16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsEasy–MediumSemicolon before a conjunctive adverb

Standard English Conventions practice question

The reef survey was scheduled for ____ however, rough seas pushed it back to May.

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

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

Answer: A. March;

Two independent clauses joined by 'however' take a semicolon before it and a comma after.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. March,
A comma before 'however' between two independent clauses is a comma splice.
C. March
With no punctuation, the two clauses run together.
D. March: and
A colon and 'and' together is neither construction.

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