SAT Writing - Commas, Apostrophes, Question Marks

when using commas to separate items in a list, these 3 rules must be followed

1. in any list of 3 or more items, each item must be followed by a comma

2. the comma before "and" is optional (e.g. ...attics, desk drawers, shoeboxes, and museum... vs ...attics, desk drawers, shoeboxes and museum...)

3. no comma should be used after the word "and" (with the only exception being when the word "and" is followed by non-essential information)

under which 2 conditions should you separate things in lists with semicolons?

when items in a list consist of long phrases, or are punctuated internally by commas - commas and semicolons should not be mixed and matched!

a comma should be used between two adjectives that fit these 2 conditions

order of adjectives does not matter, adjectives can be separated by the word "and" (e.g. the chance to see a kind of passionate, innovative art vs the chance to see a kind of innovative, passionate art)

what is equivalent to a comma between two adjectives? (a test to see if a comma should be used)

replace the comma with the word "and"

what kind of words/phrases should be followed by a comma

introductory words/phrases (that are not subordinating conjunctions)

should there be a comma before or after prepositions (location and time words)? give an example and also an exception to this rule.

no - e.g. these sentences are incorrect "They were two of the most influential figures, in the history of this field." "They were two of the most influential figures in, the history of this field."

the only exception is when a preposition is used to begin a non-essential clause

should commas be placed between the final adjective and the noun in a list? or just adjectives and nouns in general?

no (e.g. this is incorrect: NATAS is a well-known national, organization)

should a comma be placed between adjectives when the first modifies the second? what is another way this rule can be explained?

no (or if the two adjectives could not normally be separated by the word "and")

incorrect: Created in Jamaica during the late 1960s, reggae music emerged from a number of sources ranging from traditional, African songs and chants to contemporary jazz. (try replacing comma with "and")

a comma should not be placed between _____ and _____. what is an exception to this rule?

subjects and verbs - unless they are separated from one another by a non-essential clause

Incorrect: Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, were two of the most influential figures in the history of this field.

Incorrect (though you may feel that a pause is necessary): What is particularly remarkable about Ada Lovelace's work on Charles Babbage's "analytical engine," is that Lovelace foresaw many of the ways in which computers are used today.

when two ______, _______, ________ are joined by the word "and," no comma should be used - what is the easiest way to approach this rule?

adjectives, nouns, verbs

comma + and = period

should commas be placed before a self word (emphatic pronouns e.g. me, myself, it, itself, them, themselves) or around one? how about after one?

no for the first question. no for most cases in the second question.

Incorrect: The Tower of London, which lies within the Borough of Tower Hamlets, is separated from the city, itself by a stretch of open space.

Incorrect: The Tower of London, which lies within the Borough of Tower Hamlets, is separated from the city, itself, by a stretch of open space.

Correct: The Tower of London, which lies within the Borough of Tower Hamlets, is separated from the city itself by a stretch of open space.

give two cases of when a comma would be placed after a "self word" (emphatic pronoun)

before a FANBOYS conjunction or to set off a non-essential clause

these two iterations of its do not exist

Its' / Its's

direct questions end with this punctuation and has this property

question mark - question is a separate element that makes sense on its own

indirect questions end with this punctuation and has this property

period - section of the sentence that expresses uncertainty cannot be detached from the larger sentence