16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardSemicolon plus a comma pair around 'moreover'

Standard English Conventions practice question

The plan was cheap ____ moreover, quick to put into practice.

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

  1. A. ; it was,Correct
  2. B. , it was,
  3. C. ; it was
  4. D. , it was

Answer: A. ; it was,

Two complete sentences — 'The plan was cheap' and 'it was, moreover, quick to put into practice' — need a semicolon between them, and the interrupter 'moreover' needs a comma on each side.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. , it was,
A comma between two complete sentences is a splice.
C. ; it was
The semicolon is right, but 'moreover' has a comma after it and none before it.
D. , it was
A comma splice, and only one comma around 'moreover'.

More Standard English Conventions questions

Not affiliated with the College Board. SAT is a trademark of the College Board.