Question

Read the sentence. Dan is a great coach________ he motivates the girls in a positive way. Which correctly states the punctuation needed in the blank? A. Comma B. Semicolon C. Peiod D. No punctuation is needed

Answer 1

The correct answer is:  [B]:  "semicolon" .
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Note:  
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Choice:  [A]:  "comma" — is INCORRECT.  Note that placing a "comma" would result in an error known as "comma splice".
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Choice:  [C]:  "period" — is INCORRECT.   Note that placing a "period" would be incorrect.  Doing so would result in a new sentence that does not begin with a capital letter.
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Choice:  [D]:  "no punctuation is needed" —is INCORRECT.  Note that if the statement were left alone, the statement would be a "run-on sentence". 
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The correct answer is:  [B]:  "semicolon".  If a new sentence could be formed; and if the ideas could connect; it is acceptable to place a "semicolon" between the "two potential statements to form one statement" ; and to NOT CAPITALIZE the first word of the "second [potential sentence]" —unless that "[second potential sentence] begins with a proper pronoun.
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