“After doing some complicated calculations and working out, I finally found the answer [……] 137.68638”
(a) of
(b) that is
(c) , which is
(d) to be
(e) — (a dash)
Which option(s) are acceptable for filling the space in that sentence? I am of course most tempted to say ‘the answer of 137.68638’ as it’s the simplest construction, but I need confirmation whether it’s correct usage. Here is another example: “The answer of XXX for that question seems a little too low.”
Edit: Apparently ‘of’ would be a viable option if I had used the indefinite article instead of the definite article. This leads to another question of mine- why is ‘AN answer of 137. 68638’ correct even though it’s specific?
Best Answer
Some grammatically correct alternatives:
The answer I found was 137.68638. There may be other possible answers.
This probably makes the least sense because it means "Of all the answers, I found that one that is 137.68638".
much the same meaning as (e)
I found the answer and the answer is 137.6838.
The answer I found was 137.68638.
If you are later going to say that you were were wrong or that the answer may not be 137.6838, you should use (a) or (d).
I found the answer. In other words, I found 137.6838.