SAT/ACT Punctuation and Grammar Rules for Effective Writing

What punctuation marks are considered identical on the SAT and ACT?

Semicolons and periods.

When are semicolons used?

Between two complete sentences or before conjunctive adverbs like however, therefore, or moreover.

What is an example of a correct semicolon usage?

London is an old city; it has many new buildings.

What punctuation is used to introduce lists and explanations?

Colons and dashes.

What must precede a colon or dash?

A complete sentence that logically sets up the information that follows.

What is a comma splice?

When two sentences are incorrectly joined by a comma.

How should a dependent clause be punctuated when it comes first in a sentence?

It must be followed by a comma.

What are transitional words and phrases tested for on the SAT and ACT?

Their meaning and the logical relationship they create between sentences.

What are continuers in transitional phrases?

Words like in addition, moreover, and for example that add new and similar ideas.

What do cause-and-effect transitional words indicate?

That an action or event is the result of a previous action/event.

What is an example of a contradictor transitional word?

However or nevertheless.

What is the correct punctuation before a list?

A colon or dash must follow a complete sentence.

What is the rule for using a comma with FANBOYS?

A comma is used before FANBOYS to connect two independent clauses.

What happens if two clauses share the same subject?

No comma is used before the FANBOYS conjunction.

What is an example of incorrect comma usage?

London is a very old city, it has some extremely modern parts.

What should you do when encountering a transition question?

Ignore the transition and state the relationship between the sentences before checking the answers.

What is the significance of reading through sentences completely?

To avoid missing sentence boundaries and ensure correct punctuation.

What punctuation is frequently tested more on the SAT?

Colons.

What is the function of a comma in a sentence with a dependent clause?

To separate the dependent clause from the independent clause.

What is an example of a correct use of a colon?

Visitors to London often spend their time in three main types of attractions: museums, castles, and shops.

What should you look out for in 'sentence boundary' questions?

Ensure that you recognize when two sentences are present.

What is the role of transitional phrases in writing?

To clarify relationships between ideas and improve coherence.

What is a common error involving commas and dependent clauses?

Failing to place a comma after a dependent clause when it precedes an independent clause.

What is an example of a correct use of a dash?

The Great Wall lost its protective purpose—the Chinese empire now extended well north of the wall.

What should you do if two transitions have the same meaning?

Eliminate both options, as no question can have more than one correct answer.

What is non-essential information in a sentence?

Information that can be removed without affecting the essential meaning of the sentence.

How can non-essential information be punctuated?

Using two commas, two dashes, or two parentheses.

What is the correct punctuation for non-essential clauses using commas?

Place one comma at the beginning and one at the end of the clause.

What is an example of incorrect comma usage with non-essential clauses?

Incorrect: London which is a very old city, has some extremely modern parts.

What is the correct way to punctuate non-essential information using dashes?

Dashes can be used similarly to commas, e.g., London—which is a very old city—has some modern parts.

How should parentheses be used for non-essential information?

Parentheses can indicate non-essential phrases, e.g., London (which is a very old city) has some modern parts.

What is a common misuse of commas before parentheses?

A comma before an open parenthesis is always incorrect.

What are the two correct options for using commas with names and titles?

No commas (essential) or two commas (non-essential).

How can you determine if commas are necessary around a name or title?

Read the sentence without the name/title; if it still makes sense, use commas.

What is the correct punctuation for separating items in a list?

Use commas to separate items, e.g., 'Building muscle can boost metabolism, aid weight loss, and increase endurance.'

When should commas not be used before or after a preposition?

Commas should not be placed before or after common prepositions like 'of', 'to', 'by', etc.

What is the rule regarding commas between subjects and verbs?

Commas should not be used between subjects and verbs, even if the subject is long.

What is the correct way to punctuate a sentence with 'that'?

No comma should be placed before or after 'that'.

What is the apostrophe rule for singular nouns?

To show possession, add an apostrophe + 's' (e.g., the cell's DNA).

How do you form possessives for regular plural nouns?

Add 's' or 'es' + apostrophe (e.g., the dresses' buttons).

What is an example of incorrect comma usage with adjectives?

Incorrect: The Caribbean Sea contains some of the world's most stunning, coral reefs.

What is the correct way to punctuate adjectives that cannot be reversed?

Do not use a comma (e.g., The Caribbean Sea contains some of the world's most stunning coral reefs).

What is the possessive form of a singular noun?

Add an apostrophe + 's' (e.g., the cell's DNA).

How do you form the possessive of regular plural nouns?

Add an apostrophe after the 's' (e.g., the cells' DNA).

What is the rule for possessive forms of irregular plural nouns?

Add apostrophe + 's' (e.g., the people's responses).

What is the difference between 'it's' and 'its'?

'It's' means 'it is', while 'its' is the possessive form of 'it'.

What are the correct uses of 'they're', 'their', and 'there'?

'They're' means 'they are', 'their' is the possessive form of 'they', and 'there' refers to a place.

What is the correct form of 'who's'?

'Who's' means 'who is'.

What is the possessive form of 'who'?

'Whose' is the possessive form of 'who'.

How should pronouns agree with their antecedents?

Pronouns must match the number (singular/plural) of the nouns they replace.

What is the correct verb form for singular third-person subjects?

end in -s (e.g., it works).

