Punctuation is the focus of many questions on the Writing and Language test. But how do you know when to use the punctuation marks that are being tested? This chapter will answer that question as well as highlight some of the SAT’s rules for using punctuation and the strategies you can use to outsmart the test writers.
Kurt Vonnegut once wrote, “Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons…All they do is show you’ve been to college.” Unfortunately, this does not apply to the SAT. For the SAT, you’ll need to know how to use the semicolon and a few other types of weird punctuation. This chapter covers all the punctuation you need to know how to use on the Writing and Language Test. Learn these few simple rules, and you’ll be all set on the punctuation questions.
First and foremost, stick to the strategy! Start by asking,
What’s changing in the answer choices?
If you see punctuation marks—commas, periods, apostrophes, semicolons, colons—changing, then the question is testing punctuation. As you work the problem, make sure to ask the big question:
Does this punctuation need to be here?
The particular punctuation mark you are using, no matter what it is, must have a specific role within the sentence. You wouldn’t use a question mark without a question, would you? Nope! Well, all punctuation works that way on the SAT, and in this chapter we’ll give you examples of specific instances in which you would use a particular type of punctuation. Otherwise, let the words do their thing unobstructed!
Let’s get the weird punctuation out of the way first. Everyone knows that a period ends a sentence, but once things get more complicated, even a particularly nerdy grammarian can get lost. Because of this confusion, we’ve created a chart that summarizes the different situations in which you might use what the SAT calls “end-of-sentence” and “middle-of-sentence” punctuation. We call them STOP, HALF-STOP, and GO.
When you are linking ideas, you must use one of the following:
STOP
Period
Semicolon
Comma + FANBOYS
Question mark
Exclamation Mark
HALF-STOP
Colon
Long dash
GO
Comma
No punctuation
STOP punctuation can link only complete ideas.
HALF-STOP punctuation must be preceded by a complete idea.
GO punctuation can link anything except two complete ideas.
Let’s see how these work. Here is a complete idea:
Samantha studied for the SAT.
Notice that we’ve already used one form of STOP punctuation at the end of this sentence: a period.
Now, if we want to add a second complete idea, we’ll keep the period.
Samantha studied for the SAT. She ended up doing really well on the test.
In this case, the period is linking these two complete ideas. But the nice thing about STOP punctuation is that you can use any of the punctuation in the list to do the same thing, so we could also say this:
Samantha studied for the SAT; she ended up doing really well on the test.
What the list of STOP punctuation shows us is that essentially, a period and a semicolon are the same thing. We could say the same for the use of a comma plus one of the FANBOYS.
Samantha studied for the SAT, and she ended up doing really well on the test.
You can also use HALF-STOP punctuation to separate two complete ideas, so you could say
Samantha studied for the SAT: she ended up doing really well on the test.
or
Samantha studied for the SAT—she ended up doing really well on the test.
There’s a subtle difference, however, between STOP and HALF-STOP punctuation: for STOP punctuation, both ideas have to be complete, but for HALF-STOP punctuation, only the first one does.
Let’s see what this looks like. If you want to link a complete idea and an incomplete idea, you can use HALF-STOP punctuation as long as the complete idea comes first. For example,
Samantha studied for the SAT: all three sections of it.
or
Samantha studied for the SAT: the silliest test in all the land.
When you use HALF-STOP punctuation, there has to be a complete idea before the punctuation. So, these examples are NOT correct:
Samantha studied for: the SAT, the ACT, and every AP test in between.
The SAT—Samantha studied for it and was glad she did.
When you are not linking two complete ideas, you can use GO punctuation. So you could say, for instance,
Samantha studied for the SAT, the ACT, and every AP test in between.
or
Samantha studied for the SAT, all three sections of it.
These are the three types of mid-sentence or end-of-sentence punctuation: STOP, HALF-STOP, and GO. You’ll notice that there is a bit of overlap between the concepts, but the SAT couldn’t possibly make you get into the minutia of choosing between, say, a period and a semicolon. All you need to be able to do is figure out which of the big three categories (STOP, HALF-STOP, and GO) you’ll need.
Let’s see what this looks like in context.
Jonah studied every day for the big
test he was taking the SAT that Saturday.
1. A) NO CHANGE
B) test, he was taking
C) test, he was taking,
D) test; he was taking
Here’s How to Crack It
As always, check what’s changing in the answer choices. In this case, the only thing changing is the punctuation; the words stay the same. Notice the types of punctuation that are changing: STOP and GO.
