Skip to the content
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • Tests
    • ACT
    • SAT
    • WorkKeys
    • End of Course Programs
    • TSIA2
  • Programs
    • MasteryPrep Curriculum
    • MasteryPrep Boot Camps
    • TruScore Testing & Analysis
    • Professional Development
    • The College Playbook
    • Blended Learning Solutions
    • Texas CCMR Headquarters
    • Summer Programs
    • Florida Concordant Camp
  • Partnerships
    • COE Summer Programs
    • COE Parent Portal
  • Blog
  • Customer Resources
    • MasteryPrep Resources Open Training Webinars
    • MasteryPrep Ready Platform
    • TruScore Online + Study Hall
    • MasteryPrep Events FAQs
    • Ebooks
    • ACT Mastery Teacher Resources
Menu
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • Tests
    • ACT
    • SAT
    • WorkKeys
    • End of Course Programs
    • TSIA2
  • Programs
    • MasteryPrep Curriculum
    • MasteryPrep Boot Camps
    • TruScore Testing & Analysis
    • Professional Development
    • The College Playbook
    • Blended Learning Solutions
    • Texas CCMR Headquarters
    • Summer Programs
    • Florida Concordant Camp
  • Partnerships
    • COE Summer Programs
    • COE Parent Portal
  • Blog
  • Customer Resources
    • MasteryPrep Resources Open Training Webinars
    • MasteryPrep Ready Platform
    • TruScore Online + Study Hall
    • MasteryPrep Events FAQs
    • Ebooks
    • ACT Mastery Teacher Resources
  • 855-922-8773

ACT Chalk Talk #9

Punctuation makes up nearly 15% of your students’ ACT English scores, and it can influence their answers in another 10% of the questions. It’s important. Period. (Yes, we put the pun in punctuation!) Here are three easy tips for adding an exclamation point to your students’ ACT English scores:

1: No solo comma

Find the subject. Find the verb. Any answer choices that put just one comma between the subject and verb can be eliminated. Zero commas or two commas are okay, but one comma between the subject and verb is a sure sign of an incorrect answer choice.

2: Treat semicolons like periods

On the ACT, semicolons are used to join two independent clauses (just like a period). Mentally replace each semicolon in an answer choice with a period. If the sentences don’t work with the replacement, then the semicolon is being used incorrectly and the answer choice can be eliminated.

3: When in doubt, commas out

If you must blindly guess on a punctuation question, eliminate the obvious run-on sentences, then go with the choice that uses the fewest commas.

 



Like this article?

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Linkdin
Share on Pinterest

Leave a comment

mastery_prep_RGB_White_Stroke-200x49
Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Linkedin

Tests:

  • ACT
  • SAT/PSAT
  • TSIA2
  • End of Course Programs
  • WorkKeys
  • ACT
  • SAT/PSAT
  • TSIA2
  • End of Course Programs
  • WorkKeys

Programs:

  • Mastery Curriculum
  • Boot Camps
  • Professional Development
  • Practice Testing & Analysis
  • Texas College Career and Military Readiness Headquarters
  • The College Playbook
  • Summer Programs
  • Florida ACT/SAT Concordant Camp
  • Mastery Curriculum
  • Boot Camps
  • Professional Development
  • Practice Testing & Analysis
  • Texas College Career and Military Readiness Headquarters
  • The College Playbook
  • Summer Programs
  • Florida ACT/SAT Concordant Camp

Contact:

EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 855-922-8773
FAX: 225-306-8211
Love our materials? Want to help make our materials even better? Send your comments, corrections, suggestions to [email protected]

View our Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2018 MasteryPrep. All Rights Reserved.

ACT® is the registered trademark of ACT Inc. ACT® Aspire™ is the registered trademark of ACT Aspire, LLC. WorkKeys® is the registered trademark of ACT Inc. Ring Publications LLC has no affiliation with, and is not approved or endorsed by, ACT Inc or ACT Aspire, LLC.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.

View our Cookie Policy