Plural of anacoluthon; grammatical constructions where a sentence shifts abruptly and doesn't follow the expected grammatical pattern.
From Greek anakolouthos (not following), composed of ana- (not) + akolouthos (following). The term entered English in the 16th century to describe a rhetorical or grammatical inconsistency.
Writers sometimes break grammar rules on purpose to sound natural—think of how people actually talk in real life. Anacoluthons are when sentences drift off track, like 'If you want to succeed, hard work is the key,' where the grammar changes mid-thought.
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