When you see different types of punctuation in the answer choices, you can use the Vertical Line Test to help you determine which type of punctuation to use.
To use the Vertical Line Test, draw a line where you see the punctuation changing —in this case, between the words test and he. First, read up to the vertical line: Jonah studied every day for the big test. That’s a complete idea. Now, read after the vertical line: he was taking the SAT that Saturday. That’s also a complete idea.
So, there are two complete ideas here. What kind of punctuation do you need? STOP or HALF-STOP. It looks like STOP is the only one available, so choose (D).
Let’s try another.
It was very important for him to do
well. High scores in all the subjects.
2. A) NO CHANGE
B) well; high
C) well: high
D) well, he wanted high
Here’s How to Crack It
Check the answer choices. What’s changing? The punctuation is changing, and some of that punctuation is STOP and HALF-STOP. Use the Vertical Line Test. Draw a vertical line where you see the punctuation changing: between well and high or well and he.
What’s before the vertical line? It was very important for him to do well is a complete idea. Then, high scores in all the subjects is not a complete idea. Therefore, because you have one complete idea (the first) and one incomplete idea (the second), you can’t use STOP punctuation, thus eliminating (A) and (B).
Now, what’s different between the last two? Choice (C) contains HALF-STOP punctuation, which can work, so keep that. Choice (D) adds some words. Adding those words makes the second idea he wanted high scores in all the subjects, which is a complete idea. That means (D) has two complete ideas separated by a comma, but can you use GO punctuation between two complete ideas? Nope. Eliminate (D)! Only (C) is left.
Let’s see one more.
Whenever Jonah had a free
moment—he was studying.
3. A) NO CHANGE
B) moment; he
C) moment, he,
D) moment, he
Here’s How to Crack It
The punctuation is changing in the answer choices, and there’s some STOP and HALF-STOP punctuation, so use the Vertical Line Test. Put the line between moment and he. The first idea, Whenever Jonah had a free moment, is an incomplete idea, and the second idea, he was studying, is a complete idea. Therefore, you can’t use STOP (which needs two complete ideas) or HALF-STOP (which needs a complete idea before the punctuation), thus eliminating (A) and (B). Then, because there is no good reason to put a comma after the word he, the correct answer must be (D).
Commas can be a little tricky. In question 3, we narrowed it down to two answer choices, (C) and (D), after completing the Vertical Line Test. But then how do you decide whether to keep a comma in or not? It seems a little arbitrary to say that you use a comma “every time you want to pause,” so let’s make it a little more concrete.
If you can’t cite a reason to use a comma, don’t use one.
On the SAT, there are only four reasons to use a comma:
in STOP punctuation, with one of the FANBOYS
in GO punctuation, to separate incomplete ideas from other ideas
in a list of three or more things
in a sentence containing unnecessary information
We’ve already seen examples of the first two scenarios, so let’s look at the other two.
Try this one.
His top-choice schools were
Harvard, Yale; and Princeton.
4. A) NO CHANGE
B) Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.
C) Harvard, Yale, and, Princeton.
D) Harvard Yale and Princeton.
Here’s How to Crack It
First, check what’s changing in the answer choices. The punctuation is changing, and there’s STOP punctuation in a couple of the answers. But there’s also a list in this sentence, and when you see that, there’s no need for the Vertical Line Test—lists of three or more items on the SAT are punctuated by commas. That means you can eliminate (A), because the semicolon has no place here.
Next, eliminate (D) because the items in the list should be separated by commas, and (D) doesn’t have any commas. The difference between (B) and (C) is the comma after the word and, which is never necessary in a list—eliminate (C). That means (B) is the correct answer.
Note that it may seem that (B) incorrectly uses STOP punctuation (if you paid attention to FANBOYS, a comma followed by the word and is STOP), but the , and at the end of a list doesn’t count as STOP punctuation.
Let’s try another.
Jonah, everyone seemed fairly certain, was going to get into one of those schools.
5. A) NO CHANGE
B) Jonah everyone seemed fairly certain
C) Jonah, everyone seemed fairly certain
D) Jonah everyone seemed fairly certain,
Here’s How to Crack It
First, check what’s changing in the answer choices: just the commas. And those commas are circling around the words everyone seemed fairly certain. When you’ve got a few commas circling around a particular word or phrase in a sentence, the question is usually testing necessary versus unnecessary information.
A good way to test whether the idea is necessary to the meaning of the sentence is to take it out. Read the original sentence again. Now read this one: Jonah was going to get into one of those schools.
