SAT Grammar Trick: Solving Hard Punctuation Questions Fast
The SAT Grammar Trick That Catches Everyone (And How to Beat It)
You're deep in the SAT Writing section. You hit a long, confusing sentence, and all four answer choices look virtually identical except for one tiny punctuation mark. This is a classic SAT trap. At The Test Advantage, we teach our students a powerful strategy that turns these confusing problems into easy points by focusing on one simple, objective rule.
The Problem: A Deceptively Tricky Question
First, let's look at the type of question that stumps so many students.
"When getting ready for winter, cover the bed with straw and any lingering ________ to destroy the fern-like foliage before the new growth appears in the spring."
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- foliage, just remember
- foliage just remember
- foliage; just remember
- foliage just remember;
The first instinct is to get lost in the sentence's meaning. But the secret isn't in the words—it's in the punctuation. Notice that the only real difference between the choices is the presence of a comma or a semicolon. This is your signal to stop reading for meaning and start analyzing grammatical structure.
The Golden Rule of SAT Punctuation
The key to unlocking this problem lies in understanding the function of the semicolon and period. At The Test Advantage, we teach a simple, unforgettable rule:
Semicolons = Periods on the SAT
On this test, a semicolon (;) and a period (.) do the exact same job: they both must be used to separate two complete, independent sentences. An independent clause is a complete thought that could stand on its own. If you can't put a period somewhere, you can't put a semicolon there either.
The Independent Clause Test
Let's apply this rule to answer choice C