Can a comma change meaning of sentence?

Move "as appropriate" to the front of the sentence.

Oh hell yes Maur. Sometimes triv diff but oft crucial. In your first 'zamp, f'rinstance, the implication might be that such decisions are almost always appropriate whereas the second might mean that some are and some aren't but that decisions should be made only when they are

Of course, very subtle diffs

But I like ur analysis even better'n mine

I don't think the original sentence was written by a native speaker. The fixed phrase "as appropriate" is usually seen after two or more choices, and indicates to the reader either that they must make a choice, or somebody else will. For example, a notice by a telephone might say: "In an emergency, dial 999 and ask for fire, police, or ambulance as appropriate". The reasons why each of these choices might be the appropriate one are too obvious for me to need to explain them here. That was an example of a choice that must be made by the person seeing the phrase. Another use might be merely informative - different actions or people might be involved in a situation depending on circumstances - e.g. "Misconduct by employees will be dealt with by informal warning, formal warning or dismissal as appropriate." To use "and" in the preceding phrase seems out of place. I can imagine something like this - "Investment decisions will be taken by the boards of EP or the NP, or both, as appropriate."

'Investment decisions will be taken by the boards of EP and the NP, as appropriate'


Of course Cen you're a lot better'n me a this sorta thing; but even I mighta writ it 'zakly that way, that is w/ ',' Imaginin' that the two boards are often together in making a decision, and that whatever it is, will indeed be made by 'em whenever it seems okay to do so


But God Lord Mercy Cen, if you 'gree 'tall, can you help me persuade Mgmt to make the bottom of this damn EdSq stop jumpin' up, down...up, down...up... f'rever'n'ever


As for the reminder of your posting, I thank you and doubtless Maur also thanks you. I'm wondering, and no offense whatever, how long it took ya

How long what took me?

I don't think ..."as appropriate" is u... a choice, or somebody ...In an emergency, dial 999 and ask for ...me to need to explain ... the person seeing the phrase... or people might... be dealt with by ...dismissal as appropriate...."and" .... out of place...something like this - "Investment decisions will be.... appropriate."

Oh. As long as it took me to type it. A bit less than a minute, I guess. I wasn't using a stopwatch.

Migod Cen, really, that's unbelievable. ne like that, takes me 'slong's six hours

'Dentally Cen, wuncha think the Software "Spellers'' 'd'gnize 'ne' as a missp of 'one'. I understand they're gonna raise thetho IQ reqmt from 43 to 51

Thank you Punkey, much appreciate the feedback.

Thank you Dalehileman, much appreciate the feedback.

Thank you centrox, much appreciate the feedback.

Dale and I'm sure Cen and Punk convey their welcome

This kinda stuff is fun for some of us Journ inclined

Speakin' of software, a note to the 'experts': 'Journ' is an abbr for 'Journalist' or 'Journalism.' I know how tough it is for you, but when your Speller Programmers come in for coffee, you havfta encourage them to read sumptin' besides the funnies

No, it's an abbreviation for "journeyman" or "journographer".

Cen agin' u'v made my day
There oughta be moraya