Standard English ConventionsVery hardColon before an explanation; not a semicolon with 'because'
Standard English Conventions practice question
The expedition turned back two days from the ____ the porters' food had run out.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. summit:Correct
- B. summit; because
- C. summit,
- D. summit
Answer: A. summit:
The second clause explains the first; a colon after a complete clause introduces that explanation.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. summit; because
- A semicolon must be followed by an independent clause, and 'because the porters' food had run out' is a dependent one.
- C. summit,
- A comma alone between two independent clauses is a comma splice.
- D. summit
- No punctuation creates a run-on.
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