Mastering the ACT English Section: A Comprehensive Review

Usage/Mechanics

Categories of questions in the ACT English section related to punctuation and grammar.

Independent Clause

A complete sentence that can stand alone.

Comma Splice

An error created by using a comma to separate two independent clauses without a conjunction.

Stop punctuation

Punctuation that connects independent clauses, including periods, semicolons, and commas with FANBOYS.

Colon (:)

Punctuation that must follow an independent clause and introduces a list, quote, or explanation.

Dash (—)

Punctuation used for emphasis or to surround non-essential information.

Mandatory Comma Uses

Four specific situations where commas must be used in writing.

Apostrophe

A punctuation mark indicating possession or contraction.

Singular Possession

Adding 's to show ownership by one noun.

Plural Possession

Adding s' to show ownership by multiple nouns.

Irregular Plural Possession

Adding 's for plural forms that do not follow the typical rules.

It's vs. Its

'It's' is a contraction for 'it is'; 'its' shows possession.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.

The Prepositional Trap

A trick where the real subject of a sentence is outside of a prepositional phrase.

Pronoun Agreement

Pronouns must match their antecedent in number and gender.

Subject Case Pronouns

Pronouns that are the subject of a sentence (e.g., I, he, she).

Object Case Pronouns

Pronouns that receive the action in a sentence (e.g., me, him, her).

Adjective

A word that modifies a noun.

Adverb

A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb, often ending in -ly.

Misplaced Modifiers

A descriptive phrase that is incorrectly positioned in a sentence.

Parallelism

The grammatical alignment of elements in a list or comparison.

Transitions

Words that connect ideas and indicate relationships between sentences.

Causation Transition Words

Words like 'therefore' and 'as a result' that show cause-and-effect relationships.

Relevance Check

Determining if new information supports the main topic of a paragraph.

Conciseness

Writing that is clear and to the point without unnecessary words.

Redundancy

The unnecessary repetition of ideas or information in writing.

Tone

The author's attitude expressed in writing, which can affect word choice.

Precision

The accuracy of word choice to convey the intended meaning.

Accept vs. Except

Accept means to receive; except means to exclude.

Then vs. Than

Then refers to time; than is used for comparisons.

Affect vs. Effect

Affect is a verb meaning to influence; effect is a noun meaning the result.

Could of / Should of

Incorrect phrases; should be 'could have' and 'should have'.

Comma Use in Lists

Using commas to separate items in a series.

Introductory Phrase

A phrase that begins a sentence and is followed by a comma.

Non-Essential Clauses

Descriptive phrases that can be removed without changing the main idea.

FANBOYS

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

Omitting the Underlined Portion

A common strategy for answering ACT questions that often leads to the correct answer.

Sentence Structure

The arrangement of words in a sentence to convey meaning.

Logical Syntax

The correct and logical structure of sentences, particularly in grammar.

Grammatical Soundness

The correctness of a phrase or sentence in terms of grammar.

Identification Strategy

A method for identifying subjects and verbs in complex sentences.

Final Tips and Common Pitfalls

A checklist of strategies and common errors to avoid when taking the ACT.

Summary Checklist

Key concepts to review before taking the ACT English test.

Transition Relationships

Identifying the logical connections between sentences to improve comprehension.

Two Independent Clauses

Sentences that can stand alone but are linked by punctuation or conjunction.

Significance of Dashes

Understanding how dashes can emphasize ideas or separate additional information.

Grammar and Usage

Fundamental language rules that govern sentence structure and punctuation.