participle (The plane crashed, killing all 200 people aboard)

[Mr Linguaphile]

The plane crashed, killing all 200 people aboard.

The plane crashed killing all 200 people aboard.

Is there any difference between these two sentences?

What difference does the comma make?

[Alan]

Hi,

The comma changes the emphasis:

The plane crashed, killing all 200 people aboard.
The plane crashed killing all 200 people aboard.

In the first one the comma breaks the sentence in two and suggests as a result of the crash all 200 people were killed.

In the second one a statement is made saying the plane crashed and killed all 200 people.

For clarity the first sentence is preferable.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Mr Linguaphile]

Thank you, Alan.