ACT English: Mastering Conventions of Standard English – Punctuation

Welcome aboard!  Mastering punctuation is a crucial aspect of excelling in the ACT English exam. Punctuation serves as the backbone of English communication, ensuring clarity and coherence in written expression. From mastering the use of commas and semicolons to understanding the proper use of apostrophes and dashes, punctuation plays a vital role in conveying your ideas effectively. Ready to enhance your punctuation skills and conquer the ACT English section? Let’s dive in and embark on this journey together! 

ACT Punctuation: What You Should Know

Punctuation is essential for structuring sentences and making your writing clear and precise. On the ACT English test, punctuation questions assess your ability to apply the correct punctuation marks to achieve clarity and grammatical correctness. Below, we’ll cover the key punctuation marks you need to know, their functions, and how to use them effectively on the ACT.

📌 Punctuation Symbols to Know for the ACT

Let’s start by familiarizing ourselves with the punctuation symbols commonly tested on the ACT:

Understanding the purpose of these symbols and knowing when and how to use them will give you the tools you need to ace the punctuation questions on the ACT.

🔵 Ending Punctuation

Exclamation Marks (!)

An exclamation mark is used to convey strong emotions, surprise, excitement, or emphasis in a sentence. It’s a powerful tool but should be used sparingly to maintain its impact. Overusing exclamation marks can make your writing appear less formal or overly emotional.

Examples:

• Wow! That was an amazing speech.
• I can’t believe it’s true!

Key Tip: Use exclamation marks to punctuate sentences that express high emotion or urgency. However, in formal writing, which the ACT often focuses on, exclamation marks should be used judiciously.

Question Marks (?)

A question mark is used to indicate that a sentence is a question. When using a question mark, ensure that the sentence’s structure is appropriate for asking a question.

Examples:

• Did you finish your homework?
• What time does the concert start?

Key Tip: Be careful not to use a question mark with indirect questions. For example, “She asked if you had finished your homework.” doesn’t require a question mark because it’s a statement, not a direct question.

Period (.)

A period indicates the end of a declarative sentence, which is a statement or a simple command. Each sentence should end with a period unless it’s a question or an exclamation.

Examples:

• She went to the store to buy some groceries.
• The sun sets in the west.

Key Tip: The period is the most basic and common punctuation mark. Make sure to use it consistently to end statements or commands to maintain clarity and avoid run-on sentences.

🟢 Mid-Sentence Punctuation

Colon (:)

A colon introduces information that clarifies or emphasizes what comes before it. It’s often used to introduce lists, explanations, quotations, and examples.

Examples:

• A traffic light has three colors: red, yellow, and green.
• Remember this famous quote: “I think, therefore I am.”

Key Tip: The clause before the colon must be a complete sentence. Avoid using a colon after incomplete sentences or fragments.

Em-dashes or Dashes (—)

An em-dash is longer than a hyphen and is used to indicate a break in thought, an interruption, or to emphasize information within a sentence. It can replace commas, parentheses, or colons to provide additional clarity or emphasis.

Examples:

• The plane finally reached the runway—after circling the airport a dozen times.
• The baseball player—known for his powerful hitting performance—will be starting the game this afternoon.

Key Tip: Em-dashes can add a dramatic pause or highlight a particular point in your writing. However, avoid overusing them, as this can disrupt the flow of your text.

🟣 Apostrophes for Possessives and Contractions

Possessives

An apostrophe indicates possession, showing that something belongs to someone or something else. The placement of the apostrophe depends on whether the possessor is singular or plural.

Examples:

• The lady’s hair is brown. (singular possessive: the heir belongs to one lady)
• The players’ uniforms are over being ironed. (plural possessive: the uniforms belong to multiple players)

Key Tip: For singular nouns, add ’s to the noun (e.g., the cat’s toy). For plural nouns that end in “s,” just add an apostrophe after the “s” (e.g., the cats’ toys).

Contractions

An apostrophe ( ‘ ) is also used in contractions, which are shortened forms of two words. The apostrophe replaces missing letters or syllables.

Examples:

• I can’t attend the party. (can’t is a contraction of cannot)
• It’s raining outside. (Pro tip: “It’s” is a contraction of “it is.” “Its,” without the apostrophe, shows possession.)

Key Tip: Be careful with “its” and “it’s,” as this is a common mistake. “It’s” always means “it is” or “it has,” while “its” shows possession.

🟠 Lists and Series

Commas (,)

Commas are incredibly versatile and are used in various situations, such as:

• Separating items in a list: She bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
• Punctuating complex sentences: He studied hard, and he passed the exam.
• Separating transitional phrases from the rest of the sentence: In addition, we need to consider other factors.
• Punctuating after conjunctive adverbs: She was late; however, she still managed to catch the train.
• Separating appositives and participial phrases: My brother, a talented musician, will perform tonight.

Key Tip: Commas act as pauses, notifying the reader to separate words, phrases, and ideas. However, if you use a comma to connect two independent clauses, you’ve just created a comma splice. A comma will never replace any end-of-sentence punctuation or a semicolon.

