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Difficulty: HardCommas with Nonessential and Parenthetical Elements

In the seventeenth century, Artemisia Gentileschi overcame significant barriers to become one of the most celebrated painters of the Baroque era. Her masterpiece , a dramatic rendering of Judith slaying Holofernes, showcases her brilliant use of intense light and shadow. Today, art historians recognize this work as a defining achievement of seventeenth-century art.

Which choice best punctuates the underlined portion of the passage?

  1. NO CHANGEAnswer
  2. B
    a dramatic rendering of Judith slaying Holofernes,
  3. C
    , that is a dramatic rendering of Judith slaying Holofernes,
  4. D
    ; a dramatic rendering of Judith slaying Holofernes,

Answer

The correct answer is the option that keeps the underlined portion as it is, using a pair of commas to set off the nonessential appositive phrase.
The phrase 'a dramatic rendering of Judith slaying Holofernes' is a nonessential appositive that describes the noun 'masterpiece.' Because it is nonessential to the basic structure of the sentence, it must be enclosed in a pair of commas. The original punctuation correctly places a comma before the phrase and a comma after the phrase.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the underlined portion and identify its grammatical role in the sentence.
The phrase 'a dramatic rendering of Judith slaying Holofernes' is an appositive that renames and describes 'masterpiece.' It is nonessential because removing it leaves a grammatically complete and coherent sentence ('Her masterpiece showcases her brilliant use of intense light and shadow.').
Determining whether a phrase is essential or nonessential dictates how it should be punctuated.
2
Apply the punctuation rule for nonessential elements.
Nonessential elements must be set off from the rest of the sentence by a pair of matching punctuation marks, such as commas. This means there must be a comma before the phrase and a comma after it.
Using a pair of commas correctly signals that the information is parenthetical.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that correctly implements this punctuation rule.
The original text uses a comma before 'a' and a comma after 'Holofernes,' which correctly sets off the nonessential appositive. Other options either omit a comma, incorrectly punctuate a restrictive clause, or use a semicolon inappropriately.
This confirms that the original phrasing is correct and requires no changes.

Key Concept

Commas with Nonessential and Parenthetical Elements
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Topics

Commas with Nonessential and Parenthetical Elements

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