What is the correct verb form for plural third-person subjects?

do not end in -s (e.g., they work).

What is the rule for compound subjects?

Compound subjects are treated as plural and require plural verbs.

What is the rule for subject-verb agreement with collective nouns?

Collective nouns are treated as singular.

What is the rule for using 'each' and 'every' with verbs?

They require singular verbs (e.g., Each of the chiefdoms was ruled by a leader).

What is the importance of tense consistency in writing?

Maintain the same verb tense throughout a paragraph.

What is the correct use of 'whom'?

'Whom' is used after a preposition or as the object of a verb.

What is an example of a non-essential clause affecting subject-verb agreement?

A non-essential clause can distract from errors in agreement (e.g., The cochineal, a small insect, was commonly used...).

What is the correct form of the verb when using 'illegal logging' as the subject?

Use singular form: 'Illegal logging has resulted...'.

What is the correct form of the verb when using 'the Kora, the balafon, and the ngoni' as the subject?

Use plural form: 'are examples of African instruments...'.

What should you check to ensure subject-verb agreement?

Check the beginning of the clause for the subject.

What is the rule for using 'which' and 'who'?

'Who' is used for people, while 'which' is used for things.

What is the correct form of 'its' in the context of possessive?

'Its' is the possessive form of 'it' and does not use an apostrophe.

What is the common error with 'it's' in sentences?

Using 'it's' instead of 'its' when indicating possession.

What is the correct way to phrase a sentence with a plural antecedent?

Use a plural pronoun (e.g., 'They were strongly influenced...').

What cultural influence is reflected in Frida Kahlo's paintings?

Indigenous Mexican culture, evident in her use of bright colors and dramatic symbolism.

What artistic styles did Frida Kahlo combine in her work?

Elements of classic Mexican tradition and modern surrealist techniques.

What is the correct simple past form of 'to publish' in the context of Rachel Carson's book?

Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962.

What does the present perfect tense indicate?

An action that began in the past and continues into the present, often marked by 'has' or 'have'.

How is the present perfect tense correctly used with 'for' and 'since'?

Example: London and Paris have been tourist attractions for hundreds of years.

What is the structure of the past perfect tense?

Had + verb, used to describe an action that occurred before another past action.

When should the past perfect tense be used with the phrase 'by the time'?

When describing two completed actions in the past, the past perfect must be used.

What is the passive voice?

A grammatical structure where the subject and object are flipped, e.g., 'y was done by x'.

What is a common issue with sentences in passive voice?

They can become wordy and awkward.

What is the difference between the infinitive form and the gerund form of a verb?

The infinitive form uses 'to' + verb, while the gerund form uses the verb + -ing.

How should lists of items be structured for parallelism?

All items in the list must be in the same grammatical form.

What is an example of a faulty comparison?

Comparing a person to a thing, such as 'the work of architect Benjamin Marshall is just as well-known as Frank Lloyd Wright.'

What is a dangling modifier?

A descriptive phrase that does not clearly connect to the noun it describes.

What is a misplaced modifier?

A modifier that is incorrectly placed in a sentence, leading to ambiguity.

What is the correct structure for word pairs like 'neither...nor'?

Both sides of the pair must match in grammatical structure.

What is an example of a correct sentence using a dangling modifier?

Born in Mexico City in 1907, Frida Kahlo was best known for her self-portraits.

What is the correct form of a verb when using 'to' with another verb?

Only the first verb needs 'to' when using infinitives in a list.

What is the significance of the phrase 'by the time' in past perfect tense?

It indicates that the past perfect must be used to describe an action that occurred before another past action.

What should be avoided in passive voice constructions?

Creating sentences that are unnecessarily complex or awkward.

What is the correct form of 'to analyze' in a parallel structure?

To analyze, not analyzing, when paired with another infinitive.

What is the correct use of an apostrophe?

An apostrophe can be used to create a possessive.

How should comparisons be structured?

Use 'than' for comparisons, not 'then'.

What is the correct form for plural comparisons?

Use 'those of' to clarify comparisons, e.g., 'the limbs of other spiders.'

What words modify plural nouns?

Number, many, and fewer modify plural nouns.

What words modify singular nouns?

Amount, much, and less modify singular nouns.

When should a question mark be used?

Question marks are used only for direct questions separate from the main sentence.

What is the correct punctuation for indirect questions?

Use a period for indirect questions integrated into a sentence.

What is the guideline for wordiness in writing?

Shorter answers are usually better; avoid redundancy.

What is the difference between adjectives and adverbs?

Adjectives modify nouns; adverbs modify verbs and usually end in -ly.

How are comparatives and superlatives formed?

Comparative: adjective + -er or more + adjective; Superlative: adjective + -est or most + adjective.

What is the correct pronoun case when used with proper names?

Use proper name + pronoun, e.g., 'Rob and me' becomes 'Rob and I'.

What should follow the word 'between'?

'Between' should always be followed by an object pronoun (me, her, him, them, us).

What is the correct usage of 'have' vs. 'of'?

Use 'have' instead of 'of' in phrases like 'could have'.

What is the guideline for prepositions and verbs?

There are no strict rules; these must be answered by ear.

What is the difference between formal and informal register?

Correct answers should be neither too formal nor too informal.