ACT Prep: ACT English Traps: Comma Splices, Misplaced Modifiers, Wordiness

ACT – ACT English Traps: Comma Splices, Misplaced Modifiers, Wordiness

ACT English Traps: Comma Splices, Misplaced Modifiers, Wordiness

Your exam-ready guide to avoiding the most common ACT English pitfalls

What This Is

The ACT English section tests your ability to recognize and fix grammatical errors, improve clarity, and tighten writing. Comma splices, misplaced modifiers, and wordiness are three of the most frequently tested concepts—each appears in 2–4 questions per test. These errors make writing unclear or incorrect, and the ACT loves to trick you with subtle variations. For example, you might see a sentence like: "Running late for the bus, my backpack was left at home." This sounds awkward because the modifier "Running late for the bus" seems to describe the backpack (a classic misplaced modifier). Mastering these traps will boost your score by 2–4 points.

Key Terms & Rules

Comma Splices

• Definition: Two independent clauses (complete sentences) joined only by a comma.
• ❌ "I love the ACT, it’s my favorite test."
• ✅ Fix with:
  • A period: "I love the ACT. It’s my favorite test."
  • A semicolon: "I love the ACT; it’s my favorite test."
  • A conjunction: "I love the ACT, because it’s my favorite test."
• ACT Trap: The test often includes a comma splice with a transition word (e.g., "however," "therefore") to trick you into thinking it’s correct.
• ❌ "I studied hard, however, I still panicked."
• ✅ "I studied hard; however, I still panicked." (Semicolon + comma after transition)

Misplaced Modifiers

• Definition: A word or phrase that describes the wrong part of the sentence because it’s in the wrong place.
• ❌ "Covered in cheese, I ate the pizza." (Was I covered in cheese?)
• ✅ "Covered in cheese, the pizza was delicious." (The pizza was covered in cheese.)
• Dangling Modifier: A modifier with no clear subject to describe.
• ❌ "After finishing the test, the clock struck noon." (Who finished the test?)
• ✅ "After finishing the test, I heard the clock strike noon."
• ACT Trap: The test loves to place modifiers next to the wrong noun, especially with -ing verbs (e.g., "Running down the street, the dog chased the mailman").

Wordiness & Redundancy

• Definition: Using more words than necessary to express an idea.
• ❌ "In the event that it rains, we will stay inside." (Wordy)
• ✅ "If it rains, we will stay inside." (Concise)
• Redundancy: Repeating the same idea with different words.
• ❌ "The end result was surprising." ("End" and "result" mean the same thing.)
• ✅ "The result was surprising."
• ACT Trap: The test often includes passive voice or empty phrases (e.g., "in order to," "due to the fact that") as distractors.

Conjunctions & Conjunctive Adverbs

• Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS): For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So – used with a comma to join independent clauses.
• ✅ "I wanted to go, but I was too tired."
• Conjunctive Adverbs: However, therefore, moreover, consequently – require a semicolon before and a comma after.
• ✅ "I studied hard; however, I still panicked."

Step-by-Step / Process Flow

How to Spot and Fix These Errors on the ACT

1. Read the full sentence (and surrounding sentences).
2. The ACT often hides errors in long, complex sentences. Don’t just glance—read carefully.
3. Check for independent clauses (complete sentences).
4. If two complete thoughts are joined by only a comma, it’s a comma splice.
5. Fix: Add a period, semicolon, or conjunction.
6. Look for modifiers (descriptive phrases).
7. Ask: What is this phrase describing? If it’s next to the wrong word, it’s a misplaced modifier.
8. Example: "Excited for the concert, the tickets were bought early." → "Excited for the concert, we bought the tickets early."
9. Eliminate wordiness.
10. Cross out empty phrases ("in order to," "at this point in time") and redundancies ("free gift," "past history").
11. Choose the shortest, clearest option that keeps the meaning.
12. Test answer choices by reading them aloud.
13. If a sentence sounds awkward or confusing, it’s likely wrong.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Ignoring the Subject After a Modifier

• Mistake: "After eating dinner, the dishes were washed." (Who ate dinner?)
• Correction: "After eating dinner, we washed the dishes."
• Why? The modifier ("After eating dinner") must describe the subject of the main clause.

Mistake 2: Using a Comma Instead of a Semicolon with Conjunctive Adverbs

• Mistake: "I love grammar, however, I hate comma splices." (Comma splice!)
• Correction: "I love grammar; however, I hate comma splices."
• Why? "However" is a conjunctive adverb, not a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).

Mistake 3: Choosing Wordy Answers Because They "Sound Smart"

• Mistake: Picking "Due to the fact that it was raining, we stayed inside." over "Because it was raining, we stayed inside."
• Correction: Always choose the most concise option that keeps the meaning.
• Why? The ACT rewards clarity and efficiency—wordy answers are almost always wrong.

Mistake 4: Misplacing "-ing" Modifiers

• Mistake: "Running down the hall, the locker slammed shut." (Did the locker run?)
• Correction: "Running down the hall, I heard the locker slam shut."
• Why? -ing phrases must describe the subject of the sentence.

Exam Insights

1. Comma splices are the #1 most tested grammar error on the ACT.
2. The test loves to pair them with transition words ("however," "therefore") to trick you.
3. Misplaced modifiers almost always involve a person or animal doing an action.
4. If a sentence starts with "Running," "Excited," "Covered in," check who/what is being described.
5. Wordiness questions often include:
6. Passive voice ("The test was taken by me" → "I took the test").
7. Redundancies ("advance planning," "completely surrounded").
8. The ACT rarely tests obscure grammar rules—focus on these three traps first.

Quick Check Questions

Question 1

Running through the park, the trees were beautiful. Which revision fixes the error in the sentence? A. NO CHANGE B. The trees, running through the park, were beautiful.
C. Running through the park, I thought the trees were beautiful.
D. The trees were beautiful, running through the park.

✅ Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The modifier "Running through the park" must describe the subject ("I"), not the trees.

Question 2

I wanted to go to the party, I was too tired. Which revision fixes the comma splice? A. NO CHANGE B. I wanted to go to the party; I was too tired.
C. I wanted to go to the party, but I was too tired.
D. Both B and C

✅ Correct Answer: D
Explanation: A comma splice can be fixed with a semicolon (B) or a comma + conjunction (C).

Question 3

In order to improve your score, practice is necessary. Which revision is the most concise? A. NO CHANGE B. To improve your score, practice is necessary.
C. If you want to improve your score, you must practice.
D. Practice is necessary to improve your score.

✅ Correct Answer: D
Explanation: "In order to" is wordy—"To" (B) is better, but D is the most concise.

Last-Minute Cram Sheet

1. Comma splice = 2 independent clauses + comma. Fix with period, semicolon, or FANBOYS.
2. Misplaced modifier = descriptive phrase in the wrong place. Move it next to what it describes.
3. Dangling modifier = no clear subject. Add a subject to the main clause.
4. Wordiness = more words than needed. Choose the shortest, clearest option.
5. ⚠️ ACT Trap: "However," "therefore," "moreover" require a semicolon before and a comma after.
6. ⚠️ ACT Trap: -ing phrases ("Running," "Excited") must describe the subject of the sentence.
7. Redundancy = repeating the same idea. "Past history" → "History," "free gift" → "gift."
8. Passive voice = wordy. "The test was taken by me" → "I took the test."
9. FANBOYS = For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So. Use with a comma to join clauses.
10. When in doubt, read aloud! Awkward = wrong.

Final Tip: The ACT never tests obscure grammar rules—master these three traps, and you’ll gain 2–4 points!