We overuse the em dash in our prose.

We use the em dash more often than easy reading allows, and we are changing how we punctuate.

Cosmetic — how it looks, not what it says.

We counted it across everything we publish. Our 500 companion pages carry about 15 em dashes for every thousand words of body text, and 14 in the short summaries. Our Methods essays, where we write about our own work, run higher still at 16. The published defect records average 14, and the first one we ever posted runs at 19. The daily prompt is the exception at 3, which is closer to what the rest of this writing should look like.

The construction is not wrong. A dash can set off an aside, or land a short clause at the end of a sentence, and sometimes nothing else does the job as cleanly. The problem is frequency. When it turns up in one sentence out of five it stops being a choice and becomes a habit, and the prose takes on a rhythm that tires a reader without their being able to say why.

We want to be plain about why we are changing it. We are not changing our house style to hide our use of AI. We are changing our style to make our prose more comfortable to read. Overuse of em dashes is a rightly recognized tell of AI writing, and it detracts from the reader’s experience. Our goal is prose that is correct, pleasant to read, and easy to understand. Overuse of em dashes is a defect against that goal, and we are treating it as one.

What changes, and where. The daily prompt, the short summary at the top of every companion, and the prose of these defect records go to none: no em dashes at all. Quoted material is exempt everywhere, because a record that cannot quote a sentence cannot show you the evidence for it.

Defect records already published stay as they are. We are not going back to tidy the archive, and you can compare what we wrote before this against what we write after it.

The long pages will change slowly, because the three uses are not one habit. Em dash usage for short reveals will disappear, replaced with clear sentence structure. Then the long trailing clause usage will change to the normal colon construction. Finally, asides will use em dashes only where they earn their place. We measured what ordinary published prose actually does before deciding what earning its place will mean for us: professionally edited health writing runs between one and four em dash constructions per thousand words, and that range is now our target for our long-form prose.

Our Methods essays are exempt. In Methods, we want Craig’s voice and the AI’s voice (which writes “the room” side of each issue) to show clearly as part of us showing our work.

No meaning changes anywhere. This is punctuation and rhythm only. Where a dash is genuinely the clearest structure available it stays, and the sentences that keep one will be the ones that earned it.

Details

Defect f008 · registered 5 September 2026 · amended 5 September 2026

Affects 38 daily prompts, 418 companion pages and 7 pages. 45 corrected.

Affected pages last measured 5 September 2026.

Affected companions

• The Pantry Test
• Why Fasting Works
• The 3pm Urge
• The Non-Snacker
• Counter Scan
• Sugar’s Double Hit
• The Party Plate
• The Plateau Question
• Effortless Eater
• Effort Barrier Check

