Consider the definition: Clear[fun] fun[a_ + b_] := fun[a] + fun[b]; fun[a+b+c] (*fun[a] + fun[b] + fun[c]*) This works as expected. However, if we use a `BlankSequence` on "b": Clear[fun] fun[a_ + b__] := fun[a] + fun[b]; fun[a + b + c] (*fun[a] + fun[b, c]*) it seems that `BlankSequence` eliminates the `Plus` in "b+c" and replaces it with `Sequence`. Has anybody a good explanation for this behaviour?