The world’s first known use of the term “cyberspace” appeared in the 1984 science fiction novel *Neuromancer*, written by William Gibson, which helped to define the genre of cyberpunk. However, the word was not originally intended to represent an actual space. Rather, the term “cyberspace” was meant to refer to an imagined realm of computer networks, which, in the novel, are accessible through a special device.
Which choice best corrects the punctuation error in the passage?
A. The world’s first known use of the term “cyberspace” appeared in the 1984 science fiction novel *Neuromancer*, written by William Gibson, which helped to define the genre of cyberpunk. However, the word was not originally intended to represent an actual space. Rather, the term “cyberspace” was meant to refer to an imagined realm of computer networks, which, in the novel, are accessible through a special device.
B. The world’s first known use of the term “cyberspace” appeared in the 1984 science fiction novel *Neuromancer*, written by William Gibson, which helped to define the genre of cyberpunk; however, the word was not originally intended to represent an actual space. Rather, the term “cyberspace” was meant to refer to an imagined realm of computer networks, which, in the novel, are accessible through a special device.
C. The world’s first known use of the term “cyberspace” appeared in the 1984 science fiction novel *Neuromancer*, written by William Gibson, which helped to define the genre of cyberpunk, however, the word was not originally intended to represent an actual space. Rather, the term “cyberspace” was meant to refer to an imagined realm of computer networks, which, in the novel, are accessible through a special device.
D. The world’s first known use of the term “cyberspace” appeared in the 1984 science fiction novel *Neuromancer*, written by William Gibson, which helped to define the genre of cyberpunk. However, the word was not originally intended to represent an actual space; rather, the term “cyberspace” was meant to refer to an imagined realm of computer networks, which, in the novel, are accessible through a special device.
The error in the passage is a comma splice. Two independent clauses are joined by only a comma, which is incorrect. The semicolon in Choice B is also incorrect because it doesn’t logically connect the two clauses, and the comma in Choice C makes the text less clear. Choice D corrects the error by using a semicolon, which correctly joins the independent clauses.