16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardColon before a quoted verdict

Standard English Conventions practice question

The inspector's report ended with a single ____ "Close it."

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

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

Answer: A. sentence:

A colon introduces the quoted sentence after a complete clause.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. sentence;
A quotation is not an independent clause for a semicolon.
C. sentence,
A comma is for quotations after a speech verb, not after a noun.
D. sentence
No separation.

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