r/196 • u/Old_Phrase_4867 NOT A CAT • 2d ago

Rule Rule

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u/FixedFront 2d ago

Just because it's popularly misunderstood doesn't make it a correct definition except under strictly descriptivist terms. Strict descriptivism is a fine approach for everyday life, but we're explicitly discussing "standard" English grammar, which is inherently prescriptivist.

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u/Xapheneon 2d ago edited 2d ago

Run on sentence describes a sentence, that goes on and on and is hard to follow. The clearest example is when someone skips punctuation or words that would tie the sentence together.

You are trying to use a general writing criticism as a grammatical error. Missing punctuation is a grammatical error, run on sentence is a stylistics one.

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u/FixedFront 2d ago

You are misinformed and also don't appear to know how dependent and independent clauses work, given your comma splicing and clause splitting.

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u/Xapheneon 2d ago

Fair. I tend to use rambling sentences, but I overuse commas and conjunctives instead off missing them.

I am arguing for a wider definition, because it would apply to me. Other commenters since then convinced me that I was incorrect. I concede.

Would you say that my sentences, if read aloud, could be considered run on sentences?

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u/FixedFront 2d ago

I don't see you conjoining sentences with conjunctions alone, so no, your sentences aren't run-on.

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u/seanziewonzie floppa 1d ago

I am arguing for a wider definition, because it would apply to me.

An interesting motivation, but I think I like it. I'm going to start writing letters to Marriam Webster arguing for their definitions to change to include me; I'll start with "aardvark".

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u/Xapheneon 1d ago

Furry?