Mastering the ACT English: Conventions of Standard English Overview

👀 Overview of the ACT English Section

The ACT English section is a critical part of the ACT exam, designed to test your command of the English language, including grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. This section consists of 75 multiple-choice questions, which you have 45 minutes to answer. The questions are distributed across five passages, each presenting a different rhetorical situation, such as a narrative, argumentative, or expository text.

Understanding how the ACT categorizes these questions is crucial to preparing effectively. The ACT breaks down the English section into three primary categories:

1. Production of Writing (29–32%): These questions assess your ability to understand the purpose and focus of a piece of writing. You’ll be asked to consider elements like topic development, organization, unity, and cohesion.

2. Knowledge of Language (15–17%): Here, the questions focus on effective language use, requiring you to make concise word choices and maintain consistency in the tone and style of a passage.

3. Conventions of Standard English (52–55%): This category forms the majority of the ACT English section. It tests your understanding of standard English grammar, usage, and mechanics, challenging you to revise and edit texts to ensure they follow proper language conventions.

💡 In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the Conventions of Standard English, the largest and perhaps the most challenging portion of the ACT English section. Understanding this area is key to performing well on the test, as these questions make up over 50% of the total questions.

📚 Conventions of Standard English

The Conventions of Standard English category encompasses three main types of questions: Sentence Structure and Formation, Usage, and Punctuation. To excel in this section, you’ll need to approach each question as an editor, scrutinizing sentences for grammatical correctness, proper usage, and clear, effective communication.

Below, we’ll explore each of these question types in detail and provide strategies for tackling them. This overview will help you understand what to expect and how to prepare for these questions on the ACT.

Sentence Structure and Formation

Questions in this category test your ability to recognize and correct errors in sentence structure. You’ll be asked to identify issues like run-on sentences, sentence fragments, and misplaced modifiers, and to ensure that sentences are clear and logically constructed.

Key Concepts to Understand:

• Run-On Sentences: A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are improperly joined without the correct punctuation or conjunction.
• Sentence Fragments: A fragment is an incomplete sentence that lacks a subject, verb, or complete thought.
• Misplaced Modifiers: These are words or phrases that are not placed near the words they modify, leading to confusion or awkwardness.
• Parallelism: Ensuring that elements in a sentence that are alike in function are also alike in form.

Punctuation

Punctuation questions focus on your knowledge of the correct use of commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes, and other punctuation marks. Proper punctuation is essential for clarity and flow in writing, and the ACT will test your ability to punctuate sentences correctly.

Key Concepts to Understand:

• Commas: Used to separate items in a list, join independent clauses with conjunctions, and set off nonessential information.
• Semicolons: Used to join two related independent clauses without a conjunction.
• Colons: Used to introduce lists, quotations, or explanations.
• Apostrophes: Used to indicate possession or form contractions.

Usage

Usage questions require you to ensure that words are used correctly in a sentence. This includes checking for subject-verb agreement, verb tense consistency, and proper pronoun usage. You’ll need a solid grasp of standard English usage rules to excel in this area.

Key Concepts to Understand:

• Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensuring that subjects and verbs agree in number (singular or plural).
• Verb Tenses: Consistently using the correct tense to reflect the timing of actions.
• Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement: Ensuring that pronouns agree with their antecedents in number and gender.

How to Approach Conventions of Standard English Questions

When you encounter Conventions of Standard English questions on the ACT, think of yourself as an editor. Your task is to review short sections of text and decide what edits, if any, need to be made to ensure that the passage is grammatically correct and clear.

Acting as an Editor

To approach these questions effectively, follow these steps:

1. Read the Sentence Carefully: Begin by reading the sentence or passage as it is written. Try to understand its meaning and identify any potential errors.

2. Consider the Underlined Portion: Pay close attention to the underlined portion of the text, as this is where the question is focused. Consider whether the underlined section is grammatically correct and clear.

3. Review the Answer Choices: Evaluate each of the answer choices to determine which one best corrects any errors in the underlined portion. Sometimes, the best answer may be “No Change” if the sentence is already correct.

4. Think About Clarity and Flow: Even if a sentence is grammatically correct, it may be awkward or unclear. Choose the answer that improves the sentence’s clarity and flow while maintaining its original meaning.

5. Use Context: Don’t forget to consider the context of the sentence within the passage. Sometimes, the surrounding sentences will provide clues about the best way to revise the underlined portion.

Now, let’s look at some examples of the types of questions you might encounter in this section of the ACT.

Example Questions and Analysis

To give you a better understanding of what to expect, we’ll walk through a few sample questions, analyzing each one in detail.

