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Difficulty: MediumCommas with Nonessential and Parenthetical Elements

In 1842, Italian mathematician Luigi Menabrea published a paper on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine. Ada Lovelace undertook the task of translating this French document into English. The memoir, which she expanded with her own notes, became a landmark in computer science.

Which choice most effectively punctuates the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. NO CHANGEAnswer
  2. B
    memoir, that she expanded with her own notes, became
  3. C
    memoir, which she expanded with her own notes became
  4. D
    memoir; which she expanded with her own notes, became

Answer

The choice that makes no changes to the underlined portion is correct because the nonessential clause 'which she expanded with her own notes' is correctly punctuated with commas on both sides.
The original sentence correctly identifies the relative clause 'which she expanded with her own notes' as nonessential information. Consequently, it must be enclosed in a pair of commas—one after 'memoir' and another after 'notes'—to separate it from the main independent clause.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify whether the underlined clause is essential (restrictive) or nonessential (nonrestrictive) to the meaning of the sentence.
The clause 'which she expanded with her own notes' provides extra information about 'the memoir' but is not necessary to identify which memoir is being discussed. Therefore, it is a nonessential clause.
Nonessential clauses must be set off from the rest of the sentence using punctuation, typically a pair of commas.
2
Evaluate the options to find the correct punctuation layout for the nonessential clause.
A pair of commas is needed: one before 'which' and one after 'notes'. This matches the original phrasing.
Omitting either comma, using a semicolon instead of a comma, or using the relative pronoun 'that' with commas is grammatically incorrect.

Key Concept

Setting off nonessential and parenthetical elements with a pair of commas
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Commas with Nonessential and Parenthetical Elements

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