ACT English: Conventions of Standard English: Punctuation

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

🤓 ACT Punctuation: What You Should Know

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📌 Punctuation Symbols to Know for the ACT

🔵 Ending Punctuation

Exclamation Marks

An exclamation mark (!) conveys strong emotions, surprise, excitement, or emphasis in a sentence. It's important to use exclamation marks sparingly to maintain the impact and avoid overusing them.

1. • Wow! That was an amazing performance.
2. • I can't believe it!

Question Marks

A question mark (?) indicates that a sentence is a question. When using a question mark, make sure that the sentence's structure is appropriate for asking a question.

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

Period

A period (.) indicates the end of a declarative sentence – a statement or a simple command. Remember that each sentence should end with a period unless it's a question or an exclamation.

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

🟢 Mid Sentence Punctuation

Colon

A colon (:) introduces information, clarify, or emphasize something that follows. It often indicates that what comes after the colon is closely related to what comes before it. Colons are commonly used to introduce lists, explanations, quotations, and examples.

1. • There are three primary colors: red, blue, and yellow.
2. • Remember this famous quote: "To be or not to be, that is the question."

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.

1. • The hiker finally reached the mountaintop—after days of exhausting travel.
2. • The professor—known for his expertise in quantum physics—will be giving a lecture.

🟣 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.

1. • The dog's collar is blue. (singular possessive: the collar belongs to one dog).
2. • The students' notebooks are over there. (plural possessive: the notebooks belong to multiple students).

Contractions

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

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

🟠 Lists and Series

Commas

Commas (,) are used for numerous things:

• • Separating items in a list
• • Punctuating complex sentences
• • Separating transitional phrases from the rest of the sentence
• • Punctuating after conjunctive adverbs
• • Separating appositives and participial phrases 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 have just created a comma splice. A comma will never replace any end of sentence punctuation or a semicolon.

1. • She bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
2. • He studied hard, and he passed the exam.
3. • In addition, we need to consider other factors.
4. • She was late; however, she still managed to catch the train.
5. • My brother, a talented musician, will perform tonight.

Semicolons

Semicolons (;) are punctuation marks that serve to connect and separate elements in a sentence, often used in replacement of commas. Here's how to use semicolons effectively:

• • Connecting Related Independent Clauses
• • Separating Items in a Complex List
• • Clarifying Lists with Commas
• • Highlighting a Contrast

1. • She loves hiking; he prefers swimming.
2. • The participants included Mary, a lawyer; John, a doctor; and Lisa, a teacher
3. • For dinner, they ordered steak with mushrooms, a classic dish; pasta with marinara sauce; and a garden salad with vinaigrette.
4. • The weather was gloomy; however, the atmosphere was cheerful.

🟡 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. 

1. • She said, "I'll meet you at the park at 3 o'clock."
2. • "I will be late," Sarah replied, "I have a dentist appointment!"

🔵 Connecting Independent Clauses with a Conjunction

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

1. • She loves painting, and he enjoys playing the guitar.
2. • The rain started pouring, so we decided to stay indoors.

🟢 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 to indicate the shift from the introduction to the main content.

1. • After finishing her work, she went for a walk.
2. • In the morning, we usually go jogging.

🟣 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.

1. • The dog, wearing a blue collar, barked loudly.
2. • The book, which was recommended by my teacher, turned out to be fascinating.

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🔍 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. So, 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. Focus on what the question asks: Which choice would NOT be acceptable? Here's a helpful tip related to the ACT English section: 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. 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. 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. A colon is used to introduce a list, and in the correct answer, the colon is appropriately placed before the list of ingredients for the cake. The colon signals that what follows is a series of items belonging to the list. 

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🤓 ACT Punctuation Tips & Tricks

• • ✏️ Familiarize yourself with common punctuation rules - Punctuation questions are fast to answer correctly and incorrectly. Review and understand the basic rules of punctuation, including proper usage. This foundational knowledge will help you identify errors and apply the right punctuation in 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.

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🎉 Wrapping up ACT Punctuation

TL;DR: With consistent practice and attention to detail, you're sure to shine in the ACT English section!

Congratulations! You've successfully completed the Punctuation study guide for the ACT English. Armed with a solid understanding of punctuation rules, you're now well-prepared to tackle any punctuation-related challenges in the exam. Remember to use punctuation thoughtfully and precisely, as it plays a crucial role in conveying clear and effective communication. Good luck on your journey to punctuation mastery! 🎓