Language models like ChatGPT have rapidly grown in popularity thanks to their ability to generate clear, human-like writing. However, as more users tap into these powerful tools, subtle stylistic issues have started to surface—one of the most common being the overuse of the em dash. While the em dash (—) can be a great tool for adding emphasis or interjecting thoughts, using it too frequently can make writing look cluttered and disrupt the flow of ideas. This article explores why ChatGPT tends to favor the em dash, how that affects the readability of generated text, and practical steps users can take to prevent its overuse.

Understanding the Em Dash and Its Purpose

The em dash is a versatile punctuation mark. It can function in place of commas, parentheses, or colons to create breaks in thought or add emphasis. For instance:

  • I was going to respond — but I changed my mind.
  • He brought what he needed — a notebook, pen, and recorder.

Although the em dash has stylistic flair, too many instances in a paragraph or document can signal weak structure or disjointed thoughts. Writers usually depend on it for dramatic impact or rhythm, not as a primary punctuation option. That’s why repetitive use of the em dash by ChatGPT can make writing appear less polished.

Why Does ChatGPT Overuse Em Dashes?

The tendency of ChatGPT to overuse the em dash stems from several reasons:

  1. Training Data Bias: ChatGPT is trained on millions of examples written by humans—some of whom overuse the em dash themselves. As a result, the patterns of punctuation in the dataset influence its output.
  2. Versatility of the Em Dash: The model may “prefer” the em dash because it easily connects clauses, adds informal tone, or shifts sentence direction without requiring deep restructuring.
  3. Lack of Contextual Style Settings: By default, ChatGPT generates general-purpose content unless given specific style or tone instructions. Without context, the em dash becomes a go-to option for adding complexity or emphasis.

This tendency, while unintentional, can potentially change the tone of the entire piece of writing—making it appear either too conversational or overly fragmented.

The Impact of Em Dash Overuse on Writing

Visual overload is a common side effect when too many em dashes appear in succession. For some readers, encountering multiple em dashes in a short span of text can be visually jarring or confusing. Em dashes also contribute to a more informal style, which may not be suitable for certain types of writing, such as academic papers or formal business communication.

Over time, relying on the em dash can reinforce disjointed sentence structures and diminish the coherence of paragraphs. Strong writing typically balances various forms of punctuation—employing commas, semicolons, and parentheses with purpose. A monotonous pattern, such as repeated em dash usage, reduces clarity and stylistic balance.

How to Reduce Em Dash Usage in ChatGPT

Luckily, there are several concrete strategies to limit or eliminate excessive em dash use in ChatGPT’s responses.

1. Give Clear Instructions in the Prompt

If you would like a formal or neutral tone, explicitly tell ChatGPT to avoid em dashes or use them sparingly. For example:

  • “Write an article in a formal tone and avoid using em dashes.”
  • “Use commas or conjunctions instead of em dashes whenever possible.”

ChatGPT is responsive to stylistic directives and will adapt its output accordingly if given sufficient guidance.

2. Ask for a Specific Style Guide

The style of American Psychological Association (APA), Chicago Manual of Style, or Associated Press (AP) limits the use of em dashes or provides strict guidelines for their usage. Prompting the model with requests such as:

  • “Write this article using APA style punctuation.”
  • “Format as per AP style and minimize em dash usage.”

These prompts can help the AI model align its writing with established editorial standards, naturally reducing em dashes.

3. Use Post-Editing Tools

After generating a draft, use grammar tools like Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, or Microsoft Editor to scan for em dash overuse. These platforms usually flag excessive punctuation and offer alternative phrasing.

For example, “I didn’t know what to say — it was awkward.” can easily be rewritten as:

  • “I didn’t know what to say. It was awkward.”
  • “I didn’t know what to say; it was awkward.”

4. Use Find-and-Replace Techniques

Employ the find-and-replace function in a text editor to systematically change em dashes. You can search for “—” and replace it with appropriate punctuation based on context—commas, periods, colons, or even parentheses.

However, this method requires careful attention, as not all em dashes can be swapped without changing the sentence meaning.

5. Experiment and Compare Outputs

Another option is to experiment with different prompt phrasings and compare the results. For instance:

  • Prompt A: “Explain this topic with a friendly tone.”
  • Prompt B: “Explain this topic in a business tone without using em dashes.”

By comparing both, users can identify which styles rely more heavily on em dashes and adjust their prompts for future responses accordingly.

Alternatives to the Em Dash

Writers should become comfortable using other punctuation tools that achieve similar effects to em dashes, such as:

  • Commas: For inserting additional information mid-sentence.
  • Semicolons: For connecting closely related independent clauses.
  • Parentheses: For adding explanatory or supplementary remarks.
  • Colons: For introducing lists or explanations.

Mastering these alternatives ensures balance in text and prevents any single punctuation mark from dominating the prose.

Conclusion

While the em dash is undeniably useful, balancing its use is crucial for polished, effective writing. ChatGPT, being a predictive language model, mirrors its training data and sometimes falls into repetitive patterns like em dash overuse. Fortunately, with better prompting, post-editing, and awareness of punctuation alternatives, users can easily guide ChatGPT toward more balanced sentence structures. Remember—every punctuation mark has a purpose, and skillful writing knows when and how to employ each one for maximum clarity and impact.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • Q: Why does ChatGPT use so many em dashes?
    A: ChatGPT has learned stylistic choices from various sources during training. The em dash is often present in articles, blogs, and informal writing, which makes it a familiar and easy option for sentence restructuring.
  • Q: How do I instruct ChatGPT to avoid using em dashes?
    A: Include clear instructions in your prompt such as “Do not use em dashes” or “Stick with grammar conventions using commas and periods.”
  • Q: Can I fix the issue after generating content?
    A: Yes. Use grammar tools or manual editing to identify and replace em dashes with alternative punctuation marks.
  • Q: Are em dashes ever appropriate?
    A: Absolutely. Em dashes can be stylistically effective when used sparingly and with intent, particularly for drawing emphasis or indicating an abrupt pause.
  • Q: What styles discourage em dash overuse?
    A: Style guides like APA, MLA, and AP typically limit the use of em dashes, favoring clearer and more consistent punctuation.