(A) Selling several hundred thousand copies in six months, the publication of “Maple Leaf Rag” in 1899 was an instant hit, helping to establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer.
(B) The publication in 1899 of “Maple Leaf Rag” was an instant hit: in six months they sold several hundred thousand copies and it helped establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer.
(C) Helping to establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer was the publication of “Maple Leaf Rag” in 1899, which was an instant hit: it sold several hundred thousand copies in six months.
(D) “Maple Leaf Rag” was an instant hit: it helped establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer, published in 1899 and selling several hundred thousand copies in six months.
(E) Published in 1899, “Maple Leaf Rag” was an instant hit, selling several hundred thousand copies in six months: it helped establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer.
Solution:
Modifiers + Parallelism
In A, “Selling…” is incorrectly modifying “the publication of…”. Moreover, ”helping to establish Scott as preeminent…” is awkward.
In B, “they” doesn’t have an antecedent.
In C, “which” incorrectly modifies “1899”. Hence, C illogically suggests that “1899…was an instant hit”.
In D, parallelism is violated. “…it helped…, published…, selling…”
E is the best choice.
Sentence Correction - 1000 Questions with Solution:
