ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) Version 7English and Language UsageMedium
A healthcare professional is documenting a patient's physical assessment. They write: 'The patient's gait was unsteady, their pupils were dilated, and their speech was slurred.' Which of the following punctuation marks is used correctly to separate the independent clauses in this sentence?
- ADash
- BSemicolon
- CComma
- DColon
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Semicolon
A semicolon is correctly used to separate independent clauses that are closely related in meaning but not joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS). The sentence contains three independent clauses: 'The patient's gait was unsteady,' 'their pupils were dilated,' and 'their speech was slurred,' which are separated by semicolons.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A dash can be used for emphasis or to set off an explanatory phrase, but it's not the standard punctuation for separating multiple independent clauses in a series.
- C. A comma alone would create a comma splice when separating independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
- D. A colon is typically used to introduce a list, an explanation, or a quotation, not to separate independent clauses in this manner.
Semicolon Usage
A semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark used to connect two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning, or to separate items in a complex list that already contain commas.
- Connects independent clauses without a conjunction.
- Used in lists with internal commas.
- Can replace a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
Memory trick: Semicolon: A strong comma, a weak period.