What punctuation marks are tested

on the SAT?
Punctuation appears as part of a variety of questions on the SAT.
Whether we're linking clauses or adding supplements to a sentence,
we'll need to appropriately employ punctuation. We may also need to
identify instances where no punctuation is necessary.
The SAT may test your knowledge of
● Commas (,)
● Semicolons (;)

● Colons (:)

● Dashes (—)

Appropriate punctuation will be essential to all Boundaries questions

that you encounter on test day.

Punctuation marks
Different punctuation marks have different uses and different rules.
Let's look at each in turn.*
*Note: some punctuation marks have additional uses not
named here (e.g., formatting dialogue with commas). This
article focuses only on how these punctuation marks are
tested on the SAT.

Commas (,)
Commas should only be used to...
● Separate list items
[Hide example]
Crafting a chessboard requires a table saw, a sander, and
lots of glue.
● Separate nonessential elements from the sentence
[Hide example]
The Bay of Fundy, a body of water between Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick, experiences the world's highest tidal
range.
● Link dependent clauses to independent clauses
[Example]
● Link independent clauses with help from a coordinating
(FANBOYS) conjunction
[Hide example]
Almonds are the world's most consumed tree nut, but walnuts are
a close second.
Commas should not...
● Split a subject and a verb
[Hide example]
Incorrect:
● Mountain goats, are very nimble.
Correct:
● Mountain goats are very nimble.
● Mountain goats, which are only distantly related
to domestic goats, are very nimble.
Explanation: A comma shouldn't separate the subject "goats"
from its verb "are". The only exception is if two commas are being
used to set off a nonessential descriptive phrase.
 ● Can not come before prepositions

[Hide example]
Incorrect:
● The chicken crossed, to the other side of the road.
● The chicken crossed to the other side, of the road.
Correct:
● The chicken crossed to the other side of the road.

● Can not separate items in a list of two

[Hide example]
Incorrect:
● Learning archery requires skill, and practice.
Correct:
● Learning archery requires skill and practice.

Using a comma in any of these ways creates an error.

Semicolons (;)
Semicolons should only be used to...
● Link independent clauses (without a conjunction)
[Hide example]
Humans have always been troubled by dry skin; lotions and
moisturizers have a history reaching back into ancient times.
● Separate list items that already contain commas
[Hide example]
Incorrect:
 ● While the United Nations is headquartered in New
York City, it also has central offices in Nairobi,
Kenya, Geneva, Switzerland, and Vienna,
Austria.
Correct:
● While the United Nations is headquartered in New
York City, it also has central offices in Nairobi,
Kenya; Geneva, Switzerland; and Vienna,
Austria.
Explanation: Since we already use a comma when identifying a
city and country, a list of cities and countries can get confusing. We
can use semicolons to more clearly distinguish between cities in the
list.
Note: We only use semicolons in a list if they're absolutely needed.
Otherwise, using commas is always the better choice.
Any other use of a semicolon creates an error.

Colons (:)
Colons can only come at the end of an independent clause. They can
introduce...( also can define previous clause)
● Explanations and extra information
[Hide explanation]
Many upstart tech companies fail for the same reason: a lack of
market need for their product.
● Lists
[Hide explanation]
 The advent of cellular biology has led to the classification of
organisms into three distinct domains: bacteria, archaea, and
eukaryota.
Any other use of a colon creates an error.

Dashes (—)
Dashes should only be used to separate nonessential elements from the
rest of the sentence.
[Hide explanation]
There are three characters—the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and
the Cowardly Lion—that accompany Dorothy on her way to Oz.
There are three characters that accompany Dorothy on her way to Oz
—the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion.
Any other use of a dash creates an error.

How to identify punctuation

questions
When approaching boundaries questions, it's important to identify
which Standard English conventions are being tested.
You may want to look for errors in punctuation if
● the choices add or remove punctuation
● the choices offer a variety of punctuation marks
If you don't see either of these features, then the question likely doesn't
deal with punctuation.

Top tips

Look at before and After clauses:

Look the clause either there are independent or dependent

clauses.

Use the before/after test for commas

When first clause is independent and other is dependent clause then

use comma.

Use the before/after test for semicolons

Unless it appears in a list, a semicolon must have an independent clause
both before and after it. If you think a semicolon might be right, check to
make sure you have an independent clause on either side. If you
don't, you can't use a semicolon.

Use the before test for colons

A colon can only appear at the end of an independent clause. If you think
a colon might be right, check to make sure what comes before is a
complete independent clause. If it's not, you can't use a colon.
Double-check commas
Many writers overuse commas (or use them as a default punctuation
mark). Double-check to make sure a comma is both necessary and
appropriate before selecting it as your answer.
Remember: the over use of commas is not allowed.
If the comma is linking clauses, make sure it has the coordinating or
subordinating conjunction it needs to do so.
If the comma isn't linking clauses, make sure it serves a purpose and
doesn't unnecessarily interrupt some other function of the sentence.

FANBOYS Conjunctions
FANBOYS conjunctions are coordinating conjunctions used to connect independent
clauses. The term "FANBOYS" is an acronym that stands for:

1. For
2. And
3. Nor
4. But
5. Or
6. Yet
7. So

These conjunctions are called coordinating because they join elements of equal
grammatical rank, such as two independent clauses. In the context of punctuation, they
often precede a comma when connecting two independent clauses in a compound
sentence. For example:

● Almonds are the world's most consumed tree nut, but walnuts are a close second.
● She wanted to go to the park, so she packed a picnic basket.

Remembering FANBOYS can help you remember these coordinating conjunctions and
their proper usage in sentences.

Here are the rules and examples for each FANBOYS conjunction:

1. For: Used to indicate a reason or explanation.

 ● Example: She went to the store, for she needed to buy some groceries.
2. And: Used to add information or clauses together.
● Example: I love to read, and I enjoy writing stories.
3. Nor: Used to present a negative alternative.
● Example: She neither sang nor danced at the party.
4. But: Used to contrast or present an exception.
● Example: He is rich, but he is not happy.
5. Or: Used to present an alternative or choice.
● Example: You can have cake or ice cream for dessert.
6. Yet: Used to indicate a contrast or unexpected result.
● Example: She was tired, yet she kept working late into the night.
7. So: Used to indicate a consequence or result.
● Example: It started raining, so we decided to stay indoors.

These examples illustrate how each FANBOYS conjunction functions within a sentence to
connect clauses or present different relationships between ideas.