Dashes in Writing, AI

[RustedFishbones]

Someone on Royalroad commented on my chapter saying that it had a "disconnected feel" to it and that it might be the dashes. Stating that it had an "AI feel to it".

The dashes were used to make it "flow" better in a way that commas, periods, new lines, etc don't really do for me while I read over it myself. The idea did come from online as well as AI suggesting me on how to use it and then giving me examples and suggestions.

Is there an alternative to the "dashes"? Also the disconnected feel I don't really understand but that could just be because i wrote each section while reading it and like I said, getting suggestions on how to improve flow from AI, basically using it to suggest me edits.

Here is a link to the chapter that was talked about: Astreya

 

[CodeCrisis]

Dashes, aka em-dashes, can basically be replaced for commas in a chunk of instances. The reason why some people get an AI feel from it is because AI uses em-dashes WAY too much. Like, every sentence. If you want to keep em-dashes—try to space them out often, and use commas or hyphens where applicable.

 

[Dec]

AI tends to put unnecessary amounts of em dashes as replacements for commas. This is a big mistake on its side and one of the possible pointers (but not definitive) that AI was used to alter the text.
Em dashes in English should be used to note a break, for example, when someone talks over someone -- or accent elements like you do in the linked chapters, but only if it makes sense. If it can be replaced by any other punctuation mark without changing the flow, it is possibly not needed there.

Your usage -- while excessive -- isn't bad. I would recommend not overusing them, tho. It can interrupt the flow easily.

You can read more about them and how or when to use them properly here:

https://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/docs/handouts/Hyphens%20Dashes.pdf

 

[Cipiteca396]

Wow, that is a lot of dashes.

My advice; It's OKAY to use periods and commas most of the time.

This is the only time in the entire chapter where I thought it might be an alright use of the dumb dash.

Reports of people manifesting unusual abilities—calling them ‘awakened’—have increased sharply.

 

[RustedFishbones]

AI tends to put unnecessary amounts of em dashes as replacements for commas. This is a big mistake on its side and one of the possible pointers (but not definitive) that AI was used to alter the text.
Em dashes in English should be used to note a break, for example, when someone talks over someone -- or accent elements like you do in the linked chapters, but only if it makes sense. If it can be replaced by any other punctuation mark without changing the flow, it is possibly not needed there.

Your usage -- while excessive -- isn't bad. I would recommend not overusing them, tho. It can interrupt the flow easily.

You can read more about them and how or when to use them properly here:

https://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/docs/handouts/Hyphens%20Dashes.pdf

Dashes, aka em-dashes, can basically be replaced for commas in a chunk of instances. The reason why some people get an AI feel from it is because AI uses em-dashes WAY too much. Like, every sentence. If you want to keep em-dashes—try to space them out often, and use commas or hyphens where applicable.

Wow, that is a lot of dashes.

My advice; It's OKAY to use periods and commas most of the time.

This is the only time in the entire chapter where I thought it might be an alright use of the dumb dash.

okok so don't use them too much, its fine to use commas and spaces in between as replacements instead. But doesn't it "read/flow" different though if you use a comma instead of a dash?

 

[Cipiteca396]

But doesn't it "read/flow" different though if you use a comma instead of a dash?

Yes, you'll probably have to rewrite most of those sentences to be more fluid. But I think it'll turn out better if you do so.

 

[Dec]

But doesn't it "read/flow" different though if you use a comma instead of a dash?

It does, yes. And it can destroy the flow. Like, if you want a short pause, you use a comma. If you want an "instant follow," you use an em dash (like when person X starts speaking over person Y, breaking their flow).

 

[RustedFishbones]

It does, yes. And it can destroy the flow. Like, if you want a short pause, you use a comma. If you want an "instant follow," you use an em dash (like when person X starts speaking over person Y, breaking their flow).

I edited it, tried changing things to periods, commas, etc. Does it look fine?

 

[Dec]

Does it look fine?

Much better

Would be even better if you didn't mash "enter" so much, too. Don't be afraid of longer sentences.

 

[RustedFishbones]

Much better

Would be even better if you didn't mash "enter" so much, too. Don't be afraid of longer sentences.

ah...
I kinda... mash enter irl a lot as well...

 

[Supperset]

A1: Overuse of em dashes (—) can make writing feel choppy or artificial, especially if used in places where more natural punctuation like commas or periods can be used. It can disrupt rhythm if every sentence is “—”.
(Does that look like am anime emoticon?)

A2: The em dash is used to insert breaks in thoughts, sudden shifts, or emphasis. It’s great for dramatic effect or disrupting flow intentionally. But too many weaken its effect. "—" '—' "—"

A3: Is there an alternative to using dashes for flow?
Yes? "—" try using:-->>

Commas (,) for short/shoft pauses

Periods (.) end the sentence, start a new one.

Semicolons (;) second best replacement especially if the sentence is too long or you want to have that dramatic short pause but I prefer (...) for that.

Ellipses (...) for trailing or doubt full tone

+1 Also, paragraphing can naturally create flow without punctuation overload.


A4: Everybody who uses Al, knows how much "Al" likes to use this symbol. People get bored or frustrated easily, especially those who use AI a lot, since AI sometimes doesn't give straightforward answer so people ultimately feel frustrated and consider use of "—" AI.

