Because the mathematician Emmy Noether’s contributions were so influential, a 1930 tribute in Nature described her algebraic theories as “revolutionary”; yet for decades many universities were hesitant to hire ______ lingering prejudice against female scholars.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For boundary questions, first determine whether the material on each side of the proposed punctuation is an independent clause or a phrase. Then consider the logical relationship: semicolons join independent clauses, while colons can follow an independent clause and introduce an explanation, example, or list.
Hints
Identify the relationship
Determine how "lingering prejudice against female scholars" relates to the universities' hesitation. Does it contrast with, list, or explain the preceding idea?
Check clause completeness
Include the word supplied by each option, and then decide whether the text before the punctuation and the text after it are independent clauses or phrases.
Match structure to punctuation
Recall which punctuation mark can follow an independent clause and introduce a phrase that explains that clause.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the intended meaning
The sentence contrasts Noether's influential work with universities' reluctance to employ her. The phrase "lingering prejudice against female scholars" explains why those universities were hesitant to hire her.
Examine the text on each side of the boundary
With her included, the text before the punctuation is an independent clause: "yet for decades many universities were hesitant to hire her." The text after it, "lingering prejudice against female scholars," is a noun phrase rather than an independent clause.
Apply the punctuation rules
A colon can follow an independent clause and introduce a phrase that explains or elaborates on that clause. A semicolon cannot be used because the text after the blank is not an independent clause, and a comma cannot appropriately attach this explanatory noun phrase to the preceding clause.
Evaluate the choices
With her alone, the sentence illogically treats "her lingering prejudice" as the object of "hire." With her,, the comma does not grammatically integrate the following noun phrase as an explanation. With her;, the semicolon is followed by a fragment. With her:, the colon correctly introduces the explanation for the universities' hesitation.