alt.hn

3/25/2026 at 4:33:56 AM

I Love the Em Dash–Too Bad If AI Does Too

https://thewalrus.ca/i-love-the-em-dash-too-bad-if-ai-does-too/

by SegfaultSeagull

3/25/2026 at 5:23:13 AM

I concur — having added it as a third level symbol (AltGr + dash for em-dash, AltGr + Shift + dash for en-dash) to a default layout for Linux in early 2000s, it has become my signature of sorts.

If I am to be called out as an LLM, at least I can lay a claim I've been one for 20 years!

I do eschew one tradition surrounding it — the one of using no spaces around it — despite recommendations of different Manuals of Style and typographic norms. It simply looks better with more breathing room.

by necovek

3/25/2026 at 8:21:48 AM

Would you put spaces around parentheses?

It would look ( to most people ) very strange.

by 1propionyl

3/25/2026 at 10:54:25 AM

You know , I have to disagree with you there(but just this time)but I respect your opinion nevertheless .

by treetalker

3/25/2026 at 4:50:50 AM

Use an en-dash instead. – is slightly shorter than — so in–between words of—a–similar nature, you can look stylishly not–a–robot.

by fragmede

3/25/2026 at 5:52:27 AM

The en-dash is for ranges. https://practicaltypography.com/hyphens-and-dashes.html

by blakewatson

3/25/2026 at 8:37:01 AM

Or British English.

The Oxford style guide page 18 https://www.ox.ac.uk/public-affairs/style-guide

> m-dash (—)

> Do not use; use an n-dash instead.

> n-dash (–)

> Use in a pair in place of round brackets or commas, surrounded by spaces.

I feel a number of people online started using something like the "British style", as an ascii hyphen is closer to an n-dash than an m-dash in width. And then without spaces either side looks very squished.

by kimixa