Question #N301

The most important thing to remember about writing is to be clear. You should always write in a way that is easy for the reader to understand. For example, avoid using jargon or technical terms that the reader might not be familiar with, and make sure that your sentences are well-constructed and grammatically correct. How do you write clearly?

Which choice provides the best punctuation for the sentence: “For example, avoid using jargon or technical terms that the reader might not be familiar with, and make sure that your sentences are well-constructed and grammatically correct”?
A. For example, avoid using jargon or technical terms that the reader might not be familiar with, and make sure that your sentences are well-constructed and grammatically correct.
B. For example, avoid using jargon or technical terms, that the reader might not be familiar with, and make sure that your sentences are well-constructed and grammatically correct.
C. For example, avoid using jargon or technical terms that the reader might not be familiar with, and make sure that your sentences are well-constructed, and grammatically correct.
D. For example, avoid using jargon, or technical terms, that the reader might not be familiar with, and make sure that your sentences are well-constructed and grammatically correct.

Correct Answer is: A

The sentence correctly uses a comma after "For example" to separate the introductory phrase from the rest of the sentence. The sentence also correctly uses a comma to separate the two independent clauses in the sentence. There is no need for a comma before "and" because it is connecting two verbs that are acting on the same subject: "avoid using jargon or technical terms" and "make sure that your sentences are well-constructed and grammatically correct." The sentence does not need a comma after "familiar with" because the phrase "and make sure that your sentences are well-constructed and grammatically correct" is essential to the meaning of the sentence, and it is not a nonessential element. Therefore, choice A provides the best punctuation for the sentence.