Which of the following sentences is correctly punctuated?

Introduction / Context:
Punctuation questions test your understanding of how commas and semicolons are used to join clauses in English. A sentence with two closely related independent clauses can be linked with a semicolon, or with a comma plus a coordinating conjunction, but certain combinations are incorrect. This question presents several similar sentences with small changes in punctuation, and your task is to choose the one that follows correct English punctuation rules.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• All options contain the same basic idea: everyone has special skills, and some people use them very well.
• The differences lie in the presence or absence of a semicolon, comma and conjunction.
• We assume standard formal written English conventions.
• Exactly one sentence is punctuated correctly and reads smoothly.

Concept / Approach:
In English, when two independent clauses are closely related, you can join them with a semicolon, or with a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction such as "and", "but" or "so". Option A uses a semicolon between two complete clauses: "Everyone has special skills" and "some people use them very well." This is a correct way to link them. Options that place a comma incorrectly after a conjunction, or omit necessary punctuation between clauses, are not considered correctly punctuated in formal writing.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the two independent clauses: "Everyone has special skills" and "some people use them very well."Step 2: Check option A: "Everyone has special skills; some people use them very well." The semicolon correctly separates the two clauses without adding unnecessary words, so this sentence is grammatically and stylistically sound.Step 3: Check option B: "Everyone has special skills; and, some people use them very well." This uses a semicolon before "and" and a comma after "and", which is redundant and incorrect because a semicolon is already enough to join the clauses.Step 4: Check option C: "Everyone has special skills some people use them very well." There is no punctuation between "skills" and "some", so the two independent clauses are run together, creating a run on sentence.Step 5: Check option D: "Everyone has special skills and, some people use them very well." The comma after "and" is misplaced; when using "and" to join independent clauses, the comma should come before "and", not after it.Step 6: Check option E: "Everyone has special skills; some people, use them very well." The comma after "people" is unnecessary and breaks the flow of the sentence for no reason.Step 7: Conclude that option A is the only sentence with proper punctuation.

Verification / Alternative check:
Another way to verify the answer is to read each option aloud and listen for natural pauses. In option A, the semicolon represents a brief pause similar to a period but slightly softer, which suits two closely related statements. In options B and D, the punctuation cluster around "and" sounds awkward and disrupts natural rhythm. Option C feels rushed because there is no pause between the independent clauses. Option E forces an unnatural pause after "people" that does not correspond to any structural need. Good punctuation should support clear meaning and natural rhythm, which only option A provides.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B incorrectly mixes a semicolon and a conjunction with an extra comma, which is redundant and not a standard pattern. Option C contains a run on sentence because it does not separate the two independent clauses with punctuation or a conjunction. Option D misplaces the comma after "and" instead of placing it before the conjunction if it were used to join clauses. Option E introduces an unnecessary comma that breaks the subject phrase "some people" from its verb phrase "use them very well." None of these follow standard punctuation rules.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes overuse commas and semicolons together, believing that more punctuation automatically improves correctness. Others forget that two independent clauses cannot simply stand next to each other without any punctuation, which produces run on sentences. A helpful strategy is to check whether each part could stand alone as a complete sentence; if it can, then a semicolon or a comma plus conjunction is needed between them, not a random comma. Practising with examples like this helps reinforce correct punctuation patterns.

Final Answer:
The correctly punctuated sentence is Everyone has special skills; some people use them very well.