She doesn't date him because she likes a tall guy.

I don't see how the 2nd sentence means she is dating that person.

I have to ask, are you trying to say she likes tall men better overall, or she likes a particular tall man?

In statement 1 because is spelt incorrectly. Useful, huh?

Could be. Different interpretations could be found.

But taking a simple view, they are the same. Part of the problem is the "register" in which they are written. That problem is removed if you use slightly more formal language:
for example,
She doesn't date him because she prefers taller men.

Your friend is completely wrong. The comma is optional and doesn't change the meaning of the sentence.

I think your friend is correct.

To me, the first sentence "She doesn't date him, becuase she likes a tall guy" is saying that she does NOT date him...and the reason is because either she likes someone else who is a tall guy...or the only kind of guy she likes are tall guys.

The second sentence "She doesn't date him because she likes a tall guy" ;is saying that she is dating him...and that the reason she is dating him has to do with reasons that go beyond the fact that he is a tall guy.

I also think the inflection in the voice could relay that comma.

I like Frank's answer.

The general preference for tall guys could also be expressed:

She doesn't date him because she likes tall guys.

This is, I believe, what my friend wanted to say.
Now I can understand with ease thanks to you.

I had no idea how they are different and how to explain.
Luckily, there's a gentleman who did that for me below.
I'd like to know whether you like his opinion or not.
Would you take a look at that?

Oh, I didn't notice I spelled it incorrectly,
but that has nothing to do with its meaning.
That's just a simple mistake.
Still, you've got impressive powers of observation, I think.

I see. So 'prefer' makes the sentence a bit more formal.

Some agree with you and some don't seem to.
That must be, I concluded, controversial as even native speakers
do not appear to reach tonsensus.

I think you're not reaching a consensus because native speakers would not say the sentence either way SMickey.

Even among the native speakers here, we can't all agree if she's talking about one particular "tall guy", or tall men in general, or if she likes him so much it doesn't matter.

What was the meaning you were thinking of with these examples?

As is often the way with weighty issues and heavy concepts.

First of all, I had no idea just one comma could make any changes.

What my buddy says is as follows :

1. She doesn't date him, because she likes a tall guy.

She is obviously not seeing him now, and the reason is that
even though she likes a tall guy, the one she turned down
must have been a short guy. That's why.


2. She doesn't date him because she likes a tall guy.

She is surely seeing him now, and the fact that he is a tall guy
has nothing to do with the reason that she is seeing him.
Probably she likes other parts about him, such as his personality, his wealth or things like that.

I got suspcious about his explanation, I decided to turn to real native speakers here. Seeing not all native speakers agree on it, I concluded that the sentences my buddy showed me might be puzzling even to native speakers, and I decided to leave it just like that.

What was the meaning I was thinking of with those sentences?
Honestly, I figured they are exactly the same thing, and the comma
wouldn't make any change.

I hope I explained good enough about what I had been curious about.

You were right.

The sentence can have either meaning, but referring to the tall guy suggests it's about height. If it weren't about height the sentence would be:

1. She doesn't date him because she likes another guy.

His name is Henry and he lives round the corner.