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Question

Difficulty: MediumCommas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

Consider the underlined portion in the sentence below:

Before presenting her findings on acoustic levitation at the international physics conference, Dr. Vance double-checked her precise, intricate calculations, re-calibrated the transducer, and compiled all remaining experimental data into a final report.

Which of the following choices produces the most grammatically correct sentence?

  1. NO CHANGEAnswer
  2. B
    precise, intricate calculations, re-calibrated the transducer, and she compiled
  3. C
    precise, intricate calculations; re-calibrated the transducer; and compiled
  4. D
    precise, intricate calculations, re-calibrated the transducer. And compiled

Answer

The original phrasing ('NO CHANGE') is correct because it properly separates coordinate adjectives with a comma and uses standard comma punctuation for a parallel list of three verb phrases.
The sentence requires two distinct comma applications: separating coordinate adjectives ('precise, intricate') and separating three parallel predicate phrases ('double-checked...', 're-calibrated...', 'and compiled...'). The original wording correctly satisfies both rules without introducing fragment or parallelism errors.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the adjectives preceding 'calculations'
The adjectives 'precise' and 'intricate' are coordinate because they can be joined by 'and' ('precise and intricate calculations') and their order can be reversed without altering meaning. Therefore, a comma between them is required.
Coordinate adjectives independently modify the same noun and require comma separation.
2
Analyze the structure of the series
The sentence contains a series of three parallel past-tense predicates introduced by the subject 'Dr. Vance': (1) double-checked her precise, intricate calculations, (2) re-calibrated the transducer, and (3) compiled all remaining experimental data.
A series of three or more items requires commas after each item preceding the coordinating conjunction ('and').
3
Select the choice that satisfies both punctuation rules without introducing structural errors
The original text maintains both the coordinate adjective comma and the proper serial comma punctuation with parallel verbs.
Maintaining parallel grammatical form and correct comma placement ensures sentence clarity.

Key Concept

Commas with Coordinate Adjectives and Items in a Series
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Topics

Commas with Lists, Clauses, and Coordinate Adjectives

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