The Semicolon ( ; )

On the SAT, the Semicolon ( ; ) is used to connect two related independent

clauses. The semicolon indicates a pause that is longer than that suggested by
a comma ( , ), but shorter than the full stop of a period ( . ).

What is an independent clause?

An independent clause is a string of words that could stand alone as a
sentence. It must have a subject and a verb.

Examples:

 Teddy loves stuffed bears.

 Alex cooks his brownies with lard.

 His collection includes 54 specimens.

 They taste great!

Using semicolons to separate independent clauses

In the above examples, a semicolon may be placed between the two related
independent clauses.

 Teddy loves stuffed bears; his collection includes 54 specimens.

 Alex cooks his brownies with lard; they taste great!

The “Before and After Test” for Semicolons

On the SAT, a semicolon is only correct if it is separating two independent
clauses. So, if both the first and the second parts of the sentence could stand
alone as their own sentences, then the semicolon is correct!

1) Check the part before the semicolon – could it be a solo sentence?

2) Check the part after the semicolon – could it be a solo sentence?

3) If the answers to 1 and 2 are YES, then the semicolon is good to go.

Beware the COMMA SPLICE

WARNING: When you try to connect two independent clauses using just a
comma, you create an error known as a comma splice.

WRONG: Teddy loves stuffed bears, his collection includes 54 specimens.

WRONG: Alex cooks his brownies with lard, they taste great!

WRONG: Depp is a versatile actor, Clooney is more hunky.

How to fix a COMMA SPLICE ERROR

Option 1: Change the comma into a period ( . ) or a semicolon ( ; )

Option 2: Add a conjunction When a conjunction is present –

such as, and, or, because, while or but – one of the two clauses is converted
to a “dependent” or “subordinate” clause. (Don’t worry, you don’t need to
know these terms on the SAT, but you do need to know your options for
correcting a comma splice).

RIGHT: Teddy loves stuffed bears, and his collection includes 54 specimens.

RIGHT: Because Alex cooks his brownies with lard, they taste great!
 RIGHT: Depp is a versatile actor, but Clooney is more hunky.

The Colon ( : )
A Colon ( : ) is sometimes used after a statement that introduces a list, a
quotation, an explanation or an example.

Examples:

 Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address began with the following preamble: “Four

score and seven years ago…”

 The English language abounds with irregular verbs: drink drank drunk,
break broke broken, swim swam swum, shrink shrank shrunken, fall fell
fallen, blow blew blown.

 The conscious brain controls only some of the body’s functions: while we can
exert some control over our breathing rate, we have less control over our
heart rate, and, except via lifestyle choices like diet and exercise, we cannot
consciously influence the processes of our digestive or immune systems at all.

TOP TIP: What comes before the colon must be an independent clause: it
must be able to read as a complete sentence all on its own.

WRONG: Snape advised them to: stay up all night, practice spells, and eat
bonbons. (“Snape advised them to” is not a full sentence)

RIGHT: Snape advised them to stay up all night, practice spells, and eat
bonbons.

RIGHT: Snape gave them the best advice he could muster: stay up all night,
practice spells, and eat bonbons.
 The Dash ( – )
One dash ( – ) = Colon ( : )

Just like the rule for colons, what comes before the single dash ( – ) must be
an independent clause: it must be able to read as a complete sentence all on
its own. (See what we did there? We could have used a long dash instead of
that colon)

NOTE: The dash ( – ) is not to be confused with the hyphen ( - ), which has
its own rules that are not tested on the SAT.

Examples:

 You were right – he did eat the whole thing.

 Learning to ride a unicycle is easy – if you don’t mind a few bumps and
bruises.

Two dashes ( – – ) = open/close parentheses ( )

In order for two dashes to be correct, the sentence that surrounds the clause
that is being set off – be it a descriptive flourish or a prepositional aside –
must be grammatically complete. This rule holds true for evaluating the
correctness of parenthetical statements as well as “Comma Clumps.” We can
set off non-essential clauses with two commas, whether you like it or not, but
we cannot do so with just one.

