Choose the correctly edited sentence that eliminates the comma splice:
Answer
C) The lecture was postponed; therefore the students studied at home.
The correct answer is C) The lecture was postponed; therefore the students studied at home. — Select the option that follows the rule: use a semicolon before conjunctive adverbs like "therefore" to avoid a comma splice.
Step-by-step solution
- Read each option and locate the comma splice – a comma joining two independent clauses.
- Option A uses a comma before "therefore" – still a splice.
- Option B adds an extra comma after "therefore" but still joins the clauses with a comma, so the splice remains.
- Option C replaces the comma with a semicolon before "therefore", correctly separating the independent clauses.
- Option D uses a period but then starts a new sentence with "Therefore" without proper transition; while not a splice, it disrupts flow and is less preferred than the semicolon usage.
- Select the option that follows the rule: use a semicolon before conjunctive adverbs like "therefore" to avoid a comma splice.
Common mistake: Using a comma before "therefore" instead of a semicolon
Concept tested: Eliminating comma splice with proper punctuation
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