Is the sentence still complete? Yes. Has the meaning of the sentence changed? No, we just lost a little extra description. Therefore, the idea is unnecessary to the meaning of the sentence and should be set off with commas, as it is in (A).
Let’s try a few more. Try to figure out whether the word or idea in italics is necessary to the meaning of the sentence, and whether or not commas need to surround the italics. The answers are on this page.
1. The student with the best GPA will be admitted to the best college.
2. Edward wants to go to Pomona College which is a really good school.
3. The car that was painted red drove off at a hundred miles an hour.
4. Charles Chesnutt who wrote a lot of great stories was also a lawyer.
5. Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason is an underappreciated player.
Now let’s put it all together in the next question.
Everyone
hoped, he would get in, after his brother and two sisters had gone to their first-choice schools.
6. A) NO CHANGE
B) hoped, he would get in, after his brother, and two sisters had
C) hoped, he would get in after his brother, and, two sisters had
D) hoped he would get in after his brother and two sisters had
Here’s How to Crack It
Check what’s changing in the answer choices. Commas are changing in a bunch of places. Remember, the rule of thumb with commas is that if you can’t cite a reason to use a comma, don’t use one.
In (A) and (B), he would get in is set off by commas. Determine whether it’s necessary or unnecessary information. Read the original sentence, and then read the sentence again without that piece of information: Everyone hoped after his brother and two sisters had gone to their first-choice schools. The sentence isn’t complete anymore. Therefore, that bit of information is necessary to the meaning of the sentence, so it doesn’t need commas; eliminate (A) and (B). There are no good reasons to put commas in the phrase after his brother and two sisters, so eliminate (C).
In the end, there’s no reason to put commas anywhere in this sentence. The correct answer is (D). Sometimes the SAT will test “unnecessary punctuation” explicitly, so make sure you can cite one of the four comma rules when you choose an answer with commas!
Like commas, apostrophes have a very limited set of applications. Apostrophes are a little trickier, though, because you can’t hear them in speech, so people misuse them all the time. Think about the header of this section. There’s one missing apostrophe and one apostrophe misused. Here’s the correct way of punctuating it: You’re going to be tested on apostrophes. Can you hear the difference? Neither can we, but you can definitely see the difference.
As with commas, if you can’t cite a reason to use an apostrophe, don’t use one. There are only two reasons to use an apostrophe on the SAT:
possessive nouns (NOT pronouns)
contractions
Let’s see some examples.
Some of those very selective
schools’ require really high score’s.
7. A) NO CHANGE
B) school’s require really high scores’.
C) schools require really high score’s.
D) schools require really high scores.
Here’s How to Crack It
Check what’s changing in the answer choices. In this case, the words are all the same, but the apostrophes are changing. Remember, don’t use apostrophes at all if you can’t cite a good reason to do so.
Does anything belong to schools or score? No! Are they forming contractions like school is or score is? No! Therefore, there’s no reason to use apostrophes, and the only possible answer is (D), which dispenses with the apostrophes altogether.
As in the previous question, there’s no need for any punctuation, and in a question like this, you’re being tested on whether you can spot unnecessary punctuation.
Sometimes apostrophes are necessary. Look at the following example.
It’s tough to get in to you’re top-choice schools.
8. A) NO CHANGE
B) Its tough to get in to your
C) Its tough to get in to you’re
D) It’s tough to get into your
Here’s How to Crack It
Check what’s changing in the answer choices. The apostrophes change, in two places: the words its/it’s and your/you’re.
The first word, its/it’s, needs an apostrophe. It creates the contraction it is, which is necessary in this sentence. Therefore, get rid of (B) and (C). As for the other, this word is possessive (as in, the top-choice schools belonging to you), but remember, possessive nouns need an apostrophe, but possessive pronouns don’t. Therefore, because you is a pronoun, this word should be spelled your, as it is in (D).
Phew! These apostrophes can get a little tricky, so let’s try a few more. On these questions, you’ll find that using your ear and sounding things out doesn’t help much—knowing the rules is the way to go here.
Circle the option that works. The big question is, apostrophes or no apostrophes? You can find the answers on this page.
1. Tinas/Tina’s boss said shes/she’s allowed to take the next few days/day’s off.
2. If your/you’re not coming to my party, its/it’s really fine with me.
3. There/They’re are really no good reasons/reason’s for your/you’re bad attitude.
4. Well/We’ll get back to you as soon as your/you’re application is received.
5. Its/It’s his/his’ guacamole, and he said we cant/can’t have any because its/it’s not ours/our’s.
We’ve now covered all of the punctuation you will ever need to know on the SAT. It’s not that much, and you probably knew a lot of it already. In general, checking what’s changing in the answer choices can help reveal mistakes that you may not have noticed otherwise, and POE can help you narrow down your options.
