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Standard English ConventionsVery hardSemicolons in a list whose items contain commas

Standard English Conventions practice question

The three speakers were a marine biologist from Halifax, Nova ____ a fisherman from Peterhead, Scotland; and a chef from Bergen, Norway.

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

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

Answer: A. Scotia;

Items with internal commas are separated by semicolons; the pattern is set by 'Peterhead, Scotland;'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. Scotia,
A comma would make 'Nova Scotia' and 'a fisherman' look like separate items.
C. Scotia
No punctuation runs two items together.
D. Scotia; and
'And' belongs only before the last item.

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