Question #N444
The scientist’s research, which focused on the effects of climate change on the planet’s coral reefs, was groundbreaking, publishing in one of the top scientific journals.
Which of the following is the most effective way to combine the sentences above and to correct the punctuation error?
A. The scientist’s research, which focused on the effects of climate change on the planet’s coral reefs, was groundbreaking; publishing in one of the top scientific journals.
B. The scientist’s research, which focused on the effects of climate change on the planet’s coral reefs was groundbreaking, and it was published in one of the top scientific journals.
C. The scientist’s research, which focused on the effects of climate change on the planet’s coral reefs was groundbreaking, publishing in one of the top scientific journals.
D. The scientist’s research, which focused on the effects of climate change on the planet’s coral reefs, was groundbreaking, and it was published in one of the top scientific journals.
Correct Answer is: D
The best way to combine the sentences is to use a coordinating conjunction like "and" to join the two independent clauses. The first sentence is the main clause, and the second sentence provides additional information. The comma after "groundbreaking" separates the two main clauses.