Conventions of Standard

The Conventions of Standard English, essential for the ACT exam, encompass the rules and guidelines that govern the proper use of grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and word usage in the English language. Mastery of these conventions is crucial for clear and effective communication, whether in writing or speaking. For ACT test-takers, demonstrating a strong command of Standard English conventions is vital for achieving a high score on the English section of the exam. Understanding these rules not only helps in standardized tests but also enhances overall writing and speaking skills, ensuring that ideas are conveyed accurately and professionally.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the conventions of Standard English, enabling them to accurately apply grammatical rules, use punctuation correctly, and construct well-structured sentences, thereby improving their overall communication skills and performance on the ACT exam.

Understanding Grammar

Grammar is the foundation of Standard English and includes the rules for structuring sentences and using words correctly. Proper grammar ensures that writing is clear, concise, and free from ambiguity. Understanding grammar is essential for effective communication, especially in academic and professional settings. Key grammatical elements to focus on include:

1. Parts of Speech: Understanding the function of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections is fundamental. Each part of speech plays a specific role in sentence construction.

2. Sentence Structure: Sentences can be simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex. Recognizing and constructing these sentence types is vital for varied and dynamic writing.

3. Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensuring that subjects and verbs agree in number (singular or plural) is a common challenge. Singular subjects need singular verbs, and plural subjects need plural verbs.

4. Verb Tenses: Consistent use of verb tenses is important for clarity. Understanding past, present, and future tenses, as well as perfect and progressive aspects, helps in maintaining a clear timeline of events.

Punctuation

Punctuation is essential for structuring sentences and ensuring clarity. Proper use of punctuation marks enhances readability and meaning. This section covers key punctuation marks, including periods, question marks, exclamation points, commas, semicolons, colons, quotation marks, and apostrophes. Mastering these rules is crucial for clear and effective writing, especially in academic and formal contexts like the ACT.

1. Periods, Question Marks, and Exclamation Points: These end punctuation marks indicate the end of a sentence and its type—declarative, interrogative, or exclamatory.

2. Commas: Commas separate items in a list, set off introductory elements, and indicate pauses within sentences. They are also used in compound sentences before coordinating conjunctions.

3. Semicolons and Colons: Semicolons link closely related independent clauses, while colons introduce lists, explanations, or quotations.

4. Quotation Marks: Quotation marks indicate direct speech or quotations and are used around titles of short works.

5. Apostrophes: Apostrophes show possession or form contractions. Understanding singular and plural possessive forms is crucial.

Sentence Structure and Clarity

Mastering sentence structure and clarity is essential for effective writing. Understanding how to construct clear and correct sentences ensures your ideas are conveyed accurately. This involves elements like parallelism, proper modifier placement, and using coordination and subordination. Additionally, varying sentence types and using active voice can significantly enhance the readability and impact of your writing.

1. Parallelism: Ensuring that elements in a sentence are balanced and follow the same grammatical structure improves readability and coherence.

2. Modifier Placement: Proper placement of modifiers (words or phrases that describe other words) is essential to avoid confusion. Misplaced or dangling modifiers can lead to unclear or humorous misinterpretations.

3. Coordination and Subordination: Using coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to link equal elements and subordinating conjunctions (because, since, although, etc.) to link dependent clauses to independent ones helps in creating complex and nuanced sentences.

Word Usage

Proper word usage is crucial for clear and effective communication. It involves understanding the nuances of words, their meanings, and their appropriate contexts. By mastering word usage, you can enhance the precision and impact of your writing. Key areas to focus on include:

1. Homophones and Commonly Confused Words: Words that sound alike but have different meanings (e.g., their/there/they’re) can be tricky. Understanding the correct usage of these words is important for precise communication.

2. Vocabulary and Diction: Choosing the right word for the context ensures clarity and precision. Expanding vocabulary and understanding connotations (the feelings or ideas associated with words) enhances writing quality.

3. Formal vs. Informal Language: Knowing when to use formal language (e.g., academic writing) versus informal language (e.g., casual conversation) is crucial for appropriate tone and style.

Examples

1. Subject-Verb Agreement:

• Incorrect: “The list of items are on the desk.”
• Correct: “The list of items is on the desk.”

2. Parallelism:

• Incorrect: “She likes dancing, to sing, and painting.”
• Correct: “She likes dancing, singing, and painting.”

3. Proper Use of Commas:

• Incorrect: “Let’s eat, Grandma!”
• Correct: “Let’s eat Grandma!”

4. Correct Use of Apostrophes:

• Incorrect: “Its a beautiful day.”
• Correct: “It’s a beautiful day.”

5. Consistent Verb Tenses:

• Incorrect: “She walks to the store and bought some milk.”
• Correct: “She walked to the store and bought some milk.”

Practice Questions

Question 1: Subject-Verb Agreement

Choose the sentence that correctly uses subject-verb agreement.

A. The group of students are going on a field trip.
B. The group of students is going on a field trip.
C. The group of students were going on a field trip.
D. The group of students has went on a field trip.

Answer: B

Explanation: The subject “group” is singular, so the verb should also be singular (“is”).

Question 2: Parallelism

Choose the sentence that correctly uses parallel structure.

A. She enjoys reading, to jog, and cooking.
B. She enjoys reading, jogging, and cooking.
C. She enjoys reading, jogging, and to cook.
D. She enjoys to read, jog, and cooking.

Answer: B

Explanation: The elements in the list are all gerunds (reading, jogging, cooking), making the sentence parallel.

Question 3: Correct Use of Commas

Choose the sentence that correctly uses commas.

A. Before we leave, make sure you have your keys, phone, and wallet.
B. Before we leave make sure, you have your keys phone and wallet.
C. Before we leave make sure you have your keys, phone and wallet.
D. Before, we leave make sure you have your keys, phone, and wallet.

Answer: A

Explanation: The comma after “Before we leave” sets off the introductory element, and the commas after “keys” and “phone” separate items in the list.