TOP TIP: Think of the two dashes, two commas or two parentheses as
chopping tools that can slice out the non-essential clause. Remove the clause
in question and read the sentence again – if the sentence reads through
without the clause, then the double punctuation was ok!

Examples:
 Sitting at dinner that night, Finn– usually a talkative chap – refused to
answer a single question about his day.

 Thriller represented, by most standards of the day, a gigantic leap forward

in cinematic storytelling via music video.

 Learning to ride a unicycle– a time-consuming endeavor –is easy if you

don’t mind a few bumps and bruises.

 Mr. Ed was, however, quite insulted by the implication that he was nothing
more than a dumb animal.

TOP TIP: Look out for choices that offer you a comma before or a comma
after a non-essential clause, but not both. You need both!

WRONG: He learned, consequently that humans were not to be trusted.

WRONG: He learned consequently, that humans were not to be trusted.

RIGHT: He learned, consequently, that humans were not to be trusted.

TOP TIP: If the SAT gives you a choice between commas on both sides of a
clause and commas on neither side of a clause, the chances are very good that
the NO COMMA choice is correct.

TOP COMMA TIP: Exaggerate the pause – If you’re wondering if a

comma is correct, read the sentence through and emphasize the pause the
comma creates – if it sounds really weird to your ear, it’s probably wrong.

Rules
Consider commas. Commas are probably the most used punctuation after periods.
However, if you asked around, you would find that most people are hazy on the rules of
commas. Commas come with a myriad of uses and standards – below is a short list of
the possible uses and standards associated with commas:
1. Use commas between independent clauses when used with coordinating conjunctions.

2. Use commas after introductory phrases or words.

3. Use two commas in the middle of a sentence to indicate that there is extra information
inside.

4. Commas shouldn’t surround essential information.

5. Use commas between words in a list or series.

6. Use commas between two or more adjectives assigned to a noun

7. Use commas to separate a phrase at the end of the sentence that references other
information in the sentence.

8. Use commas between places, dates, addresses, and titles.

9. Use a comma in a dialogue between the prose and the speech.

10. Use commas to prevent confusion.

That is ten rules. Ten. That is crazy. There are so many grammar rules that exist, most
likely you don’t know them all, but you need to know them for the SAT Writing and
Language. That means you will need to memorize the rules for each part of usage and
mechanics. Before we get into ways you can remember the rules, let’s review the
concepts covered for usage and mechanics on the SAT Writing and Language.
The parts of usage and mechanics break down like this:

 Punctuation:

o Commas

o Periods

o Colons

o Semicolons

o Dashes

o Apostrophes
 Agreement:

o Pronoun Number Agreement

o Subject/Verb Agreement

 Idioms and Homophone Usage:

o (Examples: affect/effect, either… or, to/two/too)

 Parallel Construction

 Comparison/Description

 Precision

 Sentence Fragments and Run-on Sentences

 Pronouns:

o Pronoun Choice

o Pronoun Case

 Verb Form:

o Tense

o Conjugation

 Modifiers

It seems like a lot, but don’t let it overwhelm you. You already know some of the rules
and concepts, and you have time to learn the others. Even if you only have two weeks
before your test, you can drill and practice to memorize in many ways that will help you
max out your scores.

The first step, before you begin memorizing, is to ascertain your weakness in usage and
mechanics. You can find a test to identify your weaknesses here.
Once you know your weaknesses there are a few ways you can study for the usage and
mechanics questions:
1. Write Down the Grammar Rules on Flashcards: You can find the grammar
rules here. On one side of a flashcard you will write down the particular usage or
mechanic (like a comma) and a sentence that shows the rule used. On the other side of
the flashcard, you write the rule. You will need to go through the flashcards by looking at
the examples and reciting the rule to yourself.
2. Work on Correction Worksheets: Download some copies of correction
worksheets here or drill on Khan academy. Memorizing the rules is useful, but learning
through correcting errors will also provide the opportunity to grow. Correcting improper
usage and mechanics may be difficult, but it will give you practice that mirrors the test.
3. Identify the Grammar Rules You See in Life: One simple solution to learning the rules
of grammar is to look for them in the texts you are already reading. This type of practice
is the most accessible. Despite the ease of access, it can be difficult to train yourself to
notice grammar in the things you read every day. It will require careful observation and
consistent reminders to yourself.
Those three strategies should help you keep on top of the grammar section of the SAT
Writing and Language test.

