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Difficulty: MediumRun-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Ethnomusicologists studying traditional Javanese gamelan music often analyze the unique slendro tuning system. Unlike the Western twelve-tone equal temperament scale, slendro divides the octave into five roughly equidistant intervals, no two gamelan ensembles are tuned to the exact same pitch frequencies. Consequently, each ensemble possesses a distinct sonic identity that cannot be easily replicated.

Which of the following choices best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    intervals; because no two gamelan ensembles are tuned
  3. C
    intervals. Because no two gamelan ensembles are tuned
  4. intervals, and no two gamelan ensembles are tunedAnswer

Answer

The choice that inserts the coordinating conjunction 'and' after the comma correctly joins two independent clauses without creating a run-on sentence or fragment.
The option adding 'and' after the comma is correct because connecting two independent clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) is grammatically sound and eliminates the comma splice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the clause structure around the underlined portion.
The clause preceding the comma ('slendro divides the octave into five roughly equidistant intervals') and the clause following the comma ('no two gamelan ensembles are tuned to the exact same pitch frequencies') are both independent clauses capable of standing alone.
Identifying clause types determines what punctuation and conjunction rules apply.
2
Evaluate the original punctuation.
The original passage joins two complete independent clauses with only a comma, which forms a comma splice.
A comma alone cannot join two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
3
Select the option that properly fixes the comma splice without creating a new fragment.
Adding the coordinating conjunction 'and' after the comma adheres to standard English conventions for joining independent clauses.
A comma plus a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) is a grammatically valid way to connect two independent clauses.

Key Concept

Correcting Comma Splices with Coordinating Conjunctions
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Topics

Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

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