SAT Writing section techniques, strategies & approaches: Difference between revisions

click EXPAND to see what PERIODS do & how to eliminate using the rule:

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<u>periods</u>:

* periods separate grammatically correct and complete thoughts that are distinct sentences

*** ex. "Go to the store." or "Stop!"

** if a period and a semicolon are both possible answers, they are both wrong

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click EXPAND to see what SEMICOLONS do & how to eliminate using the rule/s:

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<u>semicolons</u>:  

# combine two ICs

*** i.e., if the two clauses on either side of the semicolon would not stand on their own as grammatically complete sentences and thoughts, the semicolon is incorrect

** if a period and a semicolon are both possible answers, they are both wrong

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click EXPAND to see what COMMAS do & how to eliminate using the rule/s:

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<u>commas</u>:

# combine IC, DC, or DC, IC

*** "Joey, Joella and Josephina jumped for joy"  

**** = a single comma between the subject "Joey" and its verb "jumped" because the comma creates a list and not a grammatical separation of the subject and verb

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click EXPAND to see what COLONS do & how to eliminate using the rule/s:

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<u>colons</u>:

# extend or provide examples following an IC

** if NOT preceded by an IC, eliminate the colon

** if another possible answer is a dash that is acting like a colon, then both cannot be correct, so eliminate

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click EXPAND to see what DASHES do & how to eliminate using the rule/s:

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<u>dashes</u>:

# act like a colon  

** if not acting like parentheses, and there is NOT an IC preceding the dash, eliminate

** if another possible answer is a colon and the dash is not acting like a parentheses, then both cannot be correct

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