Em Dash Counter: A browser extension that counts em dashes
The article introduces Em Dash Counter, a browser extension that counts the number of em dashes on any webpage.
Background
- Em dashes (—) are long dashes used in English writing to indicate a break in thought—much like this sentence—and are longer than en dashes (–) or hyphens (-).
- Matt Daue (mattnite) is an indie developer who created this free browser extension. It's a playful, self-aware project: as he notes, the extension's popularity could ironically increase use of the very punctuation it tracks.
- The emergence of a dedicated em dash counter reflects a niche but recurring joke in tech/writing circles about writers who overuse em dashes. The tool is humorous and satirical, not intended as serious analytics.
- This fits a broader culture of small, quirky browser extensions that serve no practical purpose but resonate with specific communities—similar to extensions that track how many times you've typed certain words or visited certain pages.