Geologist and scholar John Bostock joined with 55 other prominent British writers in 1837 to petition the US Congress for greater copyright protections. This cadre of renowned ______ that American publishers' appropriation of their work caused, in the words of the petition, "deep and extensive injuries...on their reputation and property," helped sow the seeds for the International Copyright Act of 1891.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Explanation
Context: "This cadre of renowned authors, asserting that American publishers' appropriation of their work caused, in the words of the petition, 'deep and extensive injuries...on their reputation and property,' helped sow the seeds for the International Copyright Act of 1891." "Authors, asserting" — "asserting that American publishers' appropriation of their work caused...injuries" is a non-essential participial phrase. A comma after "authors" opens it.
Answer: D) authors, asserting
Why? A comma after "authors" opens the non-essential participial phrase "asserting that American publishers' appropriation of their work caused, in the words of the petition, 'deep and extensive injuries...on their reputation and property,'" which is then closed by a comma before "helped."
Traps:
- A) "authors asserted" → "asserted" as a past tense verb creates a comma splice or makes "helped" a second main verb without proper connection
- B) "authors were asserting" → past progressive + "helped" creates an awkward parallel structure
- C) "authors, had asserted" → past perfect + comma before "helped" creates awkward structure