ACT English Punctuation NO CHANGE vs Omit When to Delete Punctuation Entirely

Punctuation — NO CHANGE vs Omit: When to Delete Punctuation Entirely

What This Is and Why It Matters for the ACT

Punctuation — NO CHANGE vs Omit questions appear in the English section of the ACT. You'll need to decide whether to keep or omit punctuation in sentences. These questions appear on every English test and are considered intermediate in difficulty.

Key Concepts (What You Must Know)

• Punctuation marks (periods, commas, semicolons, colons, etc.) serve to clarify sentence meaning.
• Sentence structure (independent and dependent clauses) affects punctuation decisions.
• Context clues (word meaning, tone, and purpose) help you determine correct punctuation.
• Grammar rules (e.g., comma splices, run-on sentences) guide punctuation choices.

Step-by-Step Strategy for This Topic

1. Read the underlined portion carefully, identifying the sentence structure and punctuation.
2. Determine the purpose of the punctuation (e.g., separating clauses, indicating a pause).
3. Check if the punctuation is necessary for clarity or if it's redundant.
4. Eliminate options that change the sentence structure or meaning.
5. If time allows, read the sentence again to confirm your answer.
6. Allocate 1-2 minutes per question, depending on the complexity.

⚠️ Watch out for comma splices! A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined with a comma without a conjunction.

How It’s Tested on the ACT

English: A sentence or passage with an underlined portion, and five answer choices (A-E).

• Distractors: Options that change the sentence structure, add or remove punctuation, or alter the meaning.
• Spotting distractors: Read the sentence carefully, and eliminate options that don't match the original sentence.

Common Mistakes & Exam Traps

1. The mistake: Omitting necessary punctuation (e.g., a period after a sentence).
   • Why it happens: Rushing or misreading the sentence.
   • How to avoid it: Take your time, and read the sentence carefully.
   • Exam board insight: The ACT penalizes incorrect punctuation choices.
2. The mistake: Adding unnecessary punctuation (e.g., a comma after a short sentence).
   • Why it happens: Misunderstanding grammar rules or over-punctuating.
   • How to avoid it: Review grammar rules, and use context clues to guide your decisions.
3. The mistake: Changing the sentence structure or meaning with punctuation.
   • Why it happens: Misreading the sentence or misunderstanding the purpose of punctuation.
   • How to avoid it: Read the sentence carefully, and eliminate options that alter the meaning.
4. The mistake: Failing to identify comma splices.
   • Why it happens: Rushing or misreading the sentence.
   • How to avoid it: Take your time, and read the sentence carefully.
5. The mistake: Omitting necessary punctuation in a list or series.
   • Why it happens: Misunderstanding grammar rules or rushing.
   • How to avoid it: Review grammar rules, and use context clues to guide your decisions.
6. The mistake: Adding unnecessary punctuation in a list or series.
   • Why it happens: Misunderstanding grammar rules or over-punctuating.
   • How to avoid it: Review grammar rules, and use context clues to guide your decisions.

Practice Questions (3-5 questions)

Question 1
The new policy will affect all employees, who will receive a 10% raise.

A) who will receive a 10% raise B) who will receive a 10% raise.
C) who will receive a 10% raise, D) who will receive a 10% raise; however E) who will receive a 10% raise.

Answer: B) who will receive a 10% raise.

Explanation: The comma after "employees" is necessary to separate the two independent clauses.

Question 2
The company's profits have increased significantly, due to the new marketing strategy.

A) due to the new marketing strategy B) due to the new marketing strategy, C) due to the new marketing strategy; however D) due to the new marketing strategy.
E) due to the new marketing strategy,

Answer: D) due to the new marketing strategy.

Explanation: The period after "strategy" is necessary to end the sentence.

Quick Reference Card (60-Second Summary)

• Punctuation marks serve to clarify sentence meaning.
• Sentence structure affects punctuation decisions.
• Context clues guide punctuation choices.
• Grammar rules (e.g., comma splices, run-on sentences) guide punctuation choices.
• Take your time, and read the sentence carefully.
• Review grammar rules, and use context clues to guide your decisions.

If You Get Stuck on Test Day

• If you don't know the answer, eliminate options that change the sentence structure or meaning.
• Allocate 1-2 minutes per question, depending on the complexity.
• If time allows, read the sentence again to confirm your answer.

Related ACT Topics

• Comma splices: Joining two independent clauses with a comma without a conjunction.
• Run-on sentences: Failing to separate independent clauses with punctuation or a conjunction.
• Parallel structure: Using consistent grammatical structure in a list or series.