16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardComma after a speech verb when the quotation continues

Standard English Conventions practice question

'The results,' she ____ 'are not what we expected.'

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

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

Answer: A. said,

The quotation is one sentence interrupted by 'she said'. A comma after 'said' leads back into the rest of the quotation.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. said;
A semicolon needs a complete clause on each side; 'are not what we expected' continues a sentence.
C. said.
A period would end the sentence at 'said', leaving the quoted 'are not what we expected' as a fragment.
D. said
With no comma, 'said' runs straight into the resumed quotation.

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