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

🦋 SAT Writing and Language: Punctuation

🔚 End-of-Sentence Punctuation

• 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!

🧰 Within-Sentence Punctuation

• 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?

• 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.

👻 Possessive Nouns and Pronouns

• 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.

🌈 Items in a Series

• 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.

⛔ Nonrestrictive and Parenthetical Elements

• 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.

🤦‍♂️ Unnecessary Punctuation

• 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.

🤓 SAT Punctuation: Conclusion

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