ChatGPT Hyphen: Gen Z’s New Take on the Em Dash

A popular punctuation mark has found itself unexpectedly in the spotlight, thanks to the latest speculation by Gen Z on identifying AI-generated text. The em dash—used by writers for emphasis, explanation, or interruption—has been humorously dubbed the “ChatGPT hyphen” by young internet users.

The Viral Revelation

The trend gained traction after an episode of the LuxeGen Podcast featuring co-hosts Daisy Reed and Sapna Rao. Their discussion on this curious phenomenon quickly went viral on X (formerly known as Twitter), following a clip shared with the caption, “The fact that Zoomers are unironically referring to the em dash as ‘the ChatGPT hyphen’ is wild.”

A Style Choice Under Scrutiny

Reed highlighted a noteworthy instance, recounting how clothing brand PrettyLittleThing’s recent rebranding led to a user commenting on their ad copy: “Including the ChatGPT hyphen is insane.” The podcast duo used this moment to issue a tongue-in-cheek public service announcement: to avoid accusations of relying on AI for writing, one should eliminate those em dashes.

Rao even advised, “If you’re at school and you’re using [ChatGPT] for your essays, take out the hyphens. I can always tell.” Despite her comments, Rao clarified her stance as not being anti-AI, as long as users would initiate content creation themselves, using AI tools for editing purposes.

Spacing: The AI Tell?

Reed and Rao also shared their insights into what differentiates AI-written text. They believe ChatGPT’s use of em dashes without spaces is a giveaway of its non-human origin. However, they admit that spacing styles can differ across various style guides.

• AP Style: Commonly followed by newspapers and magazines, which dictates a space before and after the em dash
• Merriam-Webster and most book publishers: Favor no spacing around the em dash, contrary to AP style

Cultural Clues and the AI Era

In an era where AI’s role in content generation is rapidly expanding, the humble em dash has unexpectedly become a cultural indicator. Whether this perception holds any weight, the debate remains a sign of the times.

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The em dash’s new role as a so-called “ChatGPT hyphen” is yet another reminder of how rapidly the landscape of technology and language is changing. It offers a glimpse into the cautious yet often humorous relationship society holds with AI, especially among younger generations.