Comma/Semicolon/Colon/Dash ACT Rules Flashcards
Commas are particularly applicable when a
dependent clause needs to be joined with an independent clause
Commas can separate 2 ind clauses when clauses are
separated w/ FANBOYS & similar words
A comma is NOT strong enough to separate
two ind clauses on its own - bigger breath is needed
Do NOT break up a
long item (subject) using commas- no breath is needed
DO separate ____ from the rest of the sentence with commas
“extra phrases”
- phrases that aren’t essential to understanding the sentence
Use a semicolon to join two
complete & related sent in place of a conjunction like “and”
Do NOT use a semicolon when clauses
are completely unrelated
Do NOT use semicolons where the two clauses are
NOT independent
Use semicolons to separate items in a list
that have commas within them
- ex: There are people from Albany, New York; Phoenix, Arizona; and Louisville, Kentucky.
Use a colon AFTER a 1.___ and before a 2.____
- complete sentence
- list or clarification
Colon usage examples
List- The recipe asks for three items: milk, bread, and eggs.
Clarification- I love bird watching: robins and eagles are my favorites.
A dash is used to provide
an interruption, sudden change of thought, and more emphasis in a sentence
A dash is generally preferred when
writing is less formal
