In No. 54 the good fortune (fortunately) is for me, as if the language read, “It was fortunate for me.” In 54-1 the comma cuts “fortunately” off from “for me”; and the meaning is thus changed.
If the meaning of No. 54-1 is not perfectly clear to the reader, it may be made so by a change in the form of the sentence:
54-2. Fortunately, the work was easy for me.
Sentence 54 is not capable of such transposition; and this shows that the sentences are different in meaning.
Words and groups of words like this and in like use are very numerous; yet practically all of them readily fall into their respective classes, and are easily punctuated. A change in meaning, however, even without a change in form, will require different punctuation, although the proper punctuation is rarely seen. That it is so seems strange in view of the fact that the meaning logically permits of no other than the obviously correct punctuation:
55. In conclusion, I wish to say that the evidence does not justify the verdict.
The relation of “in conclusion” will be clearly seen if we transfer the term:
55-1. I wish to say, in conclusion, that the evidence does not justify the verdict.
In each of these sentences “in conclusion” is merely an adverb equivalent to finally. If we make it equivalent to a clause, and thus prevent its performing the office of an adverb, its relation is changed, and its new relation will determine the punctuation. Such a change and such new relation are seen in the next sentence: