Fiveable SAT Writing and Language: Deep Dive into Conventions of Punctuation

Are you getting ready to take the SAT? You're in the right place! Conventions of Punctuation is the third and final piece of the Standard English Conventions subtopic in the SAT Writing and Language section. 

Did you have a chance to look at the first piece, sentence structure, or the second piece, conventions of usage, yet? Be sure to get familiar with those grammar rules before moving on here.

Now let's get started, you'll be a grammar wizard in no time! ✨

🦋 SAT Writing and Language: Punctuation 

This sub-topic of the SAT is all about using punctuation properly. We've broken this up into six rules, outlined by College Board, for you to get familiar with.  

🔚 End-of-Sentence Punctuation 

🌰 What the College Board says: Using the correct form of ending punctuation (period, question mark, or exclamation point) when the context makes the writer’s intent clear

⭐ What It Basically Means: Know which punctuation (., ?, !) you should use to end a sentence depending on the writer's intent. 

🤔 What You Need to Remember:

• • If the sentence is a statement, end it with the good ol’ period (.).- - Ex. Archaeologists may have yet to uncover all of the Earth's wonders, but there is always room for inquiry after every expedition.- - Ex. There are exactly 7,641 islands in the Philippine archipelago.
• • If the sentence is interrogative (think who, what, how, why, when, etc.) or rhetorical in nature, end it with the fancy question mark (?).- - Ex. One may wonder, what lies beyond life and death?- - Ex. How does one reconcile the differences between fact and fiction?
• • If the sentence conveys a strong emotion, end it with the demanding exclamation point (!).- - Ex. It's raining cats and dogs!- - Ex. Today is a huge win for mankind!

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🧰 Within-Sentence Punctuation 

🌰 What the College Board says: Correctly using and recognizing and correcting misuses of colons, semicolons, and dashes

⭐ What It Basically Means: Know the difference between a comma, semicolon, colon, and dashes inside sentences.

🤔 What You Need to Remember:

• • Remember independent clauses? We use semicolons (;) to join them together- - Ex.  The Sentinelese are among the last groups of people that remain isolated from the modern world__;__ they vigorously reject all forms of contact with outsiders.- - "The Sentinelese are among the last groups of people that remain isolated from the modern world" is an independent clause.- - "they vigorously reject all forms of contact with outsiders" is ALSO an independent clause!
• • Commas can follow a phrase or dependent clause.- - Ex. Even though everyone was hungry__,__ they chose to eat outside Disneyland to save money.- - "Even though everyone was hungry" is a dependent clause, while "they chose…" is an independent clause.- - Ex. Saddened to see their beloved principal retire__,__ the seniors pulled an elaborate on the entire administrative staff.- - Again, "saddened…” is a dependent clause, while "the seniors…" is an independent clause.
• • Commas can distinguish and divide items in a list/series.- - WRONG: Ex. I love cows; pigs; and sheep.- - CORRECT: Ex. I love cows__,__ pigs__,__ and sheep.
• • Commas can separate "distracting" supplementary thoughts from the main idea of the sentence.- - WRONG: Ex. Aladdin an animated musical fantasy comedy film was first released almost 30 years ago- - This looks too clunky! Is the subject "Aladdin" or "musical fantasy comedy film"? We want better clarity.- - CORRECT: Ex. Aladdin, an animated musical fantasy comedy film__,__ was first released almost 30 years ago.- - Looks better, right? ❗ Sample Question: Percy Jackson and the Olympians____; a Greek mythology young adult series by the illustrious Rick Riordan, was a complete hit.

(A) NO CHANGE

(B) Percy Jackson and the Olympians; a Greek mythology young adult series by the illustrious Rick Riordan; was a complete hit.

(C) Percy Jackson and the Olympians, a Greek mythology young adult series by the illustrious Rick Riordan, was a complete hit.

(D) Percy Jackson and the Olympians a Greek mythology young adult series by the illustrious Rick Riordan was a complete hit.

ANSWER: (C). Remember, we only use semicolons to separate two independent clauses, and "a Greek mythology young adult series by the illustrious Rick Riordan" is NOT an independent clause. Even if you didn't know that tidbit of information, you can eliminate choice (B) since we want to be consistent with our punctuations (can't use a comma and a dash for the same thought!). Choice (D) is a little too clunky. This leaves us with choice (C)!

• • Remember, we only want the commas covering the non-essential, supplementary parts of the main idea.- - WRONG: Ex. Sitting on the bleachers is artist, Bob Ross, as the game goes on.- - CORRECT: Ex. Sitting on the bleachers is artist Bob Ross as the game goes on.- - Who exactly is the artist? "Bob Ross," in this case, is essential to complete the sentence. Hence, we don't need the commas here.
• • One last thing: we use commas to set apart transition words and/or transitional phrases.- - WRONG: Ex. The cat enjoys playing fetch; the dog however hates the outdoors.- - CORRECT: Ex. The cat enjoys playing fetch; the dog, however, hates the outdoors.- - ALTERNATIVE CORRECT: Ex. The cat enjoys playing fetch; however, the dog hates the outdoors.- - We have to separate words like "however," "unlike," and other words and phrases that detract from the main idea.- - Also noticed how we used a semicolon to separate the idea with the cat and the idea with the dog?
• • We use colons (:) after independent clauses to indicate a list/series, another clarifying independent clause, or a saying.- - Ex. Terry posted his bucket list of must-eats on Facebook: M&M smores, pigs-in-a-blanket, and calzones.- - Ex. The valedictorian wrapped up his speech with an iconic ending: "Shoot for the stars and land on the moon."- - Ex. Jamestown is a quaint little town: people enjoy visiting the local railway museum every now and then- - We can also use a semicolon here… not a comma, though!
• • We use dashes (—) the same way we use commas within sentences: to separate phrases and clauses that interrupt the sentence by adding additional, supplementary detail(s).
• • Use one dash if the additional detail is by the conclusion of the sentence.- - Ex. All our goods are manufactured in China—the industrial powerhouse of East Asia.- - Ex. I enjoy traveling because you get to meet an eclectic bunch of people across the world—tourists, locals, and everyone in-between the spectrum.
• • Like commas, use two dashes if the additional detail is in the middle of the sentence.- - Ex. My dream is to visit each of the American states—all 50 of them—and drive from coast to coast.- - Ex. It is quite interesting to find out that my theatre professor—a retired black belt holder—was able to fend off an intruder at night.

