AI drives em dash use; semicolon fades

The semicolon is fading from use, especially among younger generations, while the em dash is experiencing a surge, largely due to its prevalence in AI-generated text. Semicolon usage has declined significantly since 2000, with many young people avoiding it due to uncertainty about its correct application, while emojis are favored for conveying tone. The em dash, used for parenthetical information, is now common in AI responses. This shift in punctuation reflects broader changes in communication styles, with technology potentially influencing grammar more than previously acknowledged, sparking debate about the future of language.