16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardDash pair enclosing an aside with internal punctuation

Standard English Conventions practice question

The last three keepers of the light — a father, his son, and, briefly, the son's ____ are all buried in the island churchyard.

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

  1. A. widow —Correct
  2. B. widow,
  3. C. widow;
  4. D. widow

Answer: A. widow —

The aside opened with a dash must close with a dash, whatever punctuation lies inside it.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. widow,
A comma can't close what a dash opened.
C. widow;
A semicolon can't close an aside.
D. widow
With no closing mark, the aside swallows the verb.

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