act key grammar rules

2 independent clauses

Use semi-colon or period

Lagging information (info with dashes, commas, or parentheses)

Non essential, should remain correct without extra info.

It’s v.s its

It’s = it is

Its = possessive

Its’ = incorrect

Following after a complete sentence when introducing a list or explaination.

Colons

Could/should/would/might of

Never use, “of” in the incorrect form for Could/should/would/might have.

Commas before OR after preposition (in, on, from, for, with)

no commas around a preposition

Commas before he, she, they

No commas are before any pronouns

When there are more than one verb do not use an “s” to end the word off.

She reads every evening.

They read every evening

Reads is a verb “she” is singular action

Read is the verb for plural “they” meaning more people than one.

Keep pronouns consistent

If one wants to succeed, you must work hard.

Should be - if one wants to succeed, one must work hard.

One is the pronoun used in this example it must be kept consistent throughout the sentence.

who vs whom

Who is a subject (a person)

Whom is used after a preposition or as an object.

Not/least/except

In the ACT these words reverse or limit the meaning.

Shortest grammatically correct sentence in often the best option.

Conciseness

Omitting or deleting a sentence

If removing a sentence keep the same structure, it is more likely to be correct.

Choose transition based on relation of both ideas

usually best to cross out transition words before choosing

Focus on the start of a new paragraph rather then the end of a old one

When choosing transition words between paragraphs

Only keep the important sentences that support the structure of a paragraph’s main idea

Inserting or deleting a sentence

Picking being

Never pick being

Answering tone

Pick the simplest answer

However punctuation

However always has punctuation in front or preposition, if not it’s wrong

Which punctuation

which always has a preposition or punctuation in front

Using 2 adjective to describe a noun

Use a comma if the 2 adjectives can be used with the word “and” in between

FANBOYS

For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

If there is 2 independent clauses between these words use a comma.

Double dashes can similar to

Using two commas

Compliment vs complement

Compliment = to praise

Complement = to make whole/ complete

Using commas with tilted and names

If to a specific person use comma

If not to a specific person but has details that points to a specific person use comma

Title that doesn’t belong to anyone without extra detail = no comma

Oxford comma

Listing 3 or more use comma before “and”

When listing make sure to keep consistency!

3 singular, 1 plural = choose plural

3 plural, 1 singular = choose singular

Double dashes chances

Are usually 70% right for dashes

Academic Answers

Choosing academic sounding answer are more right then deciding between two answers choices

If the author is considering adding..

A full sentence it is most likely wrong (no)

A fragment most likely correct (yes)

Than vs then

Than is comparison

(Fewer than is countable, less than is not countable)

Then is time