ACT English: Punctuation and Usage Guide

ACT English Overview

The ACT English section has 75 questions in 45 minutes, covering Usage/Mechanics and Rhetorical Skills. About 40% of questions test punctuation, grammar and sentence structure.

Most Tested Punctuation Rules

• Commas: After introductory clauses; around non-essential phrases; in lists

• Apostrophes: Possessives (student's) vs plurals (students); it's = it is

• Semicolons: Connect two independent clauses; also separate complex list items

• Dashes: Introduce or emphasise information; must be used in pairs for parenthetical info

The "No Change" Option

On the ACT, "NO CHANGE" is the correct answer about 25% of the time. Don't assume every underlined portion has an error. Read it as-is first and only change if you spot a clear error.