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Punctuation — Core Skills

The core idea, one worked example, and short practice.

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Punctuation: The Basics

SAT punctuation questions really ask one thing: where does one sentence stop and the next one start?

A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb. A clause that can stand alone is independent. "The bus was late" is independent.

Two independent clauses cannot be joined by a comma alone. That mistake is a comma splice. Fix it three ways: a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a FANBOYS word (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

Three more patterns show up often. Put a comma after an opening phrase: Before the game, we ate pizza. Put a complete sentence before any colon: I packed three things: a hat, a map, and water. When extra information sits in the middle, use the same mark on both sides: My uncle, who lives in Texas, sends postcards.

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📌 Related Topics in SAT Core Skills Track

Vocab in Context — Core SkillsCentral Ideas & Details — Core SkillsCommand of Evidence — Core SkillsReading Comprehension — Core SkillsSentence Structure — Core SkillsTransitions — Core Skills

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The core idea, one worked example, and short practice.
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Start by reading the study notes and working through the examples on this page. Then use the flashcards to test your recall. Regular review and active practice are key to retention.
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Punctuation — Core Skills is part of the SAT Prep course on Study Mondo, specifically in the SAT Core Skills Track section. You can explore the full course for more related topics and practice resources.