BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Comma Splice

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 203
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:08 am
Thanked: 6 times
by SmarpanGamt » Wed Dec 01, 2010 10:11 am
The relationship between cell phone use and the incidence of brain tumors is still unclear, this is because some studies show a causal relationship while others do not.

is still unclear, this is because some studies show
is still unclear; some studies show
are still unclear because some studies show
is still unclear because: some studies show
is still unclear; the reason is that some studies show

The first option solves the problem of comma splice by introduction of conjuction. Please explain Y this choice is incorrect. Also explain your bet.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Sentence Correction |
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 1:21 pm

by phoenixhazard » Wed Dec 01, 2010 10:15 am
IMO E is correct. It's hard to say but I feel that the second part might be considered independent needing a semicolon...?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 1:21 pm

by phoenixhazard » Wed Dec 01, 2010 10:16 am
SmarpanGamt wrote:The relationship between cell phone use and the incidence of brain tumors is still unclear, this is because some studies show a causal relationship while others do not.

is still unclear, this is because some studies show
is still unclear; some studies show
are still unclear because some studies show
is still unclear because: some studies show
is still unclear; the reason is that some studies show

The first option solves the problem of comma splice by introduction of conjuction. Please explain Y this choice is incorrect. Also explain your bet.
what's the OA?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1083
Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:38 pmFollowed by: 14 members
Thanked: 127 times

by gmat_perfect » Wed Dec 01, 2010 11:05 am
SmarpanGamt wrote:The relationship between cell phone use and the incidence of brain tumors is still unclear, this is because some studies show a causal relationship while others do not.

is still unclear, this is because some studies show
is still unclear; some studies show
are still unclear because some studies show
is still unclear because: some studies show
is still unclear; the reason is that some studies show

The first option solves the problem of comma splice by introduction of conjuction. Please explain Y this choice is incorrect. Also explain your bet.
Two clauses can be joined in the following ways:

1. Semicolon [;]:

They have done the work; we have won the prize.

2. COMMA + FANBOYS:

They have done the work, but we have won the prize.

3. Semicolon [;] + Conjunctive Adverb + COMMA + Clause:

They have done the work; however, we have won the prize.

4. Period and Capital:

They have done the work. We have won the prize.

5. Subordination:

Though they have done the work, we have won the prize.

That/Because clause as a NOUN clause:

that clause can work as NOUN clause.

Example:
They didn't know that John couldn't swim.
==> They didn't know X. X = NOUN = that John couldn't swim.

This is because they have done it.
==> This is X. X=NOUN=because they have done it.

Now, come to the sentence:
A, C, and D are eliminated because they have not followed the proper rule to join two clauses.

B has followed the rule to join two clauses, but it didn't mention relationship between the clauses by stating cause.

Answer is E.

Thanks.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 69
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:18 pm
Thanked: 3 times

by nox104 » Wed Dec 01, 2010 11:10 am
IMO, it is because it is concise. The part after ";" is understood to be a continuation of thought from the part before ";". In E, "the reasonis that" is just redundant.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 201
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 2:23 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 7 times

by ov25 » Wed Dec 01, 2010 1:09 pm
agree w/ nox
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 298
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:09 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 2 times

by Deepthi Subbu » Thu Dec 02, 2010 1:07 am
My doubt on this question is - Whenever there is a conjunction 'and' to join 2 nouns , a plural verb follows. Why is this not the case here??

How do we segregate?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 2326
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:54 amFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 173 times
GMAT Score:710

by gmatmachoman » Thu Dec 02, 2010 1:37 am
Deepthi Subbu wrote:My doubt on this question is - Whenever there is a conjunction 'and' to join 2 nouns , a plural verb follows. Why is this not the case here??

How do we segregate?

The relationship between cell phone use and the incidence of brain tumors is still unclear, this is because some studies show a causal relationship while others do not.

is still unclear, this is because some studies show
is still unclear; some studies show
are still unclear because some studies show
is still unclear because: some studies show
is still unclear; the reason is that some studies show

@Deepthi,

When the subject is compound subject, then we will use plural verb.Compound subject will have "and" to demarcate between the 2 or more elements.
But here the subject (relationship) is singular. So we are using "is"( singular ) verb.

IMO, B seems to be a better fit then E.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 203
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:08 am
Thanked: 6 times

by SmarpanGamt » Sun Dec 05, 2010 12:37 am
OA [spoiler]"B"[/spoiler]

Source MGMAT Preptest
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 641
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:07 pmFollowed by: 45 members
Location: Madison, WI
Thanked: 162 times
GMAT Score:760

by Jim@Grockit » Sun Dec 05, 2010 9:57 pm
SmarpanGamt wrote:The relationship between cell phone use and the incidence of brain tumors is still unclear, this is because some studies show a causal relationship while others do not.

is still unclear, this is because some studies show
is still unclear; some studies show
are still unclear because some studies show
is still unclear because: some studies show
is still unclear; the reason is that some studies show

The first option solves the problem of comma splice by introduction of conjuction. Please explain Y this choice is incorrect. Also explain your bet.
The first option does not solve the problem because the conjunction is not actually joining the two independent clauses spliced together. "Because" in the first option is joining what comes after it ("some studies show") with what comes before it ("this is"). The first independent clause ("the relationship is unclear") is still comma spliced to a second one ("this is").

I'd have chosen B. If there had been an answer like D without the colon, that would have been fine also, but more wordy.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 516
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:42 amFollowed by: 1 member
Location: Mumbai
Thanked: 14 times
GMAT Score:710

by ankurmit » Sun Dec 05, 2010 10:27 pm
How is B better than E.
Can anyone elaborate.
--------
Ankur mittal
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 645
Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2010 12:42 pmFollowed by: 227 members
Location: US
Thanked: 527 times

by e-GMAT » Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:30 am
Choice E is more wordy than choice B.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 21
Joined: Sat May 29, 2010 9:26 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 7 times

by mithilesh.vnit85 » Fri Dec 17, 2010 3:02 am
SmarpanGamt wrote:The relationship between cell phone use and the incidence of brain tumors is still unclear, this is because some studies show a causal relationship while others do not.

is still unclear, this is because some studies show
is still unclear; some studies show
are still unclear because some studies show
is still unclear because: some studies show
is still unclear; the reason is that some studies show

The first option solves the problem of comma splice by introduction of conjuction. Please explain Y this choice is incorrect. Also explain your bet.
A is wrong because of Comma splice, two different clauses cant be joined by comma.
C has subject -Verb agreement issue
D is wrong because of use of colon. The connector Because is used to join two clauses but the use of colon makes it incorrect.
E has correct use of semicolon to join two clauses, but E is wordy compared with B. Hence, B is preferred over E.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1309
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 11:41 pmFollowed by: 5 members
Thanked: 33 times

by pradeepkaushal9518 » Fri Dec 17, 2010 8:33 am
good question but how gmat perfect's theory doesnt work here.

imo B is better than E only because that E is too wordy comapred to B which is concise
A SMALL TOWN GUY
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 42
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:52 am
Location: San Jose, CA
Thanked: 2 times

by rveeraga » Sun Dec 26, 2010 7:14 pm
I think that one of the important reasons to use a semicolon between two independent clauses is to avoid subordinator or similar verbose, if they can stand on their own and the relation between them is obvious. So "the reason is that" in the option E may be considered redundant rather than wordy.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked