Question

(A) NO CHANGE (B) popularity: in the top Jazz circles (C) popularity, in the top Jazz circles, (D) popularity in the top Jazz circles,

Short answer

C: popularity, in the top Jazz circles,

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Sentence Structure

The sentence needs to be analyzed for the correct placement of punctuation related to the phrase 'in the top Jazz circles'. Identify the role of the phrase within the sentence.

Analyzing Punctuation Marks

Review each option’s punctuation to see which one correctly separates the phrase from the rest of the sentence if necessary. The phrase 'in the top Jazz circles' is a non-essential clause providing additional information.

Determining the Correct Option

Since the phrase 'in the top Jazz circles' is additional information, it should be properly separated by commas. Therefore, the correct option would be the one that places commas both before and after the phrase.

Choosing the Correct Answer

Evaluate the answer choices: A) No commas, incorrect. B) Colon and no comma at the end, incorrect. C) Commas before and after the phrase, correct. D) Comma only at the end, incorrect. Thus, option C is correct.

Key concepts

non-essential clauses

Non-essential clauses, also known as non-restrictive clauses, add extra information to a sentence without changing its fundamental meaning. For example, in the sentence 'Jazz, which originated in the 20th century, is a popular music genre,' the phrase 'which originated in the 20th century' is a non-essential clause.
This clause provides additional context but isn't crucial to the main point of the sentence. If you remove it, the sentence still makes sense: 'Jazz is a popular music genre.'
Remember, non-essential clauses are always set off by commas. These commas act like parentheses and help isolate the additional information.
Understanding non-essential clauses is critical for clear and effective writing.
Whenever you insert extra, non-critical information into a sentence, you should set it off with commas to ensure the reader understands the core message.

comma usage

Commas have a few essential uses in English writing. They separate elements in a list, help break up complex sentences, and isolate non-essential clauses.
In our example, 'in the top Jazz circles' is additional information. Placing it between commas makes it clear it's an extra detail.
Remember these rules:

• Use commas to separate items in a list, e.g., 'I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.'
• Before conjunctions in compound sentences: 'She ran, and he walked.'
• After introductory elements: 'After the party, they went home.'
• To set off non-essential clauses: 'The car, which was red, sped down the street.'

Correct comma usage is key to clear communication and preventing misunderstandings.
Each rule helps improve the readability of your sentences.

sentence structure analysis

Analyzing sentence structure helps you understand how its parts fit and work together. This is essential for deciding where punctuation should go.
First, identify the main clause. That’s the core of your sentence. Next, look for additional phrases or clauses, and decide if they are essential or non-essential.
Here’s an example structure analysis: 'The book, lying on the table, is mine.'

• Main clause: 'The book is mine.'
• Non-essential clause: 'lying on the table'

Once identified, non-essential clauses can be set off with commas to improve clarity.
This analysis leads directly to better punctuation choices.
Understanding and analyzing sentence structure allows for more effective and grammatically correct writing.
It’s a fundamental skill for any writer.