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Controlling punctuation is a main concern for users who depend on ChatGPT for professional, academic, or publishing tasks. One issue that has caught the attention of users is the model’s tendency to use em dashes (—), even in responses where they are not requested.
The topic has sparked conversations, especially among writers who want a cleaner and more natural text. OpenAI’s recent update finally offers a solution, giving users more control over how punctuation appears in generated content.
However, not everyone is satisfied, as some users say the bot continues to slip in em dashes despite the updated setting. This article explains how to get rid of dashes in ChatGPT using a detailed explanation.
To remove em dashes, you need to go to ChatGPT’s Settings, select Custom Instructions, then click on “How would you like ChatGPT to respond?” and write something like, “Do not use em-dashes in your writing” or “Never output the ‘—’ character.”
Once you save, start a fresh chat and test if it’s working. If you still notice em dashes, you can reinforce the rule by reminding ChatGPT during your prompt: “Remember: no em-dashes.”
Users who want to clean up past responses or automate dash removal can use these browser extensions:
Em Dash Fixer for ChatGPT: Automatically replaces em dashes with hyphens and adds a “Copy without em dashes” button.
GPT Power-Ups (Em Dash Fix): Offers a sanitize tool to clean em/en dashes, hidden characters, and even allows drawing sketches, all locally without tracking.
Em-Dash Replacer: Lets you replace em dashes on any web page or when copying text.
Many users felt that the em dash had become a stylistic signature of AI-generated text, making it easier to identify ChatGPT-written content.
Earlier, even strict prompts like “do not use —” were frequently ignored, frustrating editors, writers, and professionals alike. The inability to control punctuation despite clear instructions became a meme and a valid concern for authenticity in writing.
OpenAI’s recent update in GPT-5.1 provides a major enhancement for compliance. It practically allows users to get rid of the em dashes using personal instructions.
However, some users still report occasional lapses, suggesting the fix may not yet be flawless for everyone. If you want a foolproof way to remove em dashes, combining custom instructions with a browser extension gives you complete style control and cleaner, more human-like punctuation.
Also Read: ChatGPT’s New Voice Feature Reads Responses
The latest update highlights an important milestone towards providing users with greater control over punctuation, and the improvement can be seen in most cases. There are still a few inconsistencies, but the change is marked by a strong move towards a more dependable personalization.
With easy configurations and supportive external applications, anybody can change ChatGPT’s writing style to suit individual or business requirements. This increasing adaptability not only makes the experience more human-like but also builds users’ trust in the AI model’s responses.
1. How to remove em dashes?
Write in clear, straightforward English. Systematically replace em-dashes (“—”) with a dot (”.”) to start a new sentence, or a comma (”,”) to continue the sentence.
2. Why does ChatGPT use bullet points?
The primary reason ChatGPT uses bullet points is to enhance clarity and readability.
3. How do I close an em dash?
Most newspapers insert a space before and after the dash, and many popular magazines do the same, but most books and journals omit spacing, closing whatever comes before and after the em dash right up next to it.
4. How to disable the em dash on iPhone?
Tap Settings on the Home screen, then tap General. Select the Keyboard, then tap on Smart Punctuation to toggle the setting off.
5. How to avoid bullet points?
You can also avoid bullet points by combining your key info into one overarching shape. This could be a circular “pie” type.