Punctuation rules are easy to learn, as is the biggest rule of all about punctuation.
Know why you are using punctuation, whether that punctuation is STOP, HALF-STOP, GO, commas, or apostrophes. If you can’t cite reasons to use these punctuation marks, don’t use them!
Try out these skills in the drill on this page.
Answers to Questions on this page:
1. NECESSARY to the meaning of the sentence (no commas). If you remove the italicized part, the sentence is not adequately specific.
2. UNNECESSARY to the meaning of the sentence (commas). If you remove the italicized part, the sentence is still complete and the main meaning does not change.
3. NECESSARY to the meaning of the sentence (no commas). If you remove the italicized part, the sentence is not adequately specific.
4. UNNECESSARY to the meaning of the sentence (commas). If you remove the italicized part, the sentence is still complete and the main meaning does not change.
5. NECESSARY to the meaning of the sentence (no commas). If you remove the italicized part, the sentence is no longer complete.
Answers to Questions on this page:
1. Tina’s, she’s, days
2. you’re, it’s
3. There, reasons, your
4. We’ll, your
5. It’s, his, can’t, it’s, ours
Use what you’ve learned in this chapter in the drill questions that follow. Answers can be found on this page.
Time: 7–8 minutes
More and more of our lives are mechanized, and at some point, we have to start wondering, what’s the limit of that mechanization? Many factory workers in the 19th century thought their jobs
Studies abound that ask whether man or machine is better at particular tasks, and the results are not always so obvious. Sure, a machine is obviously
2. A) NO CHANGE
B) in todays world believe their jobs
C) in todays world believe they’re jobs
D) in today’s world believe their jobs
These questions may seem overly pessimistic (or overly optimistic depending on
4. A) NO CHANGE
B) your point of view), however,
C) you’re point of view), however,
D) you’re point of view); however,
5. A) NO CHANGE
B) depression, PTSD, and other
C) depression, PTSD, and, other
D) depression, PTSD, and other,
7. A) NO CHANGE
B) never broke, on top of that,
C) never broke. On top of that,
D) never broke; on top, of that,
Whether Ellie is the way of the future is yet to be determined. We can’t know right now, but there is no question that she raises some interesting questions, not only about
On the other side of the discussion, however, there’s some evidence that humans may have the upper hand. In some of the more basic
tasks those learned before the age of about 10 humans have a huge upper hand. Computers can do the complex thinking, but one thing with which they have a lot of trouble is, paradoxically, simplicity. Sure, a computer can tell
your washer’s and dryer’s what a perfect washing and drying cycle is, but can it fold your laundry? Your GPS can tell you the fastest route to the next state, but can it tell you the prettiest way to go or the best restaurants along the way? Not without humans!
While the battle of man against machine rages
on. The questions will persist. No matter who wins, though, humans will almost assuredly find ways to adapt: that’s something we’ve been doing for thousands of years, which is something that no computer can say.
9. A) NO CHANGE
B) tasks those learned before the age of about 10,
C) tasks, those learned before the age of about 10
D) tasks, those learned before the age of about 10,
1. B
Punctuation changes in the answer choices. The idea Many factory workers in the 19th century thought their jobs were safe is a complete idea. The idea that follows, we know now that they were wrong, is also a complete idea. Two complete ideas must be separated by STOP or HALF-STOP punctuation. Choices (A) and (C) use GO punctuation between the ideas; eliminate (A) and (C). Choice (D) uses STOP punctuation, but it also uses the FANBOYS word but with a comma after it. There’s no reason to put a comma after but, so eliminate (D). Choice (B) uses the combination of a comma and the FANBOYS word but, which together function as STOP punctuation; it is the correct answer.
2. D
The first change in the answer choices is the apostrophe in the word today’s, so the question is testing possession. To determine whether the word is possessive and requires an apostrophe, consider the word that follows, world. Because the passage discusses the world of today, today’s is possessive, and the form with the apostrophe is correct. Eliminate (B) and (C). The next decision to be made is between there and their. Because the word refers to the jobs belonging to the people, the possessive pronoun their is consistent with the meaning of the sentence. Therefore, (D) is the correct answer.
