SAT Punctuation rules for NOTECARDS

Front

Punctuation needed after an INTRODUCTORY DEPENDENT CLAUSE, INTRODUCTORY PHRASE, or INTRODUCTORY MODIFIER.

Back

Comma

Front

Use commas to SEPARATE WHAT MINIMUM NUMBER for items in a list.

Back

Three

Front

What punctuation is used for restrictive (essential) elements?

Back

None

Front

Which word is always for restrictive/essential elements (commas are unnecessary), that or which?

Back

that

Front

What punctuation is used AFTER an independent clause to direct attention to a list, a clarification/explanation, a definition, or a quote?

Back

colon

Front

A colon can only come ---- an independent clause.

Back

after

Front

A semicolon is used to join two ----- clauses.

Back

independent

Front

Typically you don’t use punctuation ----- prepositional phrases (typically at, for, in, of, on, to, with).

Back

before

Front

What punctuation mark shows possession and denotes a contraction?

Back

apostrophe

Front

can be a sentence on its own; has a subject, verb, and complete thought.

Back

independent clause