Spending a significant portion of my day behind a keyboard, I have explored various writing styles over the years. Recently, I have embraced the use of em dashes, a punctuation mark that has sparked quite a conversation online. While perusing social media, I have encountered numerous posts suggesting that the prevalence of em dashes is indicative of AI-generated content, particularly from tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. This assertion, however, is far from accurate.
In a recent update, Windows introduced a dedicated keyboard shortcut that allows users to effortlessly insert an em dash while typing. This feature is part of the Windows 11 patch KB5065789, applicable to OS Builds 26200.6725 and 26100.6725. The announcement has been met with enthusiasm among writers who appreciate the elegance and clarity that em dashes can bring to their prose.
Any em dash fans here? We’re currently rolling out a new Windows keyboard shortcut that can directly input em dash if you need it when typing 😊 https://t.co/uDsklvrdD3 pic.twitter.com/qvGONAWt2W October 22, 2025
New! Insert dashes with new keyboard shortcuts. You can quickly insert an en dash (–) or em dash (—) while typing. Press Windows logo key+Minus (-) to insert an en dash, and Windows logo key+Shift+Minus (-) to insert an em dash. If Magnifier is running, Windows logo key+hyphen (-) will zoom out Magnifier instead of inserting an en dash.
Microsoft
Sean Endicott, our news writer and apps editor, shared his insights on this topic: “ChatGPT — and other Large Language Models (LLMs) — seem to favor it more than human writers, but they did not invent the em dash. The em dash has been around for hundreds of years and appears in many classic works, which is likely why ChatGPT noticed them so much in its training data.” This historical context adds depth to the ongoing debate about the use of em dashes in modern writing.
The introduction of this keyboard shortcut is a welcome enhancement for many, simplifying the writing process for those who have come to appreciate the em dash’s unique stylistic flair.
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