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👻 Possessive Nouns and Pronouns 

🌰 What the College Board says: Recognizing and correcting inappropriate uses of possessive nouns and pronouns and deciding between plural and possessive forms

⭐ What It Basically Means: Plural vs. possessive: does the apostrophe come before or after the "s"?

🤔 What You Need to Remember:

• • Plural form: Usually followed by a verb!- - WRONG: Cows' use their spots to attract potential mates.- - CORRECT: Cows use their spots to attract potential mates.
• • Possessive form: Usually followed by a noun object!- - WRONG: My cats toy is worn out and unrecognizable.- - CORRECT: My cat's toy is worn out and unrecognizable.
• • Plural form: If collective, followed by "of ___," and/or not followed by a noun object.- - WRONG: The groups' of tourists have wandered aimlessly around Disneyland.- - CORRECT: The groups of tourists have wandered aimlessly around Disneyland.

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🌈 Items in a Series 

🌰 What the College Board says: Using commas and sometimes semicolons to separate elements in lists

⭐ What It Basically Means: Separate your grocery lists with commas or semicolons!

🤔 What You Need to Remember:

• • If you're listing a set of items, actions, or other things, you CANNOT use a comma and a semicolon in the same sentence. Consistency is key!- - WRONG: Hyrum went bobsledding__;__ found a grizzly bear, and ate smores.- - CORRECT: Hyrum went bobsledding__,__ found a grizzly bear, and ate smores.
• • Here's the exception: [city], [country]. This way, semicolons help distinguish one country from another.- - WRONG: My top three favorite places are Jeju, South Korea, Bali, Indonesia, and Seattle, United States.- - CORRECT: My top three favorite places are Jeju, South Korea; Bali, Indonesia; and Seattle, United States.

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⛔ Nonrestrictive and Parenthetical Elements 

🌰 What the College Board says: Using punctuation to set off nonessential sentence elements and recognizing and correcting cases in which punctuation is wrongly used to set off essential sentence elements

⭐ What It Basically Means: Again, you'd want to stay consistent with the punctuation you use within sentences.

🤔 What You Need to Remember:

• • Don't use a "—" to finish a nonessential phrase that started with "," (or vice versa).- - WRONG: Ex. Game of Thrones, the most brutal and graphic show I have ever watched—turned out to be an interesting watch.- - CORRECT: Ex. Game of Thrones, the most brutal and graphic show I have ever watched, turned out to be an interesting watch.
• • Likewise, you might see sentences that are missing a comma or dash in either end of the phrase (if within the sentence). Don't be shy–add them! Here’s an example from Khan Academy:- - WRONG: Ex. The Boston Symphony a world-renowned orchestra—played Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.- - CORRECT: Ex. The Boston Symphony—a world-renowned orchestra—played Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

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🤦‍♂️ Unnecessary Punctuation 

🌰 What the College Board says: Recognizing and eliminating unneeded punctuation

⭐ What It Basically Means: Getting rid of the unnecessary (when it comes to punctuation). See an extra comma or semicolon? Take it out 👋!

🤔 What You Need to Remember:

• • This is another section that actually works best with your instinct. Imagine reading the sentence aloud. If you feel like the pauses you make due to the commas or periods feel awkward, there's a chance that you're right.- - WRONG: Ex #1. It is necessary to wear your helmets, while riding the safari van.- - CORRECT: Ex #1. It is necessary to wear your helmets while riding the safari van.- - WRONG: Ex #2. Mr. Hemsworth told us to make revisions: with effort, patience, and dedication- - CORRECT: Ex #2. Mr. Hemsworth told us to make revisions with effort, patience, and dedication- - WRONG: Ex #3. California is home to multiple tourist attractions, however, it also is a hub for deadly wildfires.- - CORRECT: Ex #3. California is home to multiple tourist attractions; however, it also is a hub for deadly wildfires.- - WRONG: Ex #4. Mordecai told Twilight Sparkles about the beauty of airplanes in the night sky; expressing it through a heartfelt song.- - CORRECT: Ex #4. Mordecai told Twilight Sparkles about the beauty of airplanes in the night sky, expressing it through a heartfelt song.

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🤓 SAT Punctuation: Conclusion

...aaaaaand that's a wrap! Remember that this content isn't meant to be something to digest in one sitting. Take your time to focus on areas you need to improve on. In no time, you'll be a grammar wizard—ready to take on the real world with the power of punctuations, clauses, and verb tenses. You got this! 🌟

In fact, this is going to be you when you mark up every other page of the Standard English Conventions chunk of the SAT Language + Writing section:

GIF Courtesy of Giphy.