Question #N911
The following sentence contains a punctuation error that can be corrected by inserting a comma: The author’s most recent novel is about a fictional world that’s based on ancient Greek mythology, and it’s set in the future.
Which choice best corrects the punctuation error in the sentence?
A. The author’s most recent novel is about a fictional world that’s based on ancient Greek mythology; and it’s set in the future.
B. The author’s most recent novel is about a fictional world that’s based on ancient Greek mythology and it’s set in the future.
C. The author’s most recent novel is about a fictional world that’s based on ancient Greek mythology, and it’s set in the future.
D. The author’s most recent novel is about a fictional world that’s based on ancient Greek mythology, and it’s set in the future.
Correct Answer is: C
The correct answer is C. The sentence contains a comma splice. A comma cannot be used to join two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. In this case, the comma after *mythology* needs to be replaced with a semicolon since there is no coordinating conjunction joining the two independent clauses. The correct answer is therefore: The author’s most recent novel is about a fictional world that’s based on ancient Greek mythology; and it’s set in the future.