Live GMAT classes with Target Test Prep start Nov 1 and Nov 21. First class free.

See classes
Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 winner: Target Test Prep, #1 Test Prep

Target Test Prep was voted #1 Best Test Prep in the 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice™ Awards.

★★★★★5.0563 reviews
GMATLiveTeachStarts Nov 1
Josh Braslow, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Josh Braslow, 20+ years in test prep

Nov 1 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 1:00 to 4:00 PM ET
Nov 22 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemand5 seats leftStart anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemandStart anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 563 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Comma Splice

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Subscribe topic
Previous Topic Next Topic
Legendary Member
Posts: 518
Joined: Tue May 12, 2015 8:25 pm
Thanked: 10 times

by nikhilgmat31 » Thu Jul 09, 2015 12:25 am
Choice B should not be answer as the statement should connect with keywords like reason or since or because .

B is definitely concise but it is not connecting the reason of unclear relationship.

so that it can tell why relationship is not clear.

I think we should go with E.
Top
Join the discussion
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 111
Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2015 11:00 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 8 times

by binit » Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:35 am
OA: B.

B gives enough reason after the semicolon, I don't think it is required to explicitly mention 'the reason is.. '

Consider this: I was undecided about the trip; (the reason was) I could accept the offer or just forget it.
E can be safely said wordy, I guess.
Top
Join the discussion
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 37
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 11:05 pm

by Rahul428 » Fri Aug 18, 2017 11:02 pm
My answer - D
Top
Join the discussion
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:42 am
Location: London

by deepak4mba » Thu Apr 05, 2018 11:53 pm
B
Top
Join the discussion
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 47
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2018 9:08 pm

by Akrita@Jamboree » Fri Apr 13, 2018 12:53 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.
I am happy to help.

Firstly, let us look at how we can connect 2 independent sentences - i.e., sentences that have an independent noun + an independent verb and that can be read on their own. There are 2 main ways to do this grammatically -

1. Semi Colon[;]/ Dash[-]/ Colon[:]/ Full stop[.] (Note that the difference in their semantic usage, i.e., when one form of the punctuation is more appropriate than the other is something that is not tested on the GMAT) - John eats (sentence 1); Sam drinks (sentence 2)

2. Comma [optional]+ Conjunction (and, or, but, because, since, although, etc.) - John eats (sentence 1) and/or/but/although.. Sam drinks (sentence 2).

Additionally, we cannot connect 2 independent sentences using a simple comma - this creates a Run-on sentence. This is exactly what option A is guilty of when it introduces the clause starting with "this is" - if this clause weren't there, and the sentence read "The relationship between cell phone use and the incidence of brain tumors is still unclear, because some studies show a causal relationship while others do not. ", then option A would have been correct, albeit a bit wordy due to the presence of a redundant "because of".

Let us go through the other options -

B. is still unclear; some studies show - perfect and concise. Follows rule #1 grammatically

C. are still unclear because some studies show - 'the relationship' is singular

D. is still unclear because: some studies show - After "because", we need a complete clause before the colon

E. is still unclear; the reason is that some studies show - Unnecessarily wordy and redundant, since the semi-colon basically gives a reason (in this construction) as to why the relationship is unclear

Hence, B is the best answer.
Top
Join the discussion