Question #N329
The team’s victory was unexpected; the team had a long losing streak, and the coach was criticized for his leadership. The team’s win was also significant, however, because it demonstrated the resilience of the players and the team’s commitment to playing as a unit.
Which choice most effectively combines the sentences at the underlined portion to create a grammatically correct and stylistically effective sentence?
A. the team had a long losing streak; and the coach was criticized for his leadership, the team’s win was also significant
B. the team had a long losing streak, and the coach was criticized for his leadership; the team’s win was also significant
C. the team had a long losing streak; and the coach was criticized for his leadership, the team’s win was also significant,
D. the team had a long losing streak, and the coach was criticized for his leadership, the team’s win was also significant
Correct Answer is: B
Choice B is the best answer because it correctly combines the two sentences using a semicolon, which can be used to join two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning. The comma in Choice A creates a comma splice, which is grammatically incorrect. Choices C and D are incorrect because a semicolon should not be followed by a comma.