How punctuation practice works
Each page in this series holds one topic from the ACT English test. The list on the left shows every question in the pool; the number tile turns green once you have checked a question, and a saved question is easy to find again with the Bookmarked filter.
- Pick a question. Use the list, the search box or the difficulty filter, or just press Next question to go in order.
- Answer it. A short passage with one underlined portion and four ways to write it, including NO CHANGE.
- Check your answer. Your result shows every choice marked, your pick, the correct option and a short explanation of why.
- Try it again or move on. A question you got wrong is worth a second attempt after you have read the explanation.
Prefer a short set with a score at the end? Build a punctuation set of 5, 10 or 20 questions, timed or untimed.
What punctuation covers on the ACT
On the ACT English test, Punctuation questions map to Conventions of Standard English. Our practice results show raw accuracy for this category so you can identify a skill to revisit. Official ACT reports use their own scoring method.
How to approach punctuation
Find the clauses on both sides of the marked text. A semicolon joins two complete clauses; a colon needs a complete lead-in. Commas can set off a removable phrase, but they cannot join two complete sentences alone.
Before you move on: Read the full sentence again after inserting your choice. Check that the punctuation marks on both sides of an interruption work as a pair.
The 50 questions here cover 50 skills, including:
- Commas in a series
- Singular possessive
- Plural possessive
- Its versus it's
- Semicolon between independent clauses
- Comma after an introductory clause
- End punctuation for an indirect question
- No comma between subject and verb
- Commas around a nonessential appositive
- Colon introducing a list
- No colon after a verb
- Comma before a coordinating conjunction
This pool has 16 questions labelled easy, 18 medium and 16 hard by our team. These are practice labels, not official ACT difficulty ratings. Filter when you want to warm up or stretch. All 50 questions are available to practice.
Tips for punctuation questions
- Read the whole sentence, not just the underlined words. Most errors show up where the underlined part meets the rest of the sentence.
- NO CHANGE can be correct. Pick it when the original follows the rule, not because the other options look unfamiliar.
- When two choices say the same thing, both are usually wrong: the ACT wants the shortest version that is grammatically complete.
- Say the sentence in your head with each option in place. Awkward rhythm often points to a punctuation or structure error.