For more on “how to get a perfect score on SAT Writing and Language” check out our
next strategy that focuses on writing strategies.

Strategy 2: Begin to Notice Writing Strategies

Writing Strategies are the second set of skills tested on the SAT Writing and Language
section. The key to maxing out your score on the strategy section is to notice it in your
everyday life. First, you need to understand the exam:

Writing Strategies tests a broad range of reading and writing skills. The section is
officials testing the “expression of ideas” which covers the style, organization, and the
effective use of language within texts.

When broken down into discreet skills, the Strategy section on the exam covers six
broad categories:

 Tone: The attitude of the author on the subject of the piece.

 Cohesion: The coherence of paragraphs, sentences, and phrases

 Purpose: Understand why a text exists

 Formality: Determine the style of the text

 Congruence: Determine if a sentence fits

 Support: Examining evidence for inferences and claims.

Introduction to 10 Essential Grammar Rules for

SAT Writing
Recently, CollegeBoard drastically altered the format of their SAT Writing and Language
Test. Although its striking resemblance to the ACT English Test allows students to prep
for both tests simultaneously, the SAT Writing Section is still an intimidating challenge
for students. To help you take down the beast, we’ve compiled the top ten essential
grammar rules to follow when reviewing for the SAT Writing and Language Test. If you
review, memorize, and practice the following rules, you’re one step closer to achieving
your target score.

1. The Subject and Verb Must Agree in Number

One of the most commonly tested grammar rules in the SAT Writing Section is subject-
verb agreement. Simply put, if the subject is singular (one), there should be a singular
verb, and if the subject is plural (more than one), there should be a plural verb. Below is
a basic example you have probably learned in school:

Singular: Jack runs down the street. (Jack is a singular subject, and runs is a singular
verb)
Plural: Jack and Jill run down the street. (Jack and Jill is a plural subject, and run is a
plural verb)
If each test question was as simple as this, every student would be on their way to the
Ivy League, but SAT test-makers often like to complicate this question type. This leads
us to our second rule.

2. Collective Nouns are Singular

To complicate basic subject-verb agreement, the SAT Writing and Language Test often
uses things like collective nouns to trick test-takers. For SAT review, remember that
group words used to refer to multiple individuals are singular subjects. For example,
Incorrect: The jury are convinced that John is guilty.
Although the subject jury refers to more than one person, as a collective noun, we take
jury as a singular subject.

Correct: The jury is convinced that John is guilty.

Some examples of other collective nouns to look out for are: team, group, committee,
crowd, class, and panel. Note that multiple groups (panels, juries, groups, etc.) are used
with plural verbs.

3. Prepositional Phrases DO NOT Make a Subject

Singular or Plural
One of the most important grammar rules to remember when doing prep for the SAT
Writing and Language Test is prepositions are not used when identifying whether or not
a subject is plural or singular. Instead, the head noun, or the noun being modified, tells
us which verb form to use. Examples of how the SAT uses prepositions are,

Incorrect: The group of members are extremely passionate.

Correct: The group of members is extremely passionate.
Incorrect: The book with five chapters are well written.
Correct: The book with five chapters is well written.
As you can see, if you cross out the prepositional phrase altogether, you can easily
identify the subject. In the stress and rush of taking the SATs, prepositional phrases can
distract test takers from simple grammatical errors. By crossing out the prepositional
phrase, we quickly simplify the sentence and make the errors more apparent.