408 more…

• The Insulin Cycle
• The Late-Night Pull
• The Broken Window
• Kitchen Designer
• Fridge Reality
• Willpower’s Limit
• The Free Food Table
• Stress Inventory
• Morning Identity
• Desk Drawer Audit
• The Restaurant Menu
• The Weekend Slide
• Clean Slate
• The Convenience Test
• Ancient Mismatch
• The Recurring Failure
• Ancestor Test
• Breaking Resistance
• The Celebration
• Natural Rhythm
• The Visible Fruit Test
• The Fasting Fears
• Hunger vs. Habit
• The Exercise Excuse
• The Long View
• The Buffet
• The Afternoon Crash
• Controlled Space
• The Snack Cupboard
• The Drink Order
• The Clear Kitchen
• Traditional Wisdom
• Breakfast Optional
• The Hidden Sugar Hunt
• The Body’s Response
• The Social Pressure
• The Food Diary Question
• Feast and Fast
• The Grab Zone
• The Movie Theater
• The Tired Eating
• Simple Eating
• The Car Food Audit
• Vinegar’s Effect
• The Work Lunch
• The Slow Creep
• Meal Timing Mindset
• Artificial Sweeteners
• The Unexpected Hunger
• The All-or-Nothing Trap
• The Sovereign Kitchen
• The Checkout Lane
• Set Point
• The Potluck
• The Return of the Cravings
• Automatic Eater
• The Office Candy Bowl
• The Problem Foods
• The Airport
• The Stress Eater Question
• The Clear Path
• The Mediterranean Secret
• The Second Serving
• The Portion Creep
• Closing the Kitchen
• The Sauce Scan
• The Trigger Food
• The Weight Regain
• The Minnesota Experiment
• The “Just One”
• The Future Self
• The Bread Basket
• Glycogen Stores
• The Spice Cabinet
• The Boredom Eating
• The Gatekeeper
• The Liquid Calories
• The Family Dinner
• The Yogurt Check
• The Motivation Dip
• The Pragmatist
• Ketone Production
• The Hotel Room
• The Cereal Shelf
• The Emotional Trigger
• The Experimenter
• The Hypothalamus
• The Happy Hour
• The Bread Box
• The Sugar Withdrawal
• The Curator
• The Cafeteria Studies
• The Road Trip
• The Pasta Inventory
• The Scale Obsession
• The Stoic Eater
• Liver Function
• The Dinner Party
• The Ice Cream Test
• The Hunger Confusion
• The Minimalist
• Growth Hormone
• The Leftovers
• The Cookie Jar
• The Long-Game Player
• The Reward System
• The Birthday Cake
• The Cracker Box
• The Sleep Debt
• Adrenaline Response
• The Free Sample
• The Granola Bar Stash
• The Social Eating
• The Observer
• Insulin Sensitivity
• The Late Dinner
• The Perfectionism Trap
• Blood Sugar Stability
• The Appetizer Round
• The Juice Check
• The Comparison Trap
• The Athlete
• The Five Stages
• The Dried Fruit Bag
• The Information Overload
• The Monk
• Calorie Compensation
• The Dessert Menu
• The Flavored Water Check
• The Quick Fix Mentality
• The Elder
• The Lipostat
• The Comfort Food Moment
• The Protein Bar Box
• The Spouse/Partner Challenge
• Metabolic Adaptation
• The Pre-Meal Drink
• The Accountability Gap
• The Nonconscious Brain
• The Peanut Butter Jar
• The Coach
• Food Reward
• The Trail Mix Bag
• The Hormonal Excuse
• The Teacher
• The Smoothie Supplies
• The Self-Sabotage Pattern
• The Architect
• The Brain Stem
• The Networking Event
• The Self-Trust Issue
• The Investor
• Ghrelin
• The Breakfast Meeting
• The Fruit Bowl
• The Gardener
• Leptin
• The Office Kitchen
• The Alcohol Inventory
• The Binge Recovery
• The Parent
• Palatability
• The Snack Bar
• The Tea Collection
• The Clean Eating Obsession
• The Philosopher
• The Soda Supply
• The Exercise Compensation
• The Sage
• Food Advertising
• The Chocolate Stash
• The Mindless Eating
• The Mentor
• The Convenience Store
• The Instant Oatmeal Packets
• The Starting Over Trap
• The Naturalist
• The Yogurt Shelf
• The Traditionalist
• Homeostasis
• The Team Lunch
• The Sports Drink Supply
• The Restriction Backlash
• The Thermic Effect
• The Sunday Brunch
• The Cracker Variety
• The Cheat Day Concept
• The Minimalist Eater
• The Reward Pathways
• The Muffin Check
• The Motivation Roller Coaster
• Sleep and Hormones
• The Barbecue
• The Sweetener Packets
• The Emotional Void
• The Realist
• Fructose and the Liver
• The Holiday Season
• The Bread Supply
• The Evening Problem
• The Pragmatist Eater
• The Graduation Party
• The Energy Drink Habit
• The Knowledge-Action Gap
• The Intentional Eater
• Visceral Fat
• The Baby Shower
• The Granola Supply
• The Self-Compassion Balance
• The Student
• The Condiment Audit
• The Support System Gap
• The Set Point Theory
• The Wedding Reception
• The Flavored Yogurt Check
