I find that, even though the definition of the specific word remains unchanged, you can draw a reader's or hearer's attention to a specific point or provide a different connotation more readily by changing word placement.
Try this for an auditory example:
I never said you stole the money.
Repeat this sentence several times, but each time, over emphasize one of the words, and listen to how the meaning of the sentence appears to change:
I never said you stole the money. (implies someone else said it)
I never said you stole the money. (reinforces that I didn't say it)
I never said you stole the money. (implies that I believe it though I didn't say it)
I never said you stole the money. (implies that I believe someone else stole it)
I never said you stole the money. (implies that although you didn't steal it, I think you misused it somehow)
I never said you stole the money. (implies that I think you stole something even if you didn't steal the money)
Do you see how the sense changes? I meant to convey that you can do that to a lesser extent with the written word by word or phrase placement.
Marcio's first sentence appears to emphasize the point at which the missing occurred. The second seems to dilute that point.
|