Mastering the ACT English Section: A Comprehensive Guide to Grammar, Rhetoric, and Style

Knowledge of Language

Understanding how words and sentences function in English.

Conventions of Standard English

Grammatical rules that govern English usage.

Editing and Revising

The process of improving a text for clarity and correctness.

Independent Clause

A group of words that contains a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a sentence.

Dependent Clause

A group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Fragment

An incomplete sentence that lacks a main clause.

Comma Splice

An error where two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma.

Run-on Sentence

A sentence that contains two or more independent clauses incorrectly joined without proper punctuation.

FANBOYS

A mnemonic for the coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

Non-Essential Element

Information in a sentence that can be removed without altering the sentence's essential meaning.

Colon

A punctuation mark used to introduce a list, explanation, or clarification after an independent clause.

Em-dash

A punctuation mark used to indicate a break in thought or to set off a non-essential phrase.

Subject-Verb Agreement

The grammatical rule that a subject and verb must agree in number.

Tense Consistency

The rule that verb tenses should not shift inappropriately within a passage.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

The necessity for pronouns to match their antecedent in number and gender.

Subjective Case Pronouns

Pronouns used as the subject of a verb (e.g., I, you, he, she).

Objective Case Pronouns

Pronouns used as the object of a verb or preposition (e.g., me, you, him, her).

Who vs. Whom

Use 'who' as a subject and 'whom' as an object.

Transitions

Words or phrases that connect ideas in writing to indicate relationships such as addition, contrast, or cause and effect.

Rhetorical Skills

The ability to analyze and improve the flow and structure of ideas in writing.

Conciseness

Expressing ideas clearly and briefly, avoiding unnecessary words.

Redundancy

Unnecessary repetition of ideas or phrases.

Modifiers

Words or phrases that describe or limit the meaning of other words in a sentence.

Misplaced Modifier

A modifier that is incorrectly separated from the word it modifies, creating confusion.

Dangling Modifier

A modifier that does not clearly refer to a specific noun, leading to ambiguity.

Parallelism

The use of similar grammatical structures in lists or comparisons.

The 'No Change' Trap

A common misleading option in multiple choice questions where students often choose the original text.

The Context Rule

The principle that a question's answer may depend on understanding the whole passage, not just the underlined portion.

Pacing

The strategy of managing time effectively to complete the test.

Prepositional Phrase

A phrase beginning with a preposition, which often adds additional information but is not the subject.

Collective Noun

A noun that represents a group of individuals but is treated as singular (e.g., team, group, committee).

Subjunctive Mood

The form used to express hypothetical situations.

Clue Words

Words in a text that signal the relationships between ideas and help determine logical flow.

Logical Relationship

The connection or correlation between ideas or sentences within a text.

Comma Usage

The rules governing when and how to use commas in a sentence.

Lists

A series of items that should maintain parallel structure.

Appositives

A noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it.

Transitions of addition

Words like 'furthermore' or 'moreover' that indicate additional information.

Transitions of contrast

Words like 'however' or 'nevertheless' that indicate a change in direction or idea.

Transitions of cause and effect

Words like 'therefore' or 'consequently' that indicate one idea leads to another.

Logical flow

The smooth progression of ideas which guides the reader through a text.

Adjusting Tenses

Changing the verb tense to maintain consistency throughout a passage.

Essential vs. Non-Essential Information

Information required for meaning vs. extra detail that can be omitted.

Clarity

The quality of being easily understood, which is crucial for effective writing.

Formal Conventions

The standardized rules of grammar and punctuation that govern writing.