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Difficulty: HardRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Preservationists working on medieval tapestries must exercise extreme caution. Exposure to moisture can cause fibers to swell and warp; therefore, humidity levels in exhibition galleries are strictly regulated. Modern conservation clinics, however, employ low-energy laser cleaning to remove decades of grime, this non-invasive technique vaporizes contaminants without damaging the fragile silk and wool threads.

Which of the following choices is the best replacement for the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. decades of grime; this non-invasive techniqueAnswer
  3. C
    decades of grime; because this non-invasive technique
  4. D
    decades of grime, and this non-invasive technique, which

Answer

decades of grime; this non-invasive technique
The correct answer properly resolves the comma splice. The sentence consists of two independent clauses: the first ends with 'grime' and the second begins with 'this non-invasive technique'. A semicolon is the appropriate punctuation mark to separate these two closely related independent clauses without the need for coordinating conjunctions.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause boundary and determine the grammatical status of the clauses.
The text before the underlined portion, 'Modern conservation clinics, however, employ low-energy laser cleaning to remove decades of grime,' is a complete independent clause. The text after the comma, 'this non-invasive technique vaporizes contaminants without damaging the fragile silk and wool threads,' is also a complete independent clause.
Recognizing the structure of the clauses is necessary to determine how they can be punctuated or connected.
2
Evaluate the original punctuation to check for errors.
The original phrasing uses only a comma to separate the two independent clauses. This is a comma splice, which is a grammatical error.
Identifying the comma splice shows that a change is required.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that correctly resolves the comma splice without introducing new errors.
Using a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses correctly fixes the splice. Adding 'because' after a semicolon makes the second clause dependent (a fragment). Adding 'and' and 'which' makes the second clause incomplete because it lacks a main verb.
This determines the single correct grammatical configuration.

Key Concept

Identifying and correcting comma splices and run-on sentences using appropriate punctuation such as semicolons.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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