ACT Prep

Punctuation

CommasUse with introductory material– After all, crime must be punished– In 2007, my nephew Ethan was born.

Use in lists – I have a red, green, and blue shirt on today

Use before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) to join two separate sentences– The boy wanted to borrow a book, but the

librarian need him to pay his fines.

Semicolons

Use to separate two complete ideas– Only for independent clauses– The setting sun caused the fields to take on a

special glow; all was bathed in a pale light.

Do NOT use to separate an independent clause from a phrase or dependent (subordinate) clause– She worked extra hours, yet was not able to

finish the project on time.

Colons

After the greeting of a business letter

Separate hours from minutes

Precede a list of three or more items or a long quotation– We did many things on vacation: hiking, camping, biking,

canoeing, and kayaking.

NOT used when list is already signaled, ie, including or such as– We did many things on vacation such as hiking, camping,

biking, canoeing, and kayaking.

End Punctuation

Question Marks– Only used after a direct question

• Did you take the test yesterday?

• Mom wants to know if you took the test yesterday.

Exclamation Marks– Shows strong emotion or imply urgency

Periods– Use to end a sentence– Use to signify an abbreviation or an initial

• Adrianne M. Prince

Dashes

Use to emphasize or set off explanatory words.– The tools of his trade- probe, mirror, and swabs- were neatly

arranged on the tray

Indicate a summary or reversal of other words.– Patience, sensitivity, understanding- these are the marks of a

true friend.

Mark a sudden break in thought– He was not pleased with- in fact, he was completely hostile

toward- the takeover.

Hyphens

Use with a compound modifier (adjectives, usually) that precedes a noun.– There was a sit-in demonstration at the office– We will sit in the auditorium

Use with fractions that serve as adjectives or adverbs.– I purchased a four-cylinder car– I purchased a car with four cylinders.

Quotation Marks

Use to enclose actual words of anotherTo set off titles of short themes or parts of larger works (Short stories and poems too)

Do NOT use to justify a poor choice of words– no air quoting!– I didn’t think she “got it.”– I didn’t think she understood.

Apostrophes

Used in contractions

Used to indicate the possessive form

DO NOT use with who, is, her, our, your, or their– Who’s = who is; whose = possessive– It’s = it is; its = possessive– Hers, ours, yours, theirs = already possessive

Practice

Open Big Book to pg. 77-79. do 1-55

Homework: Practice test- TIMED:45 min

Pg 530 in Victory. Check answers- pg. 720.