16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsMediumSemicolons between list items with internal commas

Standard English Conventions practice question

The panel included Dr Ruiz, a surgeon ____ Ms Okafor, a nurse; and Mr Bell, a former patient.

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

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

Answer: A. ;

Each panel member is listed with a description after a comma, so the items themselves are separated by semicolons — as '; and Mr Bell' shows.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. ,
A comma here would be lost among the commas inside the items.
C. :
A colon introduces a list; it doesn't separate items within one.
D. and
'and' after the first item breaks the pattern of the list, which uses semicolons and a final 'and'.

More Standard English Conventions questions

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