16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardSemicolon in a sentence with an internal list

Standard English Conventions practice question

The mill produces three ____ wholemeal, which sells best; a fine white; and a coarse rye for the bakery in town.

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

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

Answer: A. flours:

A colon introduces the list; the items, containing commas, are separated by semicolons.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. flours;
A semicolon can't introduce the list.
C. flours,
A comma can't introduce a list after a complete clause.
D. flours
Nothing introduces the list.

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