Which sentence uses a comma in a way that is considered contested usage?

Question

Select two correct answers.

(1 point)
Responses

Stephen did not understand the question, and so Gina tried to explain it to him more clearly.
Stephen did not understand the question, and so Gina tried to explain it to him more clearly.

Winston Churchill famously said, "It is not in our power to anticipate our destiny."
Winston Churchill famously said, "It is not in our power to anticipate our destiny."

We are passing through New Orleans, Louisiana right before we stop in Houston, Texas.
We are passing through New Orleans, Louisiana right before we stop in Houston, Texas.

Zagreb, Sarajevo, and Dubrovnik are all major cities in the Balkan region of eastern Europe.
Zagreb, Sarajevo, and Dubrovnik are all major cities in the Balkan region of eastern Europe.

Faith, Millie's best friend from summer camp, is coming to visit in a few weeks.

Answer 1

The sentences that use a comma in a way that is considered contested usage are:

1. Stephen did not understand the question, and so Gina tried to explain it to him more clearly. - The use of the comma before "and so" can be considered unnecessary because "and so" can often be treated as a conjunction that does not require a comma.

2. Faith, Millie's best friend from summer camp, is coming to visit in a few weeks. - Although the use of commas for appositives is generally accepted, some might argue about the necessity of the comma before the appositive "Millie's best friend from summer camp." The appositive could be seen as essential to the sentence if Faith is the only person being referred to, which means the commas could be contested usage.

The other sentences use commas in ways that are widely accepted.