In our town’s library, the staff posts handwritten recommendations on a bulletin board near the entrance. The notes are brief, but they often persuade me to try something new. Last week I chose a mystery novel, and I finished it in one sitting. The librarian who wrote the note, Ms. Patel, is known for matching books to readers with uncanny accuracy.
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
- NO CHANGE
- Ms. Patel is (correct answer)
- Ms. Patel; is
- Ms. Patel, and is
Explanation: This question tests the punctuation of appositives and sentence flow. The phrase "Ms. Patel" is an appositive renaming "The librarian who wrote the note," and it should be set off by commas. However, the original creates a comma splice by having a comma before "is," which incorrectly separates the subject from its verb. Choice B correctly removes the comma before "is," allowing the sentence to flow naturally. Choices C and D create incorrect punctuation with semicolons and unnecessary conjunctions. The key is recognizing that while appositives need commas, the subject and main verb should not be separated by punctuation.