Question #N38

The team’s victory was due to a combination of factors. The team’s hard work, their coach’s strategic planning, and the team’s unwavering support from the fans. However, their success can be attributed mostly to the team’s hard work and determination, which were evident throughout the season.

Which choice best combines the sentences at the underlined portion to create a grammatically correct and stylistically effective sentence?
A. The team’s hard work, their coach’s strategic planning, and the team’s unwavering support from the fans, however, their success can be attributed mostly to the team’s hard work and determination, which were evident throughout the season.
B. The team’s hard work, their coach’s strategic planning, and the team’s unwavering support from the fans; however, their success can be attributed mostly to the team’s hard work and determination, which were evident throughout the season.
C. The team’s hard work, their coach’s strategic planning, and the team’s unwavering support from the fans; however, their success can be attributed mostly to the team’s hard work and determination, which were evident throughout the season.
D. The team’s hard work, their coach’s strategic planning, and the team’s unwavering support from the fans, however, their success can be attributed mostly to the team’s hard work and determination, which were evident throughout the season.

Correct Answer is: D

Choice D is the best answer because it combines the sentences at the underlined portion with a comma and the conjunctive adverb "however." This creates a grammatically correct sentence that is also stylistically effective because it uses a transition to connect the two ideas and avoid creating a comma splice. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they create comma splices.Â