In the early 1990s, voice recognition software was an

Question

In the early 1990s, voice recognition software was an anathema  to most medical and legal transcriptionists; now, however, most medical and legal transcriptionists accept it as desirable .

(A) to most medical and legal transcriptionists; now, however, most medical and legal transcriptionists accept it as desirable. 
(B) to most medical and legal transcriptionists, now, however, most medical and legal transcriptionists accept it. 
(C) to most medical and legal transcriptionists; now, however, most medical and legal transcriptionists are desirable of it. 
(D) to most medical and legal transcriptionists; now, however, most medical and legal transcriptionists accepted it as desirable. 
(E) to most medical and legal transcriptionists. Now, however, most medical and legal transcriptionists will accept it as desirable.

JohnLewis1980 · Answer

Hi mates,

this is a tough one!

IMO  A

(A) to most medical and legal transcriptionists; now, however, most medical and legal transcriptionists accept it as desirable.
(B) to most medical and legal transcriptionists, now, however, most medical and legal transcriptionists accept it.
(C) to most medical and legal transcriptionists; now, however, most medical and legal transcriptionists are desirable of it.
(D) to most medical and legal transcriptionists; now, however, most medical and legal transcriptionists accepted it as desirable.
(E) to most medical and legal transcriptionists. Now, however, most medical and legal transcriptionists will accept it as desirable.

B out because a semicolon is needed. 
C out becuase it is wordy
D out because of the tense of the verb relating to transcriptionists: now is not compatible with simple past.
E out because a period is not needed

OA and Source?

Cheers

x2suresh · Answer

D,E -- are out .. PASTENSE AND FUTURE TENSE are not correct here

C --> ( are desirable of it) sounds awkward

B --.. without semicolon.. its run on sentence.. and we don't know whether "now" is referring to first part or second part..

A looks best.

chicagocubsrule · Answer

Why does it need a semicolon. I thought the correct answer is B. 
I also found A to be too wordy.

priyankurml · Answer

IMO A.

two indeoendent clauses connect with semicolons. "however" is makeing contradiction between past and present. "it" clearly defines Software

x2suresh · Answer

Run-on sentence

A run-on sentence is a sentence in which two or more independent clauses (that is, complete sentences) are joined with absolutely no punctuation or conjunction. It is generally considered to be a grammatical error. Some grammarians also include a comma splice, in which two independent clauses are joined with a comma, as a type of run-on sentence,  while others exclude comma splices from the definition of a run-on sentence.

A run-on sentence does not mean a sentence is too long; longer sentences are likely to be run-ons only when they contain more than one complete idea. A run-on sentence can be as short as four words—for instance: I drive she walks. In this case there are two complete ideas (independent clauses): two subjects paired with two (intransitive) verbs. So long as clauses are punctuated appropriately, a writer can assemble multiple independent clauses in a single sentence; in fact, a properly constructed sentence can be extended indefinitely.

Ways to avoid run-on sentences 
Write the two clauses as two separate sentences: 
It is nearly half past five. We cannot reach town before dark. 
Henry Whopper was a teller of tall tales. He even told them to his teachers.

Insert a coordinating conjunction (such as "and" or "but") after the comma: 
It is nearly half past five, so we cannot reach town before dark. 
Henry Whopper was a teller of tall tales, and he even told them to his teachers.

Insert a semicolon between the clauses:  
It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark. 
Henry Whopper was a teller of tall tales; he even told them to his teachers.

Insert a semicolon and a transitional word between the clauses:  
It is nearly half past five; therefore, we cannot reach town before dark. 
Henry Whopper was a teller of tall tales; in fact, he even told them to his teachers.

Insert a colon (if the relationship of the second clause clarifies, defines, exemplifies the first clause): 
No man is an island: we all need to be a part of some community. 
The magician's talents were never disputed: every performance in his career ended with a standing ovation.

AdrianPeterson · Answer

I don't think the sentence  needs  a semicolon. In my opinion, the dot used in E is also correct. But E must be eliminated because of the verb tense used:

E - The future tense is incorrect. (will accept)
D - The past tense is incorrect. (accepted)
C - I don't think the construction 'desirable of it' exists. Something is desirable, or someone desires something, but not desirable of it.
B - You need either the semicolon or the final dot. The comma just makes is unclear.

A is the best for me.

------
All Day

GMAT TIGER · Answer

Its tough between A and B.

A could be it for two independent clauses.
B could be it because "however" makes the second clause dependent. In that case B cannot be a run-on as well.
To keep the meaniing clear and the sentnence short, I go for B.

In the early 1990s, voice recognition software was an

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