Question

Which choice contains the correct punctuation?

A) Here is what my mother said to me, at least once: "Jerry, you've got to try a little harder."
B) Here is what my mother said to me; at least once: "Jerry, you've got to try a little harder."
C) Here is what my mother said to me, at least once; "Jerry, you've got to try a little harder."
D) Here is what my mother said to me: at least once: "Jerry, you've got to try a little harder."

Answer 1

A) Here is what my mother said to me, at least once: "Jerry, you've got to try a little harder."

Since the quotation from his mother is set off from the rest of the sentence, not continuing it, a colon is appropriate. Additionally, the comma before "at least once" is correct and after "Jerry" is also correct.