• The Consistency Problem
• The Witness
• The Hunger Scale
• The Picnic
• The Vitamin Water Check
• The Time Scarcity Excuse
• The Keeper
• The Sick Day
• The Children’s Snacks
• The Veteran
• Variety and Consumption
• The After-Dinner Sweets
• The Elder Self
• Protein Timing
• The Funeral Reception
• The Morning Beverage
• The Rock Bottom Question
• The Phoenix
• The Hunger Waves
• The Last Meal Question
• The Portion Size Audit
• The Core Problem
• The Intentionalist
• The Brain’s Energy Needs
• The Farewell Dinner
• The Backup Meal
• The Fatigue Factor
• The Craftsperson
• The Retirement Party
• The Cooking Oil Shelf
• The Identity Conflict
• The Sovereign
• The Freezer Meal Stock
• The Blame Game
• The Disciplined One
• The Rain Check
• The Fruit Juice Box
• The Guilt Spiral
• The Pragmatic Optimist
• The Cortisol Rhythm
• The Emotional Eating Substitute
• Fatty Acid Oxidation
• The Tasting Menu
• The Snack Replacement
• The Expectations Gap
• The Gentle Warrior
• Blood Sugar and Mood
• The Food Gift
• The Secret Stash
• The Yo-Yo Pattern
• The Balanced One
• The Neighborhood Walk
• The Kitchen Timer
• The Overthinking Trap
• The Confident Eater
• Satiety Hormones
• The Working Vacation
• The Baking Supplies
• The External Validation Need
• The Evolved One
• The Cooking Class
• The Pantry Depth
• The Comfort Zone
• The Transformed One
• Protein and Insulin
• The Office Celebration
• The Refrigerator Door
• The Self-Punishment
• The Free One
• The Menu Preview
• The Water Bottle
• The Self-Deception
• The Honest One
• The Hunger Hormone Cycle
• The Cooking Fatigue
• The Progress Photos
• Autophagy
• The Business Dinner
• The Excuse List
• The Persistent One
• Metabolic Rate
• The Leftover Dilemma
• The Portion Control Tools
• The Relapse Plan
• The Resilient One
• The Impulse Buy
• The Emergency Food
• The Inflammation Connection
• Fat Adaptation
• The Breakfast Buffet
• The Coffee Station
• The Fear of Missing Out
• The Selective One
• The Insulin Response
• The Food Delivery Apps
• The Night Snack Zone
• The Social Identity Conflict
• The Selective Eater
• Protein Leverage
• The Kids’ Menu
• The Meal Prep Setup
• The Energy Crisis
• Carbohydrate Tolerance
• The Visual Cues
• The Loneliness Eating
• The Connected One
• The Fasting Stages
• The Sample Plate
• The Kitchen Layout
• The Rested One
• Electrolytes and Fasting
• The Appetizer as Meal
• The Water Quality
• The Mindset Block
• The Believer
• The Special Occasion Trap
• The Produce Drawer
• The Fresh Start Illusion
• The Present One
• The Stress Response
• The Happy Hour Alternative
• The Grocery List
• The Identity Maintenance
• The Kitchen Purge
• The Processed Food Ratio
• The Deprivation Mindset
• The Abundant One
• Hunger and Circadian Rhythm
• The Work Snack Run
• The Meal Frequency
• The Binge Trigger
• The Compensation Effect
• The One Bite Rule
• The Kitchen Traffic
• The Metabolic Damage Fear
• The Capable One
• The Thermostat Analogy
• The Compliment Response
• The Visual Appeal
• The Sabotaging Thoughts
• The Thoughtful One
• The Body Weight Equation
• The Self-Talk
• The Kind One
• The Addiction Debate
• The Midnight Fridge
• The Default Meals
• The Hunger Tolerance
• The Tolerant One
• The Gut Microbiome
• The Farewell to Food
• The Environment Reset
• The Rebound Effect
• The Moderate One
• The Obesity Epidemic
• The Decision Already Made
• The Serving Sizes
• The Frustration Point
• The Patient Investor
• The Setpoint Range
• The Food Ritual
• The Negative Self-Talk
• The Compassionate One
• The Industrial Food System
• The Diet Start Date
• The Kitchen Lighting
• The Black and White Thinking
• The Gray Area
• The Sugar Industry
• The Food Mood
• The Social Media Food
• The Hunger Fear
• The Fearless One
• The Processed Food Industry
• The Holiday Gathering
• The Water Access
• The Informed One
• The Bliss Point
• The Lunch Packing
• The Impulse Barrier
• The Fatigue Excuse
• The Energetic One
• The Food Matrix
• The Evening Routine
• The Snack Visibility
• The First Bite
• The Stress Management
• The Stress-Proof One
• The Micronutrients
• The Next Meal
• The Full Audit
• The Pattern Recognition
• The Whole Person

The 38 prompts are counted here but have no page of their own — they reach readers in the daily email and in each companion's opening line. 7 pages are counted here but not listed.

All known defects