Punctuation
What this domain tests
Punctuation questions check commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes, dashes, and quotation marks. The goal is to use punctuation to clarify structure, not to sprinkle marks where a pause feels natural.
Concepts to master
- Commas: separate items in a series, set off introductory elements, and mark nonessential (nonrestrictive) clauses. Do not use a comma to join two independent clauses by itself.
- Semicolons: join two closely related independent clauses, or separate series items that already contain commas.
- Colons: follow a complete sentence and introduce a list, explanation, or quotation. What precedes the colon must be a full clause.
- Apostrophes: show possession (singular 's, plural s') or contraction; never form a simple plural with 's.
- Dashes and parentheses: set off extra, nonessential information; dashes add emphasis.
- Quotation marks: enclose exact words; commas and periods go inside closing quotation marks in standard American usage.
Traps to expect
Questions tempt you with a comma where a semicolon is needed, or a colon after an incomplete clause ("The tools I brought were: a saw, a drill"). Another trap is the possessive versus plural apostrophe, and the its/it's confusion.
Rule of thumb
Before a colon, ask: is the part before it a complete sentence? If not, the colon is wrong. Worked example: "She packed three things: a map, water, and a compass." The clause before the colon is complete, so the colon is correct.
Practice habit
For every apostrophe, decide whether the word is possessive (add apostrophe) or simply plural (no apostrophe).