The Em Dash

The podcast explores the history and cultural significance of the em dash, sparked by a Reddit accusation that a newsletter writer, Brian Vance, used AI due to his em dash usage. It traces the em dash from its origins with Italian scholar Bonnie, through its adoption by Shakespeare for dramatic pauses, to its prominence in 19th-century literature with authors like Jane Austen and Emily Dickinson. Dickinson's unique, dash-laden poetry is highlighted, alongside the mark's later association with AI-generated text, even prompting the creation of the "Am Dash" as a uniquely human alternative. The discussion includes insights from Keith Houston, author of "Shady Characters," and Fiona Green, an Emily Dickinson scholar, and touches on the broader implications of outsourcing creativity to AI.