Punctuation
⏱ ~3-min readAceMark GuideWhat this topic is really about
Option A is correct because it uses commas to separate items in a simple list of three nouns, including the standard Oxford comma before the conjunction. Option B is incorrect because it lacks necessary punctuation, while Option D is incorrect because semicolons should only separate list items that already contain internal commas.
Option B is correct because colons are used to introduce an explanation or clarification immediately after an independent clause. Option A is incorrect because a semicolon must separate two independent clauses, but 'to graduate' is only a phrase.
See the mechanism
The clause 'who lives in Boston' is non-essential because it merely adds extra information about the sister, meaning it must be set off with commas. A diagram for this topic isn't available yet — the worked example below walks the same reasoning step by step.
An exam-style question, fully explained
Choose the correctly punctuated version: "My sister who lives in Boston is visiting."
- Identify what the question tests: Choose the correctly punctuated version: "My sister who lives in Boston is visiting.".
- The clause 'who lives in Boston' is non-essential because it merely adds extra information about the sister, meaning it must be set off with commas.
- Option C is incorrect because a semicolon cannot be used to set off a dependent relative clause.
Traps the examiner sets
- Option C is incorrect because a semicolon cannot be used to set off a dependent relative clause.
- Option A is incorrect because it is a simple plural noun with no possessive punctuation, leaving the relationship to 'jerseys' unclear.
- Option A is incorrect because a semicolon must separate two independent clauses, but 'to graduate' is only a phrase.
- Option B is incorrect because it lacks necessary punctuation, while Option D is incorrect because semicolons should only separate list items that already contain internal commas.
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