16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardColon versus semicolon before an elaborating independent clause

Standard English Conventions practice question

The surveyor's conclusion was unwelcome but not, on reflection, ____ the tower had been leaning since the 1700s, and every generation had simply chosen not to measure it.

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

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

Answer: A. surprising:

The second clause explains the first, and a colon introduces an explanation after a complete clause.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. surprising,
A comma between two independent clauses is a splice.
C. surprising; because
A semicolon must be followed by an independent clause, and 'because' makes what follows dependent.
D. surprising, because,
A stray comma after 'because'.

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