16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardColon before a quoted notice

Standard English Conventions practice question

The sign at the gate was ____ 'No dogs beyond this point.'

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. brief:Correct
  2. B. brief;
  3. C. brief
  4. D. brief, it said

Answer: A. brief:

A complete clause followed by the quoted text takes a colon.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. brief;
A semicolon needs a clause after it.
C. brief
No boundary before the quotation.
D. brief, it said
A comma splice.

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