Punctuation Rules for the SAT Exam

Here are the punctuation rules you need to know for the SAT exam:

Comma

• Lists: Use commas to separate items in a list, placing one before the conjunction (e.g., "We bought apples, oranges, and bananas").
• Non-essential Information: Surround non-essential clauses or appositives with commas (e.g., "My brother, who is a doctor, lives in New York").
• Introductory Elements: Place a comma after introductory phrases or clauses (e.g., "After the meeting, we went to dinner").
• Independent Clauses: Do not use a comma between two independent clauses without a conjunction.

Semicolon

• Connecting Clauses: Use a semicolon to connect two related independent clauses without a conjunction (e.g., "I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight").
• Complex Lists: Use semicolons to separate items in a list when the items themselves contain commas (e.g., "The conference has attendees from Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; and Rome, Italy").

Colon

• Introducing Lists or Explanations: Use a colon after a complete sentence to introduce a list, explanation, or quotation (e.g., "She has three favorite hobbies: reading, writing, and hiking").
• Emphasis: Use a colon to emphasize a point or statement (e.g., "There is one thing she loves more than anything: her family").

Quotation Marks

• Direct Speech: Use quotation marks to enclose direct speech or quotations (e.g., She said, "I'll be there soon").
• Titles: Use quotation marks for titles of short works like articles, poems, and songs.

Hyphen

• Compound Modifiers: Use hyphens to join two or more words serving as a single adjective before a noun (e.g., "a well-known author").
• Numbers: Use hyphens in compound numbers (e.g., "twenty-one").

Em Dash

• Non-essential Information: Use em dashes to set off non-essential information or to add emphasis (e.g., "The car—a red convertible—was parked outside").
• Interruption or Emphasis: Use an em dash to indicate a sudden break or to emphasize a conclusion (e.g., "She was determined to win—no matter what").

En Dash

• Ranges: Use en dashes to indicate ranges of numbers, dates, or time (e.g., "The meeting is scheduled for 3:00–4:00 p.m.").
• Connections: Use en dashes to show a connection between words, such as in compound adjectives (e.g., "New York–London flight").

These rules should help you navigate punctuation questions on the SAT Writing and Language section.

Example Sentences

Comma

• Lists: "We need to buy eggs, milk, bread, and butter."
• Non-essential Information: "My brother, who is a chef, made dinner for us."
• Introductory Elements: "After the movie, we went out for ice cream."
• Independent Clauses: "I wanted to go for a walk, but it started raining."

Semicolon

• Connecting Clauses: "I wanted to go for a walk; however, it started raining."
• Complex Lists: "The conference was attended by delegates from Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; and Rome, Italy."

Colon

• Introducing Lists or Explanations: "You will need the following items for the trip: a sleeping bag, a tent, and a flashlight."
• Emphasis: "There's one thing I can't stand: dishonesty."

Quotation Marks

• Direct Speech: She asked, "Are you coming to the party tonight?"
• Titles: I just finished reading "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.

Hyphen

• Compound Modifiers: "She is a well-known artist in the community."
• Numbers: "There are thirty-two students in the class."

Em Dash

• Non-essential Information: "The CEO—who was recently appointed—plans to expand the company."
• Interruption or Emphasis: "She was determined to succeed—no matter the obstacles."

En Dash

• Ranges: "The store is open Monday–Friday."
• Connections: "The New York–London flight was delayed."

Commas and Quotes

• Commas Inside Quotation Marks: In American English, commas are placed inside the closing quotation marks, whether the quotation is at the end of a sentence or followed by a dialogue tag.
  • Example: "I'm excited for the weekend," she said.
  • Example: She said, "I'm excited for the weekend."
• Quotations in a Sentence: When a quotation is part of a larger sentence, the comma is placed inside the quotation marks if it is part of the quoted material.
  • Example: "It's going to rain today," the weather report stated.
• Interrupted Quotations: When a quotation is interrupted by a dialogue tag, a comma is used after the first part of the quotation and after the dialogue tag.
  • Example: "I can't believe," she said, "that we won the game."
• Quotations at the End of a Sentence: If a sentence ends with a quotation, the comma is placed inside the quotation marks.
  • Example: He replied, “I'll see you tomorrow.”