16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardPeriod versus comma before a conjunctive adverb opening a new sentence

Standard English Conventions practice question

The bridge passed its inspection in ____ nonetheless, the council closed it to lorries.

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

  1. A. March;Correct
  2. B. March,
  3. C. March
  4. D. March, and

Answer: A. March;

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

Why the other answers are wrong

B. March,
A comma before 'nonetheless' between two clauses is a splice.
C. March
A run-on.
D. March, and
'And nonetheless' doubles the connector.

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