16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardColon introducing an explanation of a result

Standard English Conventions practice question

The garden failed for one ____ nobody watered it in the hottest month of the year.

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

  1. A. reason:Correct
  2. B. reason,
  3. C. reason
  4. D. reason; that

Answer: A. reason:

A complete clause followed by the reason it announces takes a colon.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. reason,
A comma splice.
C. reason
A run-on.
D. reason; that
'That' after a semicolon leaves a fragment.

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