16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsEasy–MediumPeriod versus comma between independent clauses

Standard English Conventions practice question

The greenhouse heater failed on the coldest night of the ____ half the seedlings were lost.

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

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

Answer: A. year.

Two independent clauses: a period ends the first; the second begins with a capital.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. year,
A comma alone is a splice.
C. year
No punctuation is a run-on.
D. year and,
'And,' puts a stray comma after the conjunction.

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