Question

(A) NO CHANGE (B) Some outcomes, may spell disaster for your company: others may create exceptional financial returns for the shareholders. (C) Some outcomes-may spell disaster for your company-others may create exceptional financial returns for the shareholders. (D) Some outcomes may spell disaster for your company; others may create exceptional financial returns for the shareholders.

Short answer

Option D is correct.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Instruction

Analyze the sentence in question, which involves punctuation modifications. We are asked to compare different versions of the same sentence regarding clarity and grammatical correctness.

Analyze Original Sentence with Punctuation

The sentence has two independent clauses: 'Some outcomes may spell disaster for your company' and 'others may create exceptional financial returns for the shareholders.' Each can stand alone as a sentence.

Evaluate Option B

Option B uses a colon, "Some outcomes, may spell disaster for your company: others may create exceptional financial returns for the shareholders." A colon is used to introduce a list, a quotation, or an explanation, but it is not appropriate here as both parts are independent clauses.

Evaluate Option C

Option C uses dashes, "Some outcomes-may spell disaster for your company-others may create exceptional financial returns for the shareholders." This creates confusion without adequately separating the two independent clauses.

Evaluate Option D

Option D uses a semicolon, "Some outcomes may spell disaster for your company; others may create exceptional financial returns for the shareholders." A semicolon is correctly used here to separate two related independent clauses.

Key concepts

Independent Clauses

In English grammar, an independent clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought. This means it can stand alone as a sentence.
Examples of independent clauses include:

• I enjoy reading books in the evening.
• She runs every morning before work.

The basic structure of an independent clause is simple: subject + verb.
Nonetheless, they can also include objects, modifiers, and other elements. This all adds more information to the sentence.
Together, independent clauses can form complex or compound sentences. Using them effectively is key to writing clear, grammatically correct sentences.

Grammatical Correctness

Grammatical correctness ensures that sentences follow the rules of language that govern structure and punctuation. It is vital for communicating ideas clearly and accurately.
Misuse of punctuation can alter the meaning of a sentence. For instance, confusing commas and semicolons might lead to drastic differences in interpretation.
When writing, one should:

• Ensure subjects agree with verbs in number and tense.
• Use correct punctuation to avoid ambiguity.
• Order parts of a sentence logically to maintain clarity.

These steps facilitate effective communication in both written and spoken language.

Semicolon Usage

The semicolon is a powerful punctuation mark used to link independent clauses that are closely related in thought. It is more robust than a comma but less final than a period. Here are some tips for using semicolons:

• Use semicolons to join related independent clauses: For example, "I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight."
• Separate items in a complex list where the items themselves contain commas: For example, "We visited Gainesville, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Portland, Oregon."
• Avoid semicolons in cases where a conjunction (like 'and' or 'but') would suffice: Using a semicolon here is not necessary or correct.

Overall, semicolons provide clarity and punctuation balance in writing, making sentences smoother and more understandable.