Which option correctly punctuates the following fragment when quoting from a source: 'closer ties among friends and colleagues' and continuing with the word alienated?

• A. closer ties among friends and colleagues, alienated.
• B. "closer ties among friends and colleagues" alienated.
• C. "closer ties among friends and colleagues," alienated.
• D. "closer ties among friends and colleagues," alienated.

Answer: (D)

When you quote a fragment from a source and continue the sentence, place a comma inside the closing quotation marks before the continuation. This shows the quoted material is part of your sentence and that the sentence carries on after the quote. The correct form wraps the fragment in double quotes and puts the comma inside those quotes, followed by the continuing word in lowercase: "closer ties among friends and colleagues," alienated. This signals the flow from the borrowed phrase into the rest of your sentence.

Other forms miss the necessary continuation cue or misuse punctuation. Without quotes, it’s unclear that you’re citing a source. Putting the comma outside the closing quote, or omitting the comma altogether, disrupts the standard flow and can mislead readers into thinking the sentence ends with the quotation.