# Grammar/Spelling Errors **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 12, 2005, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-spelling-errors/325873 "2005-10-12T11:29:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-spelling-errors/325873/81 "2005-10-16T13:09:27Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Let’s not forget that commas typically precede coordinating conjunctions that separate independent clauses, a glaring absence in your wretched sentence. This rule does not apply when the independent clauses are very short. Only **Scott Plaid** would ignore such an important point. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-spelling-errors/325873/82 "2005-10-16T17:43:08Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > This rule does not apply when the independent clauses are very short. Only **Scott Plaid** would ignore such an important point. Yes, I considered this when I first replied, but you’re ignoring two important items. First, while the clauses are reasonably short in terms of words and letters, the actual ideas contained were so boring and clunky that any perceived brevity disappeared when the sentence was actually read. Only a comma could have helped this horrible sentence from collapsing under the weight of its own dreariness. It’s disappointing that you could have missed this. Second, and more critical, I couldn’t find anything else wrong. So, I must still insist that I can’t take the charge seriously and will not consider myself Scott Plaid based on the evidence provided. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-spelling-errors/325873.md?page=4)