Here's why:
* Rambling sentences lack focus and clarity. They often include irrelevant details, unnecessary clauses, and unclear connections between ideas. They leave the reader feeling lost and confused.
* Long sentences can be well-structured and clear. They can contain multiple clauses that are logically connected and contribute to a coherent meaning. The key is that the sentence should have a clear subject, verb, and a focused main idea.
Examples:
* Rambling: "The dog, a fluffy golden retriever with a wagging tail, barked at the mailman, who was wearing a bright red shirt and carrying a heavy bag, and the sound woke up the neighbors, who were already annoyed by the noisy dog."
* Well-structured and clear: "The fluffy golden retriever barked at the mailman, startling the neighbors who had been enjoying the quiet morning."
Here's how to tell if a long sentence is rambling:
* Does the sentence have a clear main idea?
* Are the clauses logically connected?
* Are there any unnecessary details or digressions?
* Is the sentence easy to understand?
In summary: While a rambling sentence is likely to be long, a long sentence is not necessarily rambling. A well-constructed long sentence can be clear, concise, and impactful.