Punctuation Conventions - ACT English
Card 1 of 69
Add commas where needed: "My sister who lives in Boston is visiting next week."
Add commas where needed: "My sister who lives in Boston is visiting next week."
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If she's your only sister: "My sister, who lives in Boston, is visiting next week." (nonessential)
If she's your only sister: "My sister, who lives in Boston, is visiting next week." (nonessential)
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Add the necessary punctuation. "After the game ended we went home."
Add the necessary punctuation. "After the game ended we went home."
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After the game ended, we went home.
After the game ended, we went home.
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Choose correct word: "The cat licked (its/it's) paw."
Choose correct word: "The cat licked (its/it's) paw."
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its (possessive, no apostrophe)
its (possessive, no apostrophe)
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Fix the punctuation: "The ingredients include: flour, sugar, and eggs."
Fix the punctuation: "The ingredients include: flour, sugar, and eggs."
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The ingredients include flour, sugar, and eggs. (No colon directly after a verb.)
The ingredients include flour, sugar, and eggs. (No colon directly after a verb.)
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How would you add dashes to this sentence for emphasis? "The experiment the most surprising of the year failed."
How would you add dashes to this sentence for emphasis? "The experiment the most surprising of the year failed."
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The experiment—the most surprising of the year—failed.
The experiment—the most surprising of the year—failed.
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Add the necessary punctuation: "Dr. Lee who teaches biology is retiring."
Add the necessary punctuation: "Dr. Lee who teaches biology is retiring."
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Dr. Lee, who teaches biology, is retiring.
Dr. Lee, who teaches biology, is retiring.
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What is the difference between "its" and "it's"?
What is the difference between "its" and "it's"?
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Its = possessive (no apostrophe); "It's" = contraction of "it is"
Its = possessive (no apostrophe); "It's" = contraction of "it is"
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Add the necessary punctuation: "We need three items pencils paper and erasers."
Add the necessary punctuation: "We need three items pencils paper and erasers."
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We need three items: pencils, paper, and erasers.
We need three items: pencils, paper, and erasers.
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When do you use a comma after an introductory phrase?
When do you use a comma after an introductory phrase?
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After introductory words, phrases, or clauses at the beginning of a sentence
After introductory words, phrases, or clauses at the beginning of a sentence
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Add the necessary punctuation: "I bought apples oranges and bananas."
Add the necessary punctuation: "I bought apples oranges and bananas."
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I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
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Add the necessary punctuation: "Yes I will attend the meeting."
Add the necessary punctuation: "Yes I will attend the meeting."
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Yes, I will attend the meeting.
Yes, I will attend the meeting.
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Add the necessary punctuation: "We visited Portland Maine Austin Texas and Boise Idaho."
Add the necessary punctuation: "We visited Portland Maine Austin Texas and Boise Idaho."
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We visited Portland, Maine; Austin, Texas; and Boise, Idaho.
We visited Portland, Maine; Austin, Texas; and Boise, Idaho.
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When do you use an apostrophe in a word?
When do you use an apostrophe in a word?
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To show possession or to form a contraction
To show possession or to form a contraction
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What punctuation joins two independent clauses without a conjunction?
What punctuation joins two independent clauses without a conjunction?
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A semicolon (;)
A semicolon (;)
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Add the necessary punctuation: "The test was hard I studied well."
Add the necessary punctuation: "The test was hard I studied well."
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The test was hard; I studied well. (or period, or add comma + conjunction)
The test was hard; I studied well. (or period, or add comma + conjunction)
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Add the necessary punctuation: "The dogs bowl" (multiple dogs, one bowl)
Add the necessary punctuation: "The dogs bowl" (multiple dogs, one bowl)
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The dogs' bowl (apostrophe after s for plural possessive)
The dogs' bowl (apostrophe after s for plural possessive)
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When do you use a colon?
When do you use a colon?
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To introduce a list, explanation, or example after an independent clause
To introduce a list, explanation, or example after an independent clause
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Identify the punctuation error: "My goal is: to improve my grades."
Identify the punctuation error: "My goal is: to improve my grades."
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Don't use a colon after a verb; should be "My goal is to improve my grades."
Don't use a colon after a verb; should be "My goal is to improve my grades."
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Identify and correct the error: "We left early, the roads were closing."
Identify and correct the error: "We left early, the roads were closing."
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Comma splice → "We left early because the roads were closing." (or use semicolon / add FANBOYS)
Comma splice → "We left early because the roads were closing." (or use semicolon / add FANBOYS)
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Add dashes for emphasis: "The final score it was unbelievable was 95-94."
Add dashes for emphasis: "The final score it was unbelievable was 95-94."
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The final score—it was unbelievable—was 95-94.
The final score—it was unbelievable—was 95-94.
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