The company's profits increased by fifteen percent last year _______ the board decided to distribute bonuses to all employees.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
year, consequently
year consequently,
year; consequently,
year: consequently,
Correct Answer: C
Choice C is the best answer. This question tests punctuation with conjunctive adverbs.
- Context clues: Two independent clauses connected by "consequently."
- Meaning: Use semicolon before and comma after a conjunctive adverb joining independent clauses.
- Verify: "...profits increased by fifteen percent last year; consequently, the board decided..." is correctly punctuated.
💡 Strategy: When a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore, consequently) joins independent clauses, use semicolon + adverb + comma.
Choice A is incorrect because a comma before "consequently" creates a comma splice. Choice B is incorrect because it lacks both the semicolon before and proper placement. Choice D is incorrect because a colon doesn't precede conjunctive adverbs this way.