16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsEasy–MediumSemicolon before 'otherwise'

Standard English Conventions practice question

Book the boat by ____ otherwise, the crossing may be full.

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

  1. A. Friday;Correct
  2. B. Friday,
  3. C. Friday
  4. D. Friday, or,

Answer: A. Friday;

'Otherwise' joining two independent clauses takes a semicolon before it and a comma after.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. Friday,
A comma before 'otherwise' between two clauses is a splice.
C. Friday
No punctuation is a run-on.
D. Friday, or,
A stray comma after 'or'.

More Standard English Conventions questions

Not affiliated with the College Board. SAT is a trademark of the College Board.