16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardSemicolon before 'otherwise'

Standard English Conventions practice question

Water the seedlings every ____ otherwise, they will wilt within a day.

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

  1. A. morning;Correct
  2. B. morning,
  3. C. morning
  4. D. morning, or

Answer: A. morning;

'Otherwise' joining two independent clauses takes a semicolon before it.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. morning,
A comma splice.
C. morning
A run-on.
D. morning, or
'Or otherwise' doubles the alternative.

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