ACT VOCAB AND RULES

Use a comma with a coordinating conjunction to separate independent clauses with a sentence

Jenny sings in the choir, and she plays the guitar in a rock band

Use a comma to separate elements that introduce and modify a sentence

Yesterday, I painted the entire garage

Use commas before and after a parenthetical expression ( a parenthetical expression is a phrase that is inserted into the writer’s train of thought. Parenthetical expressions are most often set off with commas)

Stephanie’s decision, in my opinion, was not in her best interest.

Use commas before and after an appositive. ( A positive is a noun or phrase that renames the noun that precedes it.

My brother, a well respected scientist, made an important discovery

Use commas to set off an interjection

Well, it’s about time that you got here!

Use Commas to separate coordinate adjectives. (If two adjectives modify a noun in the same way, they are called coordinate adjectives. Coordinate adjectives can also be joined with and (without a comma)

We walked the long, dusty road to the abandoned farm or We walked the long and dusty road to the abandoned farm.

Use commas to set off a nonrestrictive phrase or clause. A nonrestrictive phrase or clause is one that can be omitted from the sentence without changing the meaning of the sentence. Nonrestrictive clauses are useful because they serve to further describe the nouns they follow.

My sister’s dog, forever annoying, barks at me whenever I visit.

Use a comma to separate items in a list or series.

Jill decided to purchase a leash, collar and waterdish for her dog.

Use commas in dates, addresses, place names, numbers, and quotations. Commas generally separate a quotation from its source.

Mary is leaving for Jamaica on January 7, 2004.

Don’t Use commas to separate a subject from a verb

The police officer walked down the street not— The police officer, walked down the street.

Don’t use commas to separate an adjective from the word it modified.

The pret

Don’t use commas before a coordinate conjunction and a phrase (NOT and independent clause with its own subject and a verb)

Jeff likes to relax on his couch and listen to music. NOT— Jeff likes to relax on his couch, and listen to music.

Don’t use commas to separate two independent clauses; this is known as a comma splice.

I plan to attend a liberal arts college. My parents want me to get a well rounded education. NOT— I plan to attend a liberal arts college, my parents want me to get a well rounded education.

Add an apostrophe and an “s” to form the possessive of singular. nouns, plural nouns, or indefinite, pronouns that do not end in “s”.

My friend’s house is at the end of the street.

Add an apostrophe to form the possessive of plural nouns ending in “s”.

The horses’ stalls were filled with straw.

Add an apostrophe to the last noun to indicate joint possession.

Frank and Ruth’s university is in September.

Add an apostrophe to all nouns to indicate individual possession.

Brian’s, Jason’s and Michael’s computers were all stolen.

Add an apostrophe to indicate contractions.

It’s raining outside again.

Add an apostrophe to form the plural of letters and numbers.

Did you dot your I’s and cross your t’s?

don’t use an apostrophe with a possessive pronoun.

The car with the flat tire is ours. NOT— the car with the flat tire is our’s.

Use a colon before a list.

We are required to bring the following items to camp: a sleeping bag, a pillow, and alarm clock, clothes, and personal care items.

Use a colon after an independent clause that is followed by information that directly modifies or adds to the clause.

Jennifer encountered a problem that she had not anticipated: a broken internet link.

Colons may also precede direct quotations and should be used in business salutations and titles.

Captain John Paul Jones said: “ I have not yet begun to fight”

Dear Mr. Smith:

Blaze: A story of Courage

Use a semicolon to join closely related independent clauses when coordinate conduction is not used.

Jane starts a new job today; she is very excited.

Use a semicolo

Use a semicolon to separate items that contain commas and are addangedp in a series.

The art museum contained some beautiful, classically desi

Use a semicolon to separate coordinate clauses when they are joined by transitional words or phrases. When a sentence contains more than one clause, each of which is considered equally as important as the other, the clauses are called “coordinate clauses.” They are typically joined by a coordinating conjunction, such as and, but, or so. When a coordinating conjunction is not used, a semicolon should be.

My sister and I enjoyed the play; afterwoodm we stopped for an ice cream cone.

Use parentheses to enclose explanatory or secondary supporting details.

In addition to serving as class treasurer( during her junior year), she was also a national merit scholar.

Use dashes in. place of parentheses to place special emphasis on certain words or phrases.

Dr. Evans— A noted scientist and educator— spoke at our commencement ceremony.

Use a period to end most sentence.

Scott enrolled in classes at the University.

Use a question mark to end a direct question.

Do you think it will rain today?

Use an exclamation point to end an emphatic statement.

Please dent leave your vehicle unattended!