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Difficulty: MediumRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Early sound recordings were captured on fragile wax cylinders, which are highly susceptible to mold and physical wear. To preserve these auditory artifacts, archivists now use non-contact optical scanning technology. This method reconstructs the audio from high-resolution images of the groove profiles, consequently, the sound can be played back digitally without any physical needle ever touching the delicate wax.

Which of the following choices best replaces the underlined portion to correct the grammatical error?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. profiles; consequently, the soundAnswer
  3. C
    profiles; consequently, because the sound
  4. D
    profiles, consequently, the sound,

Answer

The correct option is 'profiles; consequently, the sound' because it correctly uses a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses, followed by a comma after the transitional word 'consequently'.
The correct option properly separates the two independent clauses using a semicolon, followed by a comma after the transitional adverb 'consequently'. This resolves the comma splice error of the original sentence while maintaining grammatical completeness.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the structure of the clauses flanking the transition.
The clause before 'consequently' ('This method reconstructs the audio from high-resolution images of the groove profiles') and the clause after ('the sound can be played back digitally without any physical needle ever touching the delicate wax') are both independent clauses.
Knowing whether the clauses are independent or dependent determines the required punctuation.
2
Select the correct punctuation to join the two independent clauses.
A semicolon is required to separate the two independent clauses when joined by the conjunctive adverb 'consequently', which must be followed by a comma.
Using a comma alone to join two independent clauses creates a comma splice, while inserting 'because' turns the second clause into a dependent clause, creating a fragment.

Key Concept

Joining two independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb requires a semicolon before the adverb and a comma after it to prevent a run-on or comma splice.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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