1. ACT ENGLISH Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask

2. The ACT uses four methods to separate two complete sentences: 1. 2. 3. 4.

3. The ACT uses four methods to separate two complete sentences: 1. Period Tomorrow is my birthday. I want a pony. 2. 3. 4.

4. The ACT uses four methods to separate two complete sentences: 1. Period Tomorrow is my birthday. I want a pony. 2. Comma + FANBOYS conjunction Tomorrow is my birthday, so I want a pony. 3. 4.

5. The ACT uses four methods to separate two complete sentences: 1. Period Tomorrow is my birthday. I want a pony. 2. Comma + FANBOYS conjunction Tomorrow is my birthday, so I want a pony. 3. Semicolon Tomorrow is my birthday; I want a pony. 4.

6. The ACT uses four methods to separate two complete sentences: 1. Period Tomorrow is my birthday. I want a pony. 2. Comma + FANBOYS conjunction Tomorrow is my birthday, so I want a pony. 3. Semicolon Tomorrow is my birthday. I want a pony. 4. Colon Tomorrow is my birthday: I want a pony.

7. Which sentence(s) are incorrect? 1. Julie is a real hypochondriac, she thinks she has beriberi. 2. Julie is a real hypochondriac. She thinks she has beriberi. 3. Julie is a real hypochondriac she thinks she has beriberi. 4. Julie is a real hypochondriac; she thinks she has beriberi. 5. Julie is a real hypochondriac, and she thinks she has beriberi. 6. Julie is a real hypochondriac: She thinks she has beriberi.

8. Which sentence(s) are incorrect? 1. Julie is a real hypochondriac, she thinks she has beriberi. 2. Julie is a real hypochondriac. She thinks she has beriberi. 3. Julie is a real hypochondriac she thinks she has beriberi. 4. Julie is a real hypochondriac; she thinks she has beriberi. 5. Julie is a real hypochondriac, and she thinks she has beriberi. 6. Julie is a real hypochondriac: She thinks she has beriberi. Comma Splice!

9. Which sentence(s) are incorrect? 1. Julie is a real hypochondriac, she thinks she has beriberi. 2. Julie is a real hypochondriac. She thinks she has beriberi. 3. Julie is a real hypochondriac she thinks she has beriberi. 4. Julie is a real hypochondriac; she thinks she has beriberi. 5. Julie is a real hypochondriac, and she thinks she has beriberi. 6. Julie is a real hypochondriac: She thinks she has beriberi. Fused sentence! (Thin air)

10. Which sentence(s) are incorrect? 1. Matt shaved his head: His mother fainted. 2. Matt shaved his head. His mother fainted. 3. Matt shaved his head; his mother fainted. 4. Matt shaved his head, and his mother fainted. 5. Matt shaved his head his mother fainted. 6. Matt shaved his head, his mother fainted.

11. Which sentence(s) are incorrect? 1. Matt shaved his head: His mother fainted. 2. Matt shaved his head. His mother fainted. 3. Matt shaved his head; his mother fainted. 4. Matt shaved his head, and his mother fainted. 5. Matt shaved his head his mother fainted. 6. Matt shaved his head, his mother fainted.

12. A comma is used in four ways on the English test: 1. To connect two sentences before a conjunction. The vampire was thirsty, but the blood bank was closed. 2. To separate a dependent clause from a sentence. Although the vampire was thirsty, the blood bank was closed. 3. To surround a nonessential group of words. The vampire, a reformed vegan, was thirsty. 4. To separate two adjectives or words in a list. The thirsty, vegan vampire... The vampire: thirsty, vegan, and sparkly...

13. A comma is used in four ways on the English test: 1. To connect two sentences before a conjunction. The vampire was thirsty, but the blood bank was closed. 2. To separate a dependent clause from a sentence. Although the vampire was thirsty, the blood bank was closed. 3. To surround a nonessential group of words. The vampire, a reformed vegan, was thirsty. 4. To separate two adjectives or words in a list. The thirsty, vegan vampire... The vampire: thirsty, vegan, and sparkly...

14. A comma is used in four ways on the English test: 1. To connect two sentences before a conjunction. The vampire was thirsty, but the blood bank was closed. 2. To separate an introductory dependent clause from a sentence. Although the vampire was thirsty, the blood bank was closed. 3. To surround a nonessential group of words. The vampire, a reformed vegan, was thirsty. 4. To separate two adjectives or words in a list. The thirsty, vegan vampire... The vampire: thirsty, vegan, and sparkly...

15. A comma is used in four ways on the English test: 1. To connect two sentences before a conjunction. The vampire was thirsty, but the blood bank was closed. 2. To separate an introductory dependent clause from a sentence. Although the vampire was thirsty, the blood bank was closed. 3. To surround a nonessential group of words. The vampire, a reformed vegan, was thirsty. 4. To separate two adjectives or words in a list. The thirsty, vegan vampire... The vampire: thirsty, vegan, and sparkly...

16. A comma is used in four ways on the English test: 1. To connect two sentences before a conjunction. The vampire was thirsty, but the blood bank was closed. 2. To separate an introductory dependent clause from a sentence. Although the vampire was thirsty, the blood bank was closed. 3. To surround a nonessential group of words. The vampire, a reformed vegan, was thirsty. 4. To separate two adjectives or words in a list. The thirsty, vegan vampire... The vampire was thirsty, vegan, and sparkly...

17. Use commas to set off a name... If the name may be taken out of the sentence without changing the meaning: “Our 44 th president, Barack Obama, was born in Hawaii.” “Our 44 th president was born in Hawaii.”

18. Use commas to set off a name... If the name may be taken out of the sentence without changing the meaning: “Our 44 th president, Barack Obama, was born in Hawaii.” “Our 44 th president was born in Hawaii.” But not if taking out the name changes the meaning: “The songwriter Bob Dylan is considered a lyrical genius.” “The songwriter is considered a lyrical genius.”

19. A colon is used in two ways on the ACT: Use a colon between two sentences when the second sentence explains the first: “Jillian sobbed uncontrollably: Downton Abbey was finally over.” Use a colon after a sentence that introduces a list: “Jillian sobbed every time her favorite shows ended: Downton Abbey, Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, and Desperate Housewives.