Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
A)Standardized tests are used by most states to measure student success, however many states are adopting more culturally diverse tests.
B)Jael was selected as employee of the month thus, she received a reserved parking space.
C)Many Americans take advantage of low financing rates when purchasing new, more energy-efficient automobiles; nevertheless, many Americans cannot afford a new vehicle.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This sentence uses a semicolon to separate two independent clauses that are related to each other. The comma after "nevertheless" is also correctly used to signal contrast between the two clauses.

A) This sentence uses a comma to separate two independent clauses that are not closely related. It would be better to use a semicolon or period instead of the comma. 
B) This sentence uses a comma splice, which occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a comma. It would be better to use a semicolon or period instead of the comma.

Which Sentence Is Correctly Punctuated