16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsMediumSetting off an appositive about a yew

Standard English Conventions practice question

The oldest tree in the ____ a yew that predates the church beside it, is fenced off to protect its roots.

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

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

Answer: A. churchyard,

The appositive is set off by a pair of commas, and the second comma is already there.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. churchyard;
A semicolon cannot open an appositive.
C. churchyard
The opening comma of the pair is missing.
D. churchyard:
A colon does not pair with the closing comma.

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