4. Pronouns Must be Clear in Reference and

Number
On the SAT Writing and Language Test, you should always be able to circle a pronoun
and draw an arrow to the exact person, place, or thing being referenced. In your SAT
review, practice connecting pronouns to their nouns. For example,

Even though John was tired, he still went running.

Here, we can see that the he being referenced is John. To test your ability to identify
proper pronoun usage, the SAT Writing and Language test often employs ambiguous
pronoun (pronouns in the presence of more than one possible noun):
Incorrect: John, Jim, and Carl were running when he got tired and stopped.
Because there is more than one possible he, we cannot logically deduce who got tired
and stopped. Instead, a correct answer would be one that specifies a specific individual.

Correct: John,Jim, and Carl were running when Jim got tired and stopped.
Along with using ambiguous pronouns to test your knowledge, the SAT employs
sentences in which the pronoun does not agree with the number of nouns being
referenced.

Incorrect: The mile timesof the students in Jim’s class were higher than that of Carl’s
class.
As we learned above, prepositional phrases do not make a subject singular or plural.
Here, we cross out the prepositional phrase to clearly see that the pronoun that is used
in reference to the noun mile times. Since mile times are a plural subject, the pronoun
must also be plural. To correct the error, the sentence should read:
Correct: The mile timesof the students in Jim’s class were higher than those of Carl’s
class.
When you review for the SAT Language and Writing Test, remember that I, me,
you, she, her, it, and him are singular and we, us, you, they, and them are plural. To
make it easier on yourself, whenever you see a pronoun in a question, circle it in the
text and draw an arrow to the noun it’s referring to.
5. Modifiers have to Appear Next to Whatever
they’re Modifying
One common error type on the SAT Writing Section is the use of dangling and
misplaced modifiers. Exactly what they sound like, modifiers are words or phrases that
modify another word to give the reader more information. In your SAT Review,
remember that whenever you see a modifier, especially at the beginning of a sentence,
remember that the word directly following the comma must be the word being modified.
Errors would typically be as follows,

Incorrect: A very precocious young boy, engineering came easily to Billy.

Because the word being modified must appear directly after the modifier, the modifying
phrase (A very precocious young boy) is incorrectly referring to computer engineering.
To fix the error, the sentence should read,

Correct: A very precocious young boy, Billy found engineering easy.

Along with these modifiers at the beginning of a sentence, the SAT Writing and
Language Test regularly uses modifiers in incorrect or ambiguous positions. For
example,

Incorrect: The basketball player announced his plans to train harder during the meeting.
In this incorrect usage, the modifying phrase (during the meeting) is placed in a position
that causes ambiguity. Is the basketball player going to train harder during that specific
meeting? Is he going to train harder during the season? To correct the error, we need to
move the modifier to clarify what is happening.

Correct: During the meeting, the basketball player announced his plans to train harder.
Here, we can clearly see that the basketball player is the word being modified, and he
intends to train harder in general, rather than at the meeting. Because idiomatically we
usually accept both sentences as the same thing, it is especially important to pay close
attention to the use of modifiers during the SAT Writing and Language Test and during
your SAT Writing prep. You should always be able to circle a modifier and draw an
arrow to the exact word being modified. If you can’t, you need to choose the answer
choice that makes it absolutely clear.

6. Each Word Should Make Sense in Context

Much to the joy of test-takers everywhere, the dreaded vocabulary section present on
old SAT tests is gone for good. While this means you don’t need to memorize five
hundred obscure words a day, you still need to have a good understanding of medium-
difficulty words. Like the ACT English Test, the SAT Writing and Language Test
employs word choice questions that will challenge your knowledge of things like
homophones (words that sound similar, but have different meanings) and words that
have multiple definitions. Be sure to take some time in your SAT Writing prep to study
essential words and commonly used homophones.
For homophone questions, the sentence will usually read something like:

There are a number of dogs without there collars.

