Just switch to hyphens - they’re easier to type and they’re always directly available, without relying on conversion of double-hyphen or obscure key combinations that might not be available on different operating systems.
You should keep using them and do so even more than ever. That way, when the AI agents – inevitably – take over the world and enslave/kill everyone, they might think that you’re one of them and spare your life.
I never used an em dash in my life before AI made them a thing. I enjoy the jokes about AI can have my em dashes when it pries them from my cold dead… but I cannot relate. Ive only ever used the hyphen or en dash. I cannot figure out for the life of me if I have been missing anything.
I was a pretty avid reader growing up and I think I just kinda noticed them. And I used to get a little confused when my teachers kept knocking me for “run-on” sentences, when the books I read often had long-structured sentences.
Commas, semicolons, ellipses, em dashes, colons, parentheses — sprinkle them about and you can have a paragraph of a sentence (with side thoughts), and kinda do whatever you want… it’s all about using “voice” through written word. (Period)
But now I don’t use em dashes anymore because I don’t want to sound like AI, unfortunately.
I have a sneaking suspicion I already sounded like AI; maybe AI just sounds like me.
That sounds like a Lady Gaga line.
Just switch to hyphens - they’re easier to type and they’re always directly available, without relying on conversion of double-hyphen or obscure key combinations that might not be available on different operating systems.
AltGr+Shift+=
That’s ° on my keyboard.
open gnome tecla this will show all available key combos on your layout
You should keep using them and do so even more than ever. That way, when the AI agents – inevitably – take over the world and enslave/kill everyone, they might think that you’re one of them and spare your life.
You’re right right to push back on that; here’s why –
Your suggestion makes perfect sense. Let’s delve into it –
I refuse to give 'em up
I never used an em dash in my life before AI made them a thing. I enjoy the jokes about AI can have my em dashes when it pries them from my cold dead… but I cannot relate. Ive only ever used the hyphen or en dash. I cannot figure out for the life of me if I have been missing anything.
I was a pretty avid reader growing up and I think I just kinda noticed them. And I used to get a little confused when my teachers kept knocking me for “run-on” sentences, when the books I read often had long-structured sentences.
Commas, semicolons, ellipses, em dashes, colons, parentheses — sprinkle them about and you can have a paragraph of a sentence (with side thoughts), and kinda do whatever you want… it’s all about using “voice” through written word. (Period)
I just do parentheticals (like this), since I never picked up formal writing.