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Beyond the Em Dash: New AI Tells Uncovered
16 Dec
Summary
- AI's frequent use of em dashes is a perceived sign of generated text.
- Redditors identified phrases like 'And honestly?' as AI indicators.
- Short, fragmented sentences and 'It's not X, it's Y' signal AI use.
The em dash, commonly known as the "ChatGPT dash," is increasingly seen as a marker of AI-generated text. This punctuation's prevalence in AI output stems from its frequent use by human writers. However, as AI models evolve, new indicators are emerging.
Online communities have identified specific phrases and sentence structures commonly found in AI-generated content. These include the conversational query "And honestly?," the declaration "no fluff," and a pattern of short, fragmented sentences used for emphasis. The "It's not X, it's Y" construction, often termed "contrast framing," is also noted.
Further analysis points to AI's overuse of signposting words and generic engagement prompts, such as "curious what others think." While these signs are not definitive proof of AI, their consistent appearance offers clues for content identification, even as AI systems continue to be updated and refined.
