ACT English Cheat Sheet

Grammar 1

Period = Semicolon = Comma + and/but

Grammar 2

Colon = dash; 2 commas = 2 dashes = non-essential clause, which can be crossed out

Grammar 3

It's = it is; Its = Possessive form of it

Grammar 4

Colon = list or explanation. Need a complete sentence before but not necessarily after.

Grammar 5

-ING (gerunds), especially Being usually = WRONG

Grammar 6

Could/Would/Should/Might HAVE, not OF

Grammar 7

No comma before or after a preposition, or the word that

Grammar 8

Comma before it, he, she, they usually = WRONG

Grammar 9

Singular verbs end in s-, plural verbs do not end in -s (e.g. she reads, they read)

Grammar 10

Keep pronouns consistent: one = one, you = you

Grammar 11

Who is for people, which is for things, where is for places (e.g. the time/book where = WRONG)

Grammar 12

Use who before a verb (who went, NOT whom went); use whom after a preposition (e.g. by whom, NOT by who)

Grammar 13

All items in a list must match (noun, noun, noun or verb, verb, verb)

Grammar 14

Always underline NOT, LEAST, and EXCEPT

Rhetoric 1

Shorter is always better

Rhetoric 2

Context is key; if you're not sure of the answer, read a sentence before and a sentence after.

Rhetoric 3

OMIT/DELETE: check that option first because it's usually right.

Rhetoric 4

Transitions within/between sentences: physically cross out the original transition and determine the relationship (e.g. continue, contradict, emphasize) between the two sentences or halves of a sentence BEFORE you look at the answer choices.

Rhetoric 5

Transitions between paragraphs: read at least a few sentences of the paragraph that the transition is intended to begin, The end of the previous paragraph might not be important.

Rhetoric 6

Insert/Delete: reread the paragraph and state the topic in your own words before checking the answer choices. If the sentence is directly relevant to that topic, it belongs. If not, it doesn't.

Rhetoric 7

Purpose of a passage: determine whether the topic is specific or general, then "yes" or "no."