Standard English ConventionsHardDashes around a list that contains commas
Standard English Conventions practice question
The three oldest ____ were all planted by the same gardener.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. trees — an oak, a yew, and a lime —Correct
- B. trees — an oak, a yew, and a lime,
- C. trees, an oak, a yew, and a lime,
- D. trees an oak, a yew, and a lime
Answer: A. trees — an oak, a yew, and a lime —
Because the list itself contains commas, dashes on both sides mark it off clearly.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. trees — an oak, a yew, and a lime,
- A dash opens and a comma closes: mismatched.
- C. trees, an oak, a yew, and a lime,
- Commas around a comma-filled list make the sentence unreadable.
- D. trees an oak, a yew, and a lime
- No punctuation at all.
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