OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently announced a “small but happy win” for frustrated ChatGPT users. The AI chatbot will now respect custom instructions to avoid using em dashes, the punctuation mark that became the unofficial signature of AI-generated text. But has the problem truly been solved, or just managed?
ChatGPT Em Dash Controversy
ChatGPT’s heavy use of em dashes led many readers to believe that any content containing them was AI-generated or edited, prompting some professional writers to avoid the punctuation altogether. The long dash (—) became so synonymous with AI writing that users jokingly called it the “ChatGPT hyphen.”
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Issue | ChatGPT overused em dashes in responses |
| Impact | Writers accused of using AI; professional credibility questioned |
| Solution | Custom instructions now work to prevent em dash usage |
| Announcement Date | November 14, 2024 |
What Changed?
Sam Altman stated on X that ChatGPT will now refrain from using em dashes when users specify this preference in their Custom Instructions. Previously, users reported that ChatGPT ignored repeated requests to stop using the punctuation mark, continuing to insert em dashes despite explicit instructions.
The timing coincides with OpenAI’s release of GPT 5.1, which introduced enhanced personalization features across ChatGPT. Users can now access custom instructions through the Personalization tab in settings.
Why ChatGPT Loved Em Dashes
Experts believe ChatGPT’s training data included significant amounts of modern prose and older books that frequently used em dashes. The punctuation mark offers a compact way to connect ideas without additional structure, making it efficient for AI token generation. Additionally, some style guides prefer spaces around dashes while ChatGPT typically omitted spaces, creating another telltale signal.
Literary giants like Emily Dickinson, Ernest Hemingway, and Virginia Woolf regularly employed em dashes in their writing long before AI existed. The mark’s versatility allows it to replace commas, parentheses, colons, and ellipses.
The Community Response
User reactions mixed relief with humor. One person commented that they could finally use em dashes without being falsely accused of using AI. Another quipped, “But how will we know they are machines now?”
AI engineering author Chip Huyen had previously offered $100 to anyone who could make ChatGPT stop using em dashes, highlighting widespread frustration with the issue.
Learn more about ChatGPT updates on the official OpenAI blog.
Is This Really Fixed?
While Altman framed this as solving a “glitch,” the update doesn’t eliminate em dashes from ChatGPT’s vocabulary. Users must explicitly add instructions to their custom settings. The AI still defaults to using em dashes unless told otherwise.
Experts note that em dashes aren’t an effective way to determine AI-generated text, as many human writers naturally incorporate them. The correlation became a self-fulfilling prophecy as people learned to spot and avoid the punctuation.
For more insights on AI writing tools and detection methods, explore our comprehensive coverage of the latest developments in artificial intelligence technology.
FAQs
Q: Will ChatGPT automatically stop using em dashes now?
No. Users must manually add instructions in their Custom Instructions settings to prevent em dash usage. The feature works on command rather than being a default change.
Q: Are em dashes still a reliable indicator of AI-generated content?
Not really. Many professional writers use em dashes naturally, and AI detectors based solely on punctuation patterns are unreliable. The association became more cultural meme than technical truth.
