The following sentence may need a semicolon to separate independent clauses. Select the answer option that will make the sentence correct. If the original sentence is correct, select No change.
In 1878, Thomas Alva Edison invented the carbon microphone, it was used in every telephone until the 1980s.
Group of answer choices
No change
Replace the comma after microphone with a semicolon.
Replace the comma after 1878 with a semicolon.
Replace the comma after microphone with a semicolon.
The correct answer is: Replace the comma after microphone with a semicolon.
The revised sentence would be: "In 1878, Thomas Alva Edison invented the carbon microphone; it was used in every telephone until the 1980s."
To determine whether a semicolon is needed in the sentence, let's first understand what an independent clause is. An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a complete sentence because it expresses a complete thought.
In the given sentence, we have two independent clauses:
1. "Thomas Alva Edison invented the carbon microphone."
2. "It was used in every telephone until the 1980s."
To connect the two independent clauses correctly, we can use a coordinating conjunction (such as "and," "but," or "so") or a semicolon.
Looking at the answer options:
- No change: This option keeps the original comma, but a comma is not strong enough to separate two independent clauses. Therefore, it is incorrect.
- Replace the comma after microphone with a semicolon: This option suggests replacing the comma with a semicolon. This would correctly separate the two independent clauses, making it the correct answer.
- Replace the comma after 1878 with a semicolon: This option suggests replacing the comma after "1878" with a semicolon. However, this would not separate the two independent clauses correctly, as it would create a fragment. Therefore, it is incorrect.
So, the correct answer is to replace the comma after "microphone" with a semicolon.