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Question #N880

Many people believe that the best way to save money is to reduce spending. This is a common piece of advice, and often, it is effective. However, sometimes, it is more effective to increase your income, rather than to reduce your spending. Ultimately, the best way to save money is to have more money coming in than going out.

Which choice best combines the sentences at the underlined portion of the passage?

A. This is a common piece of advice, and it is often effective.

B. This is a common piece of advice; it is often effective.

C. This is a common piece of advice, often it is effective.

D. This is a common piece of advice, and, often, it is effective.

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Correct Answer is: A

The most effective way to combine these two sentences is to use a comma and the coordinating conjunction "and." This creates a grammatically correct sentence that flows smoothly. The other choices create incorrect punctuation, or they don’t combine the sentences effectively. Choice B uses a semicolon, but semicolons should only be used to separate two independent clauses, and the two clauses in the underlined portion of the sentence aren’t independent. Choice C includes a comma but no coordinating conjunction, which creates a comma splice error. Choice D uses both a comma and a coordinating conjunction, but the comma is unnecessary, making the sentence unnecessarily complex.