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Difficulty: MediumRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

The passage below is from an article about acoustic engineering.

Acoustic engineers play a vital role in the design of modern performance spaces, they must balance aesthetic goals with complex physical laws. By calculating how sound waves reflect off various wall materials, these professionals can prevent unwanted echoes. The challenge lies in creating a space that is reverberant yet clear; consequently, even minor miscalculations can ruin a hall's acoustics.

Which of the following options represents the correct punctuation and structure for the underlined portion?

  1. A
    spaces, they
  2. spaces; theyAnswer
  3. C
    spaces; although they
  4. D
    spaces, because they

Answer

The correct punctuation is 'spaces; they', which uses a semicolon to properly separate the two independent clauses.
The option containing the semicolon properly joins two related independent clauses without any additional coordinating conjunctions or creating fragments.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the two clauses surrounding the underlined portion.
The first clause is 'Acoustic engineers play a vital role in the design of modern performance spaces', which is independent. The second clause is 'they must balance aesthetic goals with complex physical laws', which is also independent.
Understanding clause boundaries and types is necessary to determine proper punctuation.
2
Evaluate the relationship between the clauses and select the appropriate punctuation or conjunction.
Since both clauses are independent, joining them with a comma results in a comma splice. A semicolon correctly connects them without introducing fragments or unnecessary words.
Two independent clauses must be joined by a period, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction with a comma.

Key Concept

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

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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