Before installing a switched duplex receptacle, which modification must be made?

• A. The tab between the two hot screws must be broken
• B. The neutral screw must be removed
• C. Grounding conductor must be doubled
• D. The strap must be tightened

Answer: (A)

To have one half of a duplex receptacle controlled by a wall switch, the hot side must be split so the two halves can operate independently. The metal tab on the hot side connects the two hot terminals; breaking that tab isolates the two hot paths so one half can be fed by the constant hot while the other is fed by the switched leg. The neutral side tab stays intact so both outlets share a common neutral. Grounding remains as usual with a single ground path. The other options aren’t part of this modification: you don’t remove the neutral screw, you don’t double the grounding conductor, and you don’t tighten a strap to achieve switching.