16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardColon before an explanation

Standard English Conventions practice question

The reason the bridge has no railings is ____ the design brief asked for a crossing that cattle could be driven over without balking.

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

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

Answer: A. simple:

A complete clause followed by the explanation it announces takes a colon.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. simple,
A comma splices the explanation onto the clause.
C. simple;
A semicolon joins two statements of equal weight; here the second explains the first.
D. simple
No punctuation runs the two together.

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