Question

which revision correctly combines these two sentences?
i overslept by thirty minutes this morning. the bus left without me.

○ i overslept by thirty minutes this morning, the bus left without me.
○ i overslept by thirty minutes this morning the bus left without me.
○ i overslept by thirty minutes this morning; the bus left without me.
○ i overslept by thirty minutes this morning so the bus left without me.

Explanation:

1. The first option uses a comma between two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction, creating a comma splice, which is grammatically incorrect.
2. The second option joins two independent clauses with no punctuation, creating a run-on sentence, which is grammatically incorrect.
3. The third option uses a semicolon to correctly connect two closely related independent clauses, which is a proper grammatical structure.
4. The fourth option omits the comma before the coordinating conjunction "so" when connecting two independent clauses, which is a punctuation error.

Answer:

I overslept by thirty minutes this morning; the bus left without me.