[mmooss]

> RMS tends to use semi-colons where others use commas, with _MANY_ subordinate clauses.

There are grammatical rules to using semicolons and using them with a subordinate clause on one side is a definite error. I can't think of how that would be valid. (Maybe that's what you meant.)

[cryptonector]

Grammar rules need to be more descriptive than prescriptive. Some people like to introduce new styles of writing that would lead prescriptivists to scream "witch!!"; it's fun to watch prescriptivist meltdowns.

[mmooss]

You are such the rebel - using semicolons ilicitly!

> Grammar rules need to be more descriptive than prescriptive.

The style guides - and dictionaries - are way ahead of you, and have long said that.

However, we do need some consistency in order to have clear meaning. Otherwise, you'll write it your new radical way, and others will understand it in the generally understood way.

You can create your own protocols and syntaxes for your computer, but interoperation can be tricky.

[cryptonector]

Right, so if you're going to be an innovator, make it clear, otherwise it's not the same language. For example I'm pretty sure that RMS is not completely opaque in his use of semicolons.

[mmooss]

> so if you're going to be an innovator, make it clear, otherwise it's not the same language.

Agreed.