Rules for Writing – Digital SAT!
1. Punctuation
● Periods (.) break up two separate standalone statements.
● Use Commas (,) whenever you NEED a brief pause. If you don’t need a brief
pause, leave it out.**
Commas should NOT be used to connect two standalone thoughts. There, a
period or semicolon must be used.
Incorrect: I went to the store, I bought all the items I needed to bake
cookies.
Correct: I went to the store. I bought all the items I needed to bake
cookies.
uz
Avoid using commas when identifying something (or someone) by its full title:
Incorrect: Spanish painter, Pablo Picasso, is my favorite artist.
T
Correct: Spanish painter Pablo Picasso is my favorite artist.
SA
Use commas after parentheses if, when you cut out the parentheses, the
comma is still needed:
Correct: Although the last global conflict was World War II (1939-1945),
D
there have been countless regional wars ever since.
● Semicolons (;) connect two related statements that could still stand on their
@
own as complete sentences.
Correct: I went to the store; I bought all the items I needed to bake
cookies.
Also use the semicolon for a list of items that have commas within each item.
Correct: I took a tour of state capitals, including Austin, Texas; Little
Rock, Arkansas; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
, ● Colons (:) introduce an explanation, description, or a list (even a list of one item).
It will appear in this order:
1. Thing to be explained/described/listed.
2. The colon
3. Explanation/description/list
Correct: I went to the store to buy a few items: butter, flour, sugar, eggs,
and chocolate chips.
Correct: I was baking chocolate chip cookies: my favorite kind of treat.
● The Em-Dash (—) A single em-dash can be used anywhere a colon can be
used, following the rule above.
Correct: I was baking chocolate chip cookies—my favorite kind of treat.
uz
However, for a list, description, or explanation in the middle of a sentence, use
the double em-dash.
Correct: All of the creative elements of a film — casting, acting,
T
cinematography, effects, and editing — are the responsibility of the
director.
SA
● Use the Question Mark (?) only when asking a specific question.
Incorrect: He wondered if the garden survived the drought?
D
Correct: Did the garden survive the drought?
2. Possessives
@
• Pay attention to the placement of the apostrophe (’) to determine if a word in
possession is singular or plural.
Singular: That is the girl’s sweater.
Plural: The boys’ favorite game is football.
• Pay attention to commonly confused possessives with NO apostrophes
Its vs. It’s (short for “it is) - “The dog ate its food.” vs. “It’s going to rain.”
Their vs. They’re (short for “they are”)
Your vs. You’re (short for “you are”)
1. Punctuation
● Periods (.) break up two separate standalone statements.
● Use Commas (,) whenever you NEED a brief pause. If you don’t need a brief
pause, leave it out.**
Commas should NOT be used to connect two standalone thoughts. There, a
period or semicolon must be used.
Incorrect: I went to the store, I bought all the items I needed to bake
cookies.
Correct: I went to the store. I bought all the items I needed to bake
cookies.
uz
Avoid using commas when identifying something (or someone) by its full title:
Incorrect: Spanish painter, Pablo Picasso, is my favorite artist.
T
Correct: Spanish painter Pablo Picasso is my favorite artist.
SA
Use commas after parentheses if, when you cut out the parentheses, the
comma is still needed:
Correct: Although the last global conflict was World War II (1939-1945),
D
there have been countless regional wars ever since.
● Semicolons (;) connect two related statements that could still stand on their
@
own as complete sentences.
Correct: I went to the store; I bought all the items I needed to bake
cookies.
Also use the semicolon for a list of items that have commas within each item.
Correct: I took a tour of state capitals, including Austin, Texas; Little
Rock, Arkansas; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
, ● Colons (:) introduce an explanation, description, or a list (even a list of one item).
It will appear in this order:
1. Thing to be explained/described/listed.
2. The colon
3. Explanation/description/list
Correct: I went to the store to buy a few items: butter, flour, sugar, eggs,
and chocolate chips.
Correct: I was baking chocolate chip cookies: my favorite kind of treat.
● The Em-Dash (—) A single em-dash can be used anywhere a colon can be
used, following the rule above.
Correct: I was baking chocolate chip cookies—my favorite kind of treat.
uz
However, for a list, description, or explanation in the middle of a sentence, use
the double em-dash.
Correct: All of the creative elements of a film — casting, acting,
T
cinematography, effects, and editing — are the responsibility of the
director.
SA
● Use the Question Mark (?) only when asking a specific question.
Incorrect: He wondered if the garden survived the drought?
D
Correct: Did the garden survive the drought?
2. Possessives
@
• Pay attention to the placement of the apostrophe (’) to determine if a word in
possession is singular or plural.
Singular: That is the girl’s sweater.
Plural: The boys’ favorite game is football.
• Pay attention to commonly confused possessives with NO apostrophes
Its vs. It’s (short for “it is) - “The dog ate its food.” vs. “It’s going to rain.”
Their vs. They’re (short for “they are”)
Your vs. You’re (short for “you are”)
