---
title: "no-em-dash"
description: "Flags em dashes"
sidebar:
  label: "no-em-dash"
  badge: "Hard"
search:
  tags: [rule, static, style]
---

| Property | Value |
| -------- | ----- |
| Kind | Hard rule |
| Engine | `phrase` |
| Tier | `static` |
| Severity | `error` |
| Intent | `style` |
| Scope | `text` |

:::note
This is a style rule. It reports findings and participates in `--fix`, but never moves the [human-likeness score](/docs/concepts/scoring).
:::

## Why

Use commas, parentheses, or a new sentence instead of an em dash.

## Examples

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Column>
    **Flagged**

    The court—wisely—paused.
  </Column>
  <Column>
    **Better**

    The court wisely paused.
  </Column>
</Columns>

## Turning it off

```sh
lawlint --disable no-em-dash draft.md
```

Or durably, in `.lawlint/config.json` — see [Configuration](/docs/reference/configuration).