Question

Which sentence demonstrates the correct use of the semicolon? A) Since Margo always arrives late; we were not concerned when our 12 o'clock meeting time came and went. B) There are three key ingredients in what is known as "the trinity" in Cajun cooking; onions, celery, and green pepper. C) Some people like to cook their own meals; others prefer to dine out or have their meals delivered. D) Erica has two dogs; and she completely spoils them with treats, toys, and trips to the dog park.

Answer 1

The sentence with the correct use of the semicolon is: C) "Some people like to cook their own meals; others prefer to dine out or have their meals delivered." Other sentences use the semicolon incorrectly.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct use of the semicolon is seen in sentence C) "Some people like to cook their own meals; others prefer to dine out or have their meals delivered." A semicolon is used to link two independent clauses that are closely related in thought.

In sentence A, the clause before the semicolon is dependent, so a comma should be used instead of a semicolon. In sentence B, a colon is used when listing items, not a semicolon. In sentence D, the conjunction 'and' after the semicolon is unnecessary as a semicolon can stand alone to join related sentences.

Therefore, from all the given sentences, sentence C correctly uses the semicolon as it smoothly connects two related independent clauses without the need of a conjunction.

Learn more about Semicolon Usage