Dr. Burke wanted to trust her assistant with the secret formula but she was afraid her assistant was a spy. Which is the correct way to punctuate the sentence?

- Dr. Burke wanted to trust her assistant with the secret formula; but she was afraid her assistant was a spy.
- Dr. Burke wanted to trust her assistant, with the secret formula: but she was afraid her assistant was a spy.
- Dr. Burke wanted to trust her assistant with the secret formula but, she was afraid her assistant was a spy.
- Dr. Burke wanted to trust her assistant with the secret formula, but she was afraid her assistant was a spy.

*edited by a mod to provide answer choices*

Question

Dr. Burke wanted to trust her assistant with the secret formula but she was afraid her assistant was a spy. Which is the correct way to punctuate the sentence?

- Dr. Burke wanted to trust her assistant with the secret formula; but she was afraid her assistant was a spy. 
- Dr. Burke wanted to trust her assistant, with the secret formula: but she was afraid her assistant was a spy. 
- Dr. Burke wanted to trust her assistant with the secret formula but, she was afraid her assistant was a spy. 
- Dr. Burke wanted to trust her assistant with the secret formula, but she was afraid her assistant was a spy.

*edited by a mod to provide answer choices*

Vocaloid · Answer

this sentence has two independent clauses combined with a coordinating conjunction. can you identify which word is the coordinating conjunction? (remember FANBOYS)

the proper way to punctuate this sentence, therefore, is a comma right before the coordinating conjunction.

with all this in mind, what do you think the correct choice is?

cordae · Answer

thank you