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JJDouglas Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Does the comma before "to" subtly change this sentence's meaning?
"You need to make sure that everything you want included is there to give you the best possible experience."
"You need to make sure that everything you want included is there, to give you the best possible experience."
OK, I'm finding it kind of hard to articulate the problem I'm having with the above two sentences into words, but I'll give it my best shot:
Is there a subtle difference in meaning between the two? Does the first suggest that you need to ensure that the reason for everything being there is to give you the best possible experience, while the second suggests that the act of making sure everything you want is included will give you the best possible experience?
Therefore, if I wanted to imply the second meaning, does the comma become necessary? I ask because I think that most people would omit the comma regardless, but I believe doing that does cause a change in meaning.
"You need to make sure that everything you want included is there, to give you the best possible experience."
OK, I'm finding it kind of hard to articulate the problem I'm having with the above two sentences into words, but I'll give it my best shot:
Is there a subtle difference in meaning between the two? Does the first suggest that you need to ensure that the reason for everything being there is to give you the best possible experience, while the second suggests that the act of making sure everything you want is included will give you the best possible experience?
Therefore, if I wanted to imply the second meaning, does the comma become necessary? I ask because I think that most people would omit the comma regardless, but I believe doing that does cause a change in meaning.
Top answer
Commas, and therefore pauses in speech, can certainly cause us to imply different things. I don't think you're wrong with your interpretation of the use of the comma here - it does seem to alter the balance of the meaning. Subtly, but yes - I feel it's different and whether your reading of it is how everyone would read it is debatable but I can read it your way from the use (or not) of the comma.
- Commas, and therefore pauses in speech, can certainly cause us to imply different things.
- I don't think you're wrong with your interpretation of the use of the comma here - it does seem to alter the balance of the meaning.
- Subtly, but yes - I feel it's different and whether your reading of it is how everyone would read it is debatable but I can read it your way from the use (or not) of the comma.
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1 Answers
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Commas, and therefore pauses in speech, can certainly cause us to imply different things. I don't think you're wrong with your interpretation of the use of the comma here - it does seem to alter the balance of the meaning. Subtly, but yes - I feel it's different and whether your reading of it is how everyone would read it is debatable but I can read it your way from the use (or not) of the comma
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