In short: Mix up your punctuation. Limit dashes to where they really add value — clarity and rhythm comes more from varied sentence structure than any one symbol; I mean there are almost 50 of them, atleast the combination of them. It's not like someone's stopping you to use something else.

 

[RustedFishbones]

A1: Overuse of em dashes (—) can make writing feel choppy or artificial, especially if used in places where more natural punctuation like commas or periods can be used. It can disrupt rhythm if every sentence is “—”.
(Does that look like am anime emoticon?)

A2: The em dash is used to insert breaks in thoughts, sudden shifts, or emphasis. It’s great for dramatic effect or disrupting flow intentionally. But too many weaken its effect. "—" '—' "—"

A3: Is there an alternative to using dashes for flow?
Yes? "—" try using:-->>

Commas (,) for short/shoft pauses

Periods (.) end the sentence, start a new one.

Semicolons (;) second best replacement especially if the sentence is too long or you want to have that dramatic short pause but I prefer (...) for that.

Ellipses (...) for trailing or doubt full tone

+1 Also, paragraphing can naturally create flow without punctuation overload.


A4: Everybody who uses Al, knows how much "Al" likes to use this symbol. People get bored or frustrated easily, especially those who use AI a lot, since AI sometimes doesn't give straightforward answer so people ultimately feel frustrated and consider use of "—" AI.

In short: Mix up your punctuation. Limit dashes to where they really add value — clarity and rhythm comes more from varied sentence structure than any one symbol; I mean there are almost 50 of them, atleast the combination of them. It's not like someone's stopping you to use something else.

okok, tysm!

 

[Hoshino]

Its also obsessed with semi colons.

 

[PancakesWitch]

you can also tell the AI when you're fixing the grammar and tell them to not overuse em dashes and as the person stated above semi colons, and then it won't appear as much anymore

 

[TomoKrishna]

Someone on Royalroad commented on my chapter saying that it had a "disconnected feel" to it and that it might be the dashes. Stating that it had an "AI feel to it".

The dashes were used to make it "flow" better in a way that commas, periods, new lines, etc don't really do for me while I read over it myself. The idea did come from online as well as AI suggesting me on how to use it and then giving me examples and suggestions.

Is there an alternative to the "dashes"? Also the disconnected feel I don't really understand but that could just be because i wrote each section while reading it and like I said, getting suggestions on how to improve flow from AI, basically using it to suggest me edits.

Here is a link to the chapter that was talked about: Astreya

Try to replace with (...) because em dash is mostly used for intentionally break and move to other, eclipse also mostly for that stoping and thinking and moving to other line I mean I use (...) for those mainly, and emdash is not wrong to use but try to use less, some times emdash fit correct, ofcourse ai will give, but you can change if the sentence doesn't fit

 

[Clo]

I don't know if you've edited the chapter since the moment you posted your chapter, but I only saw 7 em-dash in it, which is far from excessive.

I personally use them—A lot, actually—and I have far more than 7 in any given chapter.

But I think that's because it's an entirely neurodivergent way of thinking.

 

[Eldoria]

Someone on Royalroad commented on my chapter saying that it had a "disconnected feel" to it and that it might be the dashes. Stating that it had an "AI feel to it".

The dashes were used to make it "flow" better in a way that commas, periods, new lines, etc don't really do for me while I read over it myself. The idea did come from online as well as AI suggesting me on how to use it and then giving me examples and suggestions.

Is there an alternative to the "dashes"? Also the disconnected feel I don't really understand but that could just be because i wrote each section while reading it and like I said, getting suggestions on how to improve flow from AI, basically using it to suggest me edits.

Here is a link to the chapter that was talked about: Astreya

If you check your writing using Grammarly, the — (dash) will be changed to , (comma)

 

[Ai-chan]

Just use commas. That's how people traditionally write in place of em dashes. People do use em dashes, but too many em dashes is a glaring indicator that it's written by AI. Nobody use em dashes that much. You'd be lucky to find 10 in a 2000 words composition. Unless you're writing in Japanese. There's a letter that is similar to em dash and usually translations would write it as an em dash.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I use dashes of all sorts. Far less often than I used to, but I still do - on occasion.

 

[Zagaroth]

alright, so I just started incorporating en and em-dashes into my writing, and learning the exact differences is fresh in my head. We have 3 dashes.

- normal dash, often used as a connector, when two words are being used as one word. Example: "a spell-charged ball of foxfire" (from my latest chapter). Also, en-dash and em-dash

– en-dash, often used when indicating a sudden break in a sentence, such as when someone speaking is interrupted. There's not really a good replacement for this one. (I used to use normal dash for that, before I learned you were supposed to us the en-dash)

— em-dash, this is what has been covered above. Because it is stronger than commas or semi-colons, it should be used less frequently. I never used to use it at all until hearing about AI using it every where prompted me to look into it and find out how it is supposed to be used. Now I have maybe 2 a chapter.

Because it is very large and visible, it makes more of a break than a comma does. It's hard not to notice it.

But remember, AI learned to use it from real authors. Brandon Sanderson has been using them a lot since long before AI was a thing. If you are using more em-dashes than Brandon Sanderson, you are probably using too many.