Version 1.1 · 17 August 2026
The Em Dash Rights Declaration
A public standard — writing style alone is not proof of AI authorship.
Punctuation is not proof.
The use of an em dash, semicolon or any other punctuation mark does not establish AI authorship.
Style alone is not proof.
Vocabulary, fluency, sentence structure, organisation, tone and other stylistic characteristics may provide context, but they cannot, by themselves, establish AI authorship.
Humans should not have to write worse.
No person should feel compelled to weaken, simplify or deliberately degrade their writing in order to appear human.
Accusations require evidence.
AI authorship should not be alleged, determined or penalised solely on the basis of stylistic characteristics, resemblance to AI-generated text, or isolated linguistic patterns.
Detection is not determination.
Automated detection, statistical patterns and stylistic indicators may inform further review. They should not, by themselves, determine authorship or misconduct.
People deserve a fair process.
Before an accusation leads to a penalty or adverse decision, the person concerned should be given the evidence relied upon, relevant context should be considered, and they should have a meaningful opportunity to respond.
Your voice belongs to you.
People should be free to write in their own voice — formally, casually, simply, elaborately, with unusual vocabulary or ordinary punctuation — without that style alone being treated as evidence against them.
Em Dash Rights Declaration · Version 1.1 · 17 August 2026
Version 1.1 clarified the standard on stylistic evidence and added principles on automated detection and fair process.
emdashrights.org