16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardSemicolon before as a result

Standard English Conventions practice question

The ferry's engine failed twice in ____ as a result, the company withdrew it from service.

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;

"as a result" begins a second complete sentence, so a semicolon separates the two.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. March,
A comma splice.
C. March
Two sentences run together.
D. March, and
"and as a result," produces a stray comma after the conjunction phrase; the sentence needs the semicolon.

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