Semicolons (;)

Semicolons serve to connect and separate elements in a sentence, often used instead of commas or periods. Here’s how to use semicolons effectively:

• Connecting Related Independent Clauses: She loves skiing; he prefers snowboarding.
• Separating Items in a Complex List: The participants included Mark, a magician; Ryan, a contractor; and Yasmin, a podcaster.
• Clarifying Lists with Commas: For lunch, they ordered pasta with shrimps, a classic dish; pizza with truffle sauce; and a Caesar salad with croutons.
• Highlighting a Contrast: The day was humid; however, the swimming pool was cool.

Key Tip: Semicolons are perfect for connecting closely related thoughts while avoiding the choppiness of short sentences. They also help clarify lists where items themselves contain commas.

🟡 Showing Speech

Quotation Marks (” “)

Quotation marks ( ”  ” ) enclose direct speech or a person’s exact words. They signal that the words within them are being quoted from someone else.

Examples:

• She said, “I’ll help you with preparing the table.”
• “I will be there,” Tara replied, “I won’t miss it for the world!”

Key Tip: Always place punctuation marks inside quotation marks in American English, even if they aren’t part of the quoted material. For example, “Are you coming?” is correct, not “Are you coming”?.

🔵 Connecting Independent Clauses with a Conjunction

A comma and a coordinating conjunction (often remembered with the acronym FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) are used to join two independent clauses into a single sentence.

Examples:

• She loves horse back riding, and he enjoys playing football.
• The cinema closed early, so we decided to watch a Netflix movie instead.

Key Tip: When connecting two complete thoughts, always use a comma before the coordinating conjunction to avoid a run-on sentence.

🟢 Introductory Phrases and Clauses

When a sentence starts with an introductory word, phrase, or clause, a comma is used to separate it from the main part of the sentence. This helps indicate the shift from the introduction to the main content.

Examples:

• After repairing the damage, he sent me the bill.
• In the office, there are a few unused chairs.

Key Tip: Use a comma after introductory elements to enhance readability and clarify the sentence structure.

🟣 Modifying Phrases and Clauses

Commas are used to set off non-essential modifying phrases and clauses from the rest of the sentence. These phrases or clauses provide additional information but are not crucial to the sentence’s core meaning.

Examples:

• The doctor, avoiding breaking the news, waited until the parents arrived.
• The movie, which came out last Friday, was a sequel to my favorite film.

Key Tip: If removing the modifying phrase doesn’t change the basic meaning of the sentence, then it’s non-essential and should be set off with commas.

🔍 ACT Punctuation: Types of Questions to Expect

Ready to test your skills? Let’s jump into some ACT-style practice questions! 💪 Remember, it’s not just about picking the right answer but understanding why it’s correct. Take a deep breath, and let’s dive in! 🚀

Practice Question 1

Image Courtesy of ACT, Inc Preparing for the ACT Booklet

Correct Answer: B.

Explanation: Focus on what the question asks: Which choice would NOT be acceptable? A helpful tip for the ACT English section is that if you see a period (.) and a semicolon (;) creating the same sentence, you can typically eliminate these options. In option B, the replacement of the phrase in the sentence would create a run-on sentence, making the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Practice Question 2

Image Courtesy of ACT, Inc Preparing for the ACT Booklet.

Correct Answer: G.

Explanation: Option G effectively uses commas to set off the word “however” as an interrupter. In this case, “however” is a transitional word that adds some contrast or unexpected information to the sentence.

Practice Question 3

Choose the grammatically correct sentence.

A. The trip to the amusement park was exhilarating—full of thrilling rides and delicious food.
B. The trip to the amusement park was exhilarating full of thrilling rides and delicious food.
C. The trip to the amusement park was exhilarating; full of thrilling rides and delicious food.
D. The trip to the amusement park was exhilarating: full of thrilling rides and delicious food.

Correct Answer: A.

Explanation: Em-dashes are used to set off parenthetical information or emphasize additional details. The em-dash creates a stronger break than a comma or a semicolon, making the sentence more impactful and engaging.

Practice Question 4

Choose the grammatically correct sentence.

A. The receipt listed the ingredients: flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
B. The receipt listed the ingredients are flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
C. The receipt listed the ingredients; flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
D. The receipt listed the ingredients flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

Correct Answer: A.

Explanation: A colon is used to introduce a list, and in the correct answer, the colon is appropriately placed before the list of ingredients. The colon signals that what follows is a series of items belonging to the list.

ACT Punctuation Tips & Tricks

Familiarize Yourself with Common Punctuation Rules

Punctuation questions can be quickly answered correctly or incorrectly, depending on your knowledge of basic rules. Review and understand these fundamental rules to help you identify errors and apply the correct punctuation on the ACT English section.

🔍 Pay Attention to Context

Consider the context of a sentence when selecting punctuation marks. Focus on how punctuation impacts the meaning and flow of the sentence to choose the most appropriate option that enhances clarity and coherence.

📚 Read Actively and Analytically

Engage in regular reading of diverse texts, such as articles, essays, and fiction. Pay attention to the authors’ use of punctuation to better understand how it contributes to the overall writing style and message.

🎉 Wrapping Up ACT Punctuation

Congratulations! You’ve successfully completed the Punctuation study guide for the ACT English section. 🎓 Armed with a solid understanding of these punctuation rules, you’re now well-prepared to tackle any punctuation-related challenges on the exam. Remember, consistent practice and attention to detail are key to mastering punctuation and enhancing your communication skills. Good luck on your journey to punctuation mastery!

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