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Difficulty: EasyRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

In the passage below, a portion of the second sentence is underlined to indicate a potential grammatical error.

Food scientists study the biological makeup of food. They work to develop new products and improve processing techniques, often their research focuses on safety. By conducting experiments, these scientists ensure that food is safe to eat.

Which of the choices best resolves the punctuation error in the underlined portion?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. techniques; often, their research focusesAnswer
  3. C
    techniques, but often their research focusing
  4. D
    techniques; often their research focusing

Answer

techniques; often, their research focuses
The correct option correctly resolves the comma splice by replacing the comma with a semicolon to separate two complete independent clauses. The word 'often' functions as a transitional adverb, which is properly followed by a comma.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the clause structure around the underlined portion.
The text contains two complete independent clauses: 'They work to develop new products and improve processing techniques' and 'often their research focuses on safety'.
Determining if the clauses are independent helps identify whether a coordinating conjunction or appropriate punctuation is needed to join them.
2
Evaluate the choices to find the one that correctly separates or joins these two independent clauses.
Using a semicolon with a transitional adverb followed by a comma ('techniques; often, their research focuses') correctly connects the two independent clauses without creating a run-on or a fragment.
A semicolon is grammatically required to separate two independent clauses when no coordinating conjunction (like 'and' or 'but') is present.

Key Concept

Identifying and correcting comma splices and run-on sentences using proper punctuation like semicolons.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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