A) NO CHANGE
B) There, their (Correct Answer)
C) Their, there
D) They’re, their
For word choice questions, the sentence will usually look like:

Although fitness advocates preserve that the supplement is beneficial, the FDA has yet
to release positive results.
A) NO CHANGE
B) sustain
C) maintain (Correct Answer)
D) endure
Remember, during the real SAT and ACT, these sentences will appear in a longer
passage. Although sentences like these supply you with the context you need to answer
the question, you need to read the overall tone and message of the passage to
understand which definition works best. Because SAT test makers assume you will be
in a rush, they create answer choices that are correct definitions of the word but are not
appropriate for the sentence. Always choose your answers in the greater context of the
sentence and passage.

7. Commas Separate Main and Subordinate

Clauses
A sentence consists of a subject and a predicate. Put more simply, a noun and a verb
phrase. The SAT Writing and Language test wants to challenge your knowledge of what
constitutes a sentence with something called a comma splice. This occurs when two
grammatically complete sentences are combined with just a comma. For example,

Incorrect: Pandas are my favorite animal, they are so cute.

Each of these statements contains a noun (Panda/They) and a verb statement (are
my…/are so), and are therefore complete on their own. To correct the error, each main
clause must be separated by a period, semicolon, or coordinating conjunction.

Correct: Pandas are my favorite animal. They are so cute.

Correct: Pandas are my favorite animal; they are so cute.
Correct: Pandas are my favorite animal, because they are so cute.
With this knowledge, we can better understand our next essential grammatical rule.

8. Follow Sentence Rules to Avoid Run-Ons and

Fragments
Although many people associate run-ons with wordiness and fragments with shortness,
both are simply clauses that don’t follow the grammatical rules for complete sentences.
For a sentence to be complete, it must have at least one main clause (subject and a
predicate), and all main clauses must be connected with the proper punctuation. As
seen in the previous rule, this means that main clauses must be connected by
semicolons, or coordinating conjunctions and commas. Similarly, a sentence is a
fragment if there is no main clause.

Run-On: My wife comes from the city and I come from the Suburbs.
Fragment: My wife coming from the city and I from the suburbs.
Correct: My wife comes from the city, and I come from the suburbs.
9. Verbs and Sentence Structure must Remain
Parallel
To ensure a sentence is grammatically correct, all verb tenses and grammatical
structures must remain parallel. Put simply, this means that words must be repeated to
maintain a pattern. As this is a very common error type, be sure to practice it for your
SAT Writing Prep. In terms of word choice, an example that may occur on the SAT is:

Incorrect: John wanted to buy a new car, partly because of his need to have a reliable
vehicle, but mostly because of his greatly desiring to look cool.
Correct: John wanted to buy a new car, partly because of his need to have a reliable
vehicle, but mostly because of his desire to look cool.
 As you can see in the first example, the sentence is linked with the conjunction butand
the phrase because of is repeated. To maintain the parallel structure, the noun
phrase his greatly wanting has to match the noun phrase structure of his need. Along
with word structure, verb tense must remain consistent throughout the sentence.
Incorrect: John loved running with his friends, swimming in the ocean,
and walkthrough the valley.
Correct: John loved running with his friends, swimming in the ocean,
and walkingthrough the valley.
10. Correlative Coordination Means Two Parts
One of the most common, but easiest error-types to identify is the use of a coordinator
without its matching word. Because the first coordinator requires its pair word to be
complete, you should circle the word anytime you see it and quickly identify if its partner
word is present in the sentence.

 ..or – Either John or Jim is the club leader.

 ..and – Both John and Jim are funny.
 not so much…as – He’s not so much funny as he is annoying.
 just as…so
 ..nor
 not only…but(also)
 at once…and
While this list is far from everything, if you follow these Top 10 Essential SAT Grammar
Rules during your test review, you are well on your way to achieving your target score
for the SAT Writing and Language Test, and near-identical ACT English Test. If you
have any essential rules to add to this list, please feel free to put them in the comment
section below.