16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsEasy–MediumColon after 'the following'

Standard English Conventions practice question

The recipe requires the ____ butter, sugar and two eggs.

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

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

Answer: A. following: flour,

'The recipe requires the following' is a complete statement that sets up a list. A colon introduces the list.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. following; flour,
A semicolon needs a complete clause on each side; a list of ingredients isn't one.
C. following, flour,
A comma is too weak to introduce a list after 'the following'.
D. following flour,
With nothing, 'the following flour' misreads as if 'following' described the flour.

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