Question

the movement of the progress bar may be uneven because questions can be worth more or less (including zero) depending on your answer. the following sentence contains a transitional word or phrase: the commercial had promised bounce and shine instead her hair was as dull and limp as ever. which revision correctly punctuates the sentence? the commercial had promised bounce and shine, instead her hair was as dull and limp as ever. the commercial had promised bounce and shine; instead her hair was as dull and limp as ever. the commercial had promised bounce and shine; instead, her hair was as dull and limp as ever. the commercial had promised bounce and shine, instead, her hair was as dull and limp as ever.

Explanation:

To determine the correct punctuation, we analyze the sentence structure. The two independent clauses ("The commercial had promised bounce and shine" and "her hair was as dull and limp as ever") are connected by the transitional adverb "instead". When using a transitional adverb between two independent clauses, a semicolon should precede it, and a comma should follow it (to set off the transitional adverb).

• The first option uses a comma before "instead" but no semicolon, which is incorrect for separating two independent clauses.
• The second option uses a semicolon before "instead" but no comma after it, which is incorrect for setting off the transitional adverb.
• The third option uses a semicolon before "instead" and a comma after it, which is the correct punctuation for connecting two independent clauses with a transitional adverb.
• The fourth option uses a comma before "instead" and a comma after it, but no semicolon to separate the independent clauses, which is incorrect.

Answer:

C. The commercial had promised bounce and shine; instead, her hair was as dull and limp as ever.