16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardSemicolon before 'in fact'

Standard English Conventions practice question

The old map is not ____ in fact, its coastline is more accurate than the one printed last year.

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

  1. A. useless;Correct
  2. B. useless,
  3. C. useless
  4. D. useless, and

Answer: A. useless;

'In fact' beginning a second independent clause takes a semicolon before it.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. useless,
A comma splice.
C. useless
A run-on.
D. useless, and
'And' before 'in fact' is clumsy and still leaves a splice.

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