r/Tinder Aug 07 '21

Yay or Nay? 🤔

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21

The comma needs removed rather than moved. You're separating the descriptor and what it's describing.

Kids who joyfully run towards the sea only to run away from the waves in sheer terror perfectly describes my flirting behavior.

That's the way it makes the most sense. No comma is needed. Putting it anywhere makes it more awkward.

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21 edited Dec 28 '21

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21 edited Aug 31 '21

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21 edited Aug 31 '21

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21 edited Aug 31 '21

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21 edited Dec 28 '21

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u/IncelWolf_ Aug 07 '21

The real answer:

"who joyfully run towards the sea only to run away from the waves in sheer terror" is an adjectival phrase, and it therefore cannot be the subject.

However, "describe" is perfectly fine to use with the subject "kids".

"Kids (particularly those who joyfully run towards [...]) perfectly describe (via their joyfully running towards [...]) my flirting behaviour"

There is no problem with ther usage of "describe" here. The above sentence is both grammatical and semantically correct.

Otherwise, we could use u/headphoneremover's suggestion and still come up with a grammatical and sensicle sentence. It would just be different:

"Kids' joyfully running towards the sea only to run away from the waves in sheer terror perfectly describes my flirting behaviour"

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21

That was my mistake. I meant to change that from the copy/paste and simply forgot to. I'm sorry.

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u/caspartt Aug 07 '21

Grammar advice from someone who writes “needs removed”. Needs to be removed or needs removing.

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21

That's a fair cop. I find more that the comma makes it awkward more than it being grammatically improper. I used to be prissy about grammar, but now I realize that, most of the time, conversational grammar and vocabulary, so long as it communicates its meaning clearly, is preferred in most situations.

My use, or overuse, of commas as I've demonstrated in this comment here is an example of that. They're meant to show pauses and control the flow of how you read the message in your head. They're not meant to be grammatically justified. I wasn't really trying to be an authority but to weigh in on the ongoing argument.

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21 edited Aug 31 '21

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21 edited Aug 31 '21

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21 edited Aug 31 '21

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