ACT: English rules (barron 36)

Introductory phrase = Commas

Don't use commas unless it separates introductory words from part sentence

BTW Phrase

Don't use commas unless it sets off words or phrases that are nonessential to the integrity of the sentence.

FANBOYS

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

Independent , (FANBOYS) Independant

Don't use commas Unless it separates 2 independent clauses and you see either for, and nor, but, yet, so.

Independent (FANBOYS) Dependent

= No Comma

Lists or series

= Comma

How could you dump me,tell Julie you love her, go to prom with her, and then now tell me you love me?

"and" between adjectives

= Comma

Ex:She had an expensive (and) pretty (and) revealing yellow poka-dot bikini.

she had an expensive, pretty,revealing,yellow poka-dot bikini.

-ing phrase at the end of a sentence

=Comma

ex: Barbara did well, considering she did not study at all

Independent ; Independant

Don't use a semicolon unless it seperates two independant clauses and you do not see FANBOYS

Independent ; however , Independent

Don't use a semicolon unless you see thus,furthermore,however,moreover,therefore,nevertheless between two independent clauses.

Colon

Don't use a colon unless it follows an independent clause and introduces an example,explanation,short phrase,or list.

Dash

Don't use a dash ever,unless there is a major interruption in thought,in which case you need a dash on either side of the break

each

singular

everyone

singular

every one

singular

anyone

singular

anybody

singular

someone

singular

either

singular

neither

singular

dollar

singular

years

singular

decades

singular

civics

singular

news

singular

measles

singular

mathematics

singular

group

singular

team

singular

committee

singular

class

singular

family

singular

comma splice

two independent clauses spliced together using a comma

fewer

refers to a number; countable

less

an unknown number of amount of things.

farther

physical distance

further

level or degree

that

restrictive the meaning or identity of a word

which

nonrestrictive BTW phrase

that/which vs who

when the subject is human use who

who

refers to the subject of the sentence

Johnny, who is 5 years old, loves to sing

who loves me?

whom

refers to the object of the sentence

Whom do you love?

Whom am I speaking with?

I

Use "I" when you are the subject

Tim and I went to the mall.

Me

use "me" when you are the object

Sarah woke up my dog and me.

than I

Use I after the word "than" if the pronoun is being compared to the SUBJECT of a verb.

than Me

Use me after the word "than" if the pronoun is being compared to the OBJECT of a verb.

Preposition +me

use me when it follows a preposition.

linking verb + I

Use I when it follows a linking verb such as is

Adjectives

Modify nouns

Adverbs

modify everything else

suffix-ly

Contrast conjunctions

but,yet,although,even though, however, nontheless, never the less, or yet

continuation conjunctions

and, because, since, finally, furthermore,move over,since,so,thus,therefore