3. C
Notice that the placement of commas is changing in the answer choices. This indicates that the question is testing comma rules. In the sentence, the word say has a meaning similar to “for example.” This makes the word say unnecessary information. To make the commas consistent with this meaning, commas before and after the word are necessary. Choice (C) is correct.
4. A
The first change in the answer choices is between your and you’re. Your is a possessive pronoun, while you’re is a contraction for the you are. The sentence requires the possessive form of the word, not the contraction. Eliminate (C) and (D). The next change is the punctuation after the close of the parentheses. Since parentheses indicate unnecessary information, you should check the punctuation by reading the sentence without the parenthetical information. The phrases These questions may seem overly pessimistic and however, some recent studies have been truly remarkable are both complete ideas. STOP punctuation is necessary, so eliminate (B). Choice (A) is the correct answer.
5. B
Notice that the placement of commas is changing in the answer choices. Therefore, this question is testing comma rules. The underlined portion is part of a list. The rule for comma use in a list is to have a comma after every item in the list. The items in the list here are depression, PTSD, and other mood disorders. Therefore, a comma is needed after depression and after PTSD, but not after other or and. The correct answer is (B).
6. A
The first change in the answer choices is the punctuation after person. The idea preceding the punctuation is a complete idea, and the idea that follows is also a complete idea. The answer must have either STOP or HALF-STOP punctuation. Choice (D) has no punctuation; eliminate (D). A comma without one of the FANBOYS is not STOP punctuation; eliminate (B). Choice (C) uses STOP punctuation followed by but, which isn’t necessary because there is no contrast in the sentence. Eliminate (C). Choice (A) is the correct answer.
7. C
Notice the punctuation changing in the answer choices. The idea ending with broke is a complete idea. The idea that follows, beginning with on top of that, is also a complete idea. Look for answer choices with STOP or HALF-STOP punctuation. Choice (A) has no punctuation; eliminate (A). Choice (B) has a comma, but a comma without one of the FANBOYS is GO punctuation, which can’t connect two complete ideas; eliminate (B). Choice (C) has a period, and (D) has a semicolon, which are both acceptable forms of punctuation for connecting two complete ideas. However, (D) includes an unnecessary comma after top, so eliminate (D). The correct answer is (C).
8. C
Apostrophes change in the answer choices, so this question tests the two ways to use an apostrophe. A noun with an apostrophe indicates possession. The methods belong to the psychologists, so there should be an apostrophe on the word psychologists; eliminate (B) and (D). Nothing belongs to methods in this sentence, so no apostrophe is needed on the word methods. Eliminate (A). The correct answer is (C).
9. D
Notice the placement of commas changing in the answer choices; this question is testing comma rules. The commas in the answer choices are placed after the word tasks and/or after the number 10. The phrase those learned before the age of about 10 is unnecessary information. The answer choice consistent with unnecessary information must have commas before and after the phrase. Therefore, (D) is the correct answer.
10. B
The first change in the answer choices is between your and you’re, so the question is testing possession. Your is a possessive pronoun, while you’re is a contraction for you are. The possessive form is consistent with the meaning of the sentence. Eliminate (C) and (D). Choice (A) includes apostrophes on the words washers and dryers, which implies possession. This is not consistent with the meaning of the sentence. Eliminate (A). Choice (B) is correct.
11. D
Notice the punctuation changing in the answer choices. The idea before the punctuation, While the battle of man against machine rages on, is not a complete idea. Therefore, eliminate any answer choices using punctuation consistent with complete ideas. Eliminate (A) and (B) because a period and a semicolon are both STOP punctuation, which can only come between two complete ideas. A dash is HALF-STOP punctuation, which must follow a complete idea, so eliminate (C). Choice (D) is the correct answer.
Remember STOP, HALF-STOP, and GO punctuation.
STOP punctuation can link only complete ideas.
HALF-STOP punctuation must be preceded by a complete idea.
GO punctuation can link anything except two complete ideas.
When you see STOP or HALF-STOP punctuation changing in the answer choices, use the Vertical Line Test.
On the SAT, there are only four reasons to use a comma:
STOP punctuation (with one of the FANBOYS)
GO punctuation
after every item in a list of three or more items
to set off unnecessary information
On the SAT, there are only two reasons to use an apostrophe:
possessive nouns (NOT pronouns)
contractions
Know why you are using punctuation, whether that punctuation is STOP, HALF-STOP, GO, commas, or apostrophes. If you can’t cite reasons to use these punctuation marks, don’t use them!