Image Courtesy of ACT.org

In this first example, we need to decide how to properly punctuate the underlined sentence. Specifically, the answer choices focus on the correct use of commas.

Analysis:

Commas are crucial for separating items in a list, joining independent clauses with conjunctions, and adding pauses for clarity in complex sentences. In this case, the comma after the word “students” interrupts the flow of the sentence and doesn’t contribute to clarity, so we can rule out answers A and B.

Similarly, the comma following “Silver” also disrupts the flow and doesn’t add clarity, so it’s unnecessary. This leaves us with answer C, which removes the unnecessary commas and allows the sentence to flow smoothly. Therefore, C is the correct answer.

Image Courtesy of ACT.org

In this next example, we need to determine how to revise the underlined portion of the sentence to clarify its meaning.

Analysis:

The sentence suggests that tiny bar codes were used to track the activities of bees. However, the current wording implies that the bees were tracking their own activities, which doesn’t make sense. This indicates that a revision is necessary.

• Answer F can be ruled out because it maintains the original, confusing meaning.
• Answer G still places the focus on the bees tracking their own activities, so it’s also incorrect.
• Answer H conveys the correct meaning but is awkwardly worded. We’ll keep it in mind as a possible choice.
• Answer J is clear and straightforward, making it the best option. It correctly conveys that the bar codes were used to track the bees’ activities without any awkward phrasing.

Thus, the correct answer is J.

Image Courtesy of ACT.org

This question asks us to evaluate the sentence following a comma after the word “basket” to determine if it’s grammatically correct.

Analysis:

The two clauses on either side of the comma are independent—they each could stand alone as a complete sentence. When two independent clauses are joined by a comma, this creates a comma splice, which is grammatically incorrect. We need to correct this error.

• Answer G and Answer H both maintain the comma splice by forming complete sentences on their own, so they are incorrect.
• Answer J eliminates the underlined portion, making the second clause dependent on the first. This corrects the comma splice and makes J the best answer.

Thus, the correct answer is J.

Image Courtesy of ACT.org

This question involves the correct use of an em-dash pair, which is used to insert additional information into a sentence.

Analysis:

When checking the use of em-dashes, it’s important to ensure that the interjected phrase is completely contained within the dashes and that the surrounding sentence is complete without it.

In this case, the sentence is correct as written. The interjected phrase is properly set off by em-dashes, and the sentence remains complete and meaningful even if the interjection is removed.

While it’s tempting to overthink these questions, sometimes the correct answer is “No Change.” Don’t be afraid to choose this option if it’s the best choice. Here, “No Change” is the correct answer.

🧠 English Section Tips & Tricks

Successfully navigating the Conventions of Standard English questions on the ACT requires practice and a strategic approach. Here are some tips and tricks to help you improve your performance:

1. Notice the Underlined Portions

Many questions will focus on an underlined portion of text. Always read a few sentences before and after the underlined section to understand the context. This will help you make more informed decisions about how to revise or correct the sentence.

2. Read Through All the Answer Options

Sometimes, multiple answers will be technically correct, but the ACT wants you to choose the best option. Be sure to read through all the answer choices carefully and consider how each one affects the clarity and flow of the passage.

3. Note Subtle Differences Between Answers

Pay attention to small differences between answer choices. One choice might correct one error but introduce another. Carefully evaluate each option to determine which one best improves the sentence while avoiding new errors.

4. Think Like an Editor

When answering these questions, you’re acting as an editor. Your goal is to make the passage as clear and precise as possible. Consider which option best clarifies the meaning of the sentence and eliminates any awkwardness or ambiguity.

5. Answer Everything

There’s no penalty for incorrect answers on the ACT, so make sure to answer every question. Even if you’re not completely sure about an answer, take your best informed guess. With practice, you’ll get better at quickly evaluating and choosing the best option.

🤩 Conclusion

The Conventions of Standard English section is a significant part of the ACT English test, comprising over half of the questions. To succeed, you need to have a strong grasp of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. By approaching each question like an editor and applying the strategies outlined in this guide, you can improve your ACT English score and perform your best on test day.

Remember, consistent practice is key. The more you familiarize yourself with these question types and the ACT’s format, the more confident you’ll become in your ability to quickly and accurately answer these questions. You’ve got this! 🚀

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the other ACT English study guides to deepen your understanding of each question type and continue building your test-taking skills.

NUMBERS’s ACT English Section Overview: What’s On It?

ACT English: Conventions of Standard English: Sentence Structure and Formation

ACT English: Conventions of Standard English: Punctuation

ACT English: Conventions of Standard English: Usage