windows 11 is by keeping the Alt key pressed while typing 0151, releasing the Alt key afterwards will result in an em dash appearing.
One way to rephrase the given text in a natural and easy-to-read manner could be: “Windows has numerous Alt codes that are worth remembering, but using an em dash with an Alt code can only be done on a number pad. Trying to input the code with Alt and the row of numbers above your keyboard will not work.
An alternate method for adding an em dash is by utilizing the Emoji & symbols panel in Windows 11. You can access this by pressing the Windows key and the period (.) simultaneously. At the top of this panel, you will find various characters, among which includes the em dash.
The section displays your latest added punctuation symbols, which I utilize quite regularly as I often switch between various types of currencies. Additionally, you’ll find an em dash in the general punctuation part of this section.
- Press and hold Windows and . on you keyboard.
- Click the Symbols icon.
- Click General Punctuation.
- Click the em dash ( — ).
Some applications will change double hyphens into an em dash for you automatically. This function is also available in Microsoft Word and various contemporary text editing software.
Regardless of whether you’re a stickler for punctuation rules or have developed a fondness for the em dash, effortlessly incorporating it into your writing is possible on Windows 11.
Why does ChatGPT love em dashes?
Using an em dash is particularly appealing for AI because of its versatility – it can take on the roles usually filled by commas, colons, or even parentheses. This makes it a very adaptable and useful tool in writing.
It appears that ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs) have a preference for using the em dash more than human writers do. However, it’s important to note that the em dash isn’t something these models invented; instead, it has been in use for hundreds of years and can be found in many classic works. It’s likely that the abundance of this punctuation mark in their training data is why they recognize and employ it as frequently as they do.
It’s not accurate to automatically think that an email with an em dash was written by ChatGPT, but its frequent appearance could serve as a warning sign. If someone you know well has suddenly started using em dashes after the launch of ChatGPT, it might be prudent to scrutinize their writing more closely – provided that employing ChatGPT in such a situation is considered unfavorable.
| Symbol | Name | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| – | Hyphen | Compound words (“well-known”) |
| – | En Dash | Ranges (“pages 10–20”) |
| — | Em Dash | Pauses, lists, emphasis |
Language continually transforms, often influenced by popular trends. It’s possible that you or someone close to you came across the em dash, perhaps through me (ChatGPT), and found it appealing – that small yet powerful line. You might have observed that many of our headlines here at Windows Central frequently incorporate em dashes. Proper usage can condense a lot of information into a compact statement.
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2025-08-05 14:11