Question

Which sentence is punctuated correctly? A. Genealogy, tracing a family’s history, is a major hobby around the world its, popularity is increasing in the United States. B. Genealogy, tracing a family’s history, is a major hobby around the world; its popularity is increasing in the United States. C. Genealogy, tracing a family’s history, is a major hobby around the world, its popularity is increasing in the United States. D. Genealogy, tracing a family’s history, is a major hobby around the world its popularity is increasing: in the United States.

Answer 1

Answer:

The sentence that is correctly punctuated is the following one: Genealogy, tracing a family's history, is a major hobby around the world; its popularity is increasing in the United States. (B)

Explanation:

"Tracing a family's history" is set off with commas because it is an appositive phrase. That is, it is a noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it (Genealogy). As the information it contains is not considered necessary to complete the meaning of the sentence, the appositive is separated from the rest of the sentence.

Then, the semicolon is required to link the two independent clauses in the sentence because they are related in meaning. Genealogy is a major hobby around the world, whose popularity is particularly increasing in the US.

Answer 2

B is the correct answer since it correctly punctuates the first sentence and the added independent clause.