comma, purpose or result?

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keannu

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The use of comma(,), is it to denote result or purpose? Both seems to work, but there seems to be a special reason in using it.

ex)Newer homes especially can benefit from air-cleaning plants; that's because new construction is better insulated and and selaed, to conserve air conditioning and heating.
 

Raymott

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The use of comma(,) [STRIKE],[/STRIKE] is it to denote result or purpose?
You don't put a comma between the subject and the verb.
Both seems to work, but there seems to be a special reason in using it.

ex)Newer homes especially can benefit from air-cleaning plants; that's because new construction is better insulated [STRIKE]and [/STRIKE]and sealed, to conserve air conditioning and heating.
Yes, there does. I'd suggest that a comma is used here to make sure the sentence means that both the insulation and the sealing contribute to the conservation of air-conditioning and heating., ie. the meaning is:
" ... better [insulated and sealed] to [conserve air conditioning and heating.]" rather than:
" ... [better insulated] and [sealed to conserve air conditioning and heating.]", which could be the case if the comma wasn't there.

I'm not sure what you mean by result and purpose.
 

keannu

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Yes, there does. I'd suggest that a comma is used here to make sure the sentence means that both the insulation and the sealing contribute to the conservation of air-conditioning and heating., ie. the meaning is:
" ... better [insulated and sealed] to [conserve air conditioning and heating.]" rather than:
" ... [better insulated] and [sealed to conserve air conditioning and heating.]", which could be the case if the comma wasn't there.

I'm not sure what you mean by result and purpose.

By result, I mean , it was better insulated and sealed and as a result, it conserved air conditionig and heating.
By purpose, I mean , it was better insulated and sealed in order to conserve air conditionig and heating.
By cause, I mean , it was better insulated and sealed because it conserved air conditionig and heating.

Which of the three is the comma for?
 

Raymott

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By result, I mean , it was better insulated and sealed and as a result, it conserved air conditionig and heating.
By purpose, I mean , it was better insulated and sealed in order to conserve air conditionig and heating.
By cause, I mean , it was better insulated and sealed because it conserved air conditionig and heating.

Which of the three is the comma for?
The comma's for none of those reasons. It's for reason I mentioned, I believe.
The sentence means "in order to", but the comma doesn't change that meaning.
 

keannu

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The comma's for none of those reasons. It's for reason I mentioned, I believe.
The sentence means "in order to", but the comma doesn't change that meaning.
I'm sorry, now I realize the comma was to prevent confusion, in order to describe the previous two things, not one. I'm sorry!
 
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