16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsEasy–MediumColon before a quotation after a complete clause

Standard English Conventions practice question

The notice on the gate is ____ 'Beware of the goose.'

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

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

Answer: A. brief:

A complete clause introducing a quotation takes a colon.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. brief,
A comma introduces a quotation only after a speech verb.
C. brief;
A semicolon needs an independent clause after it.
D. brief
No punctuation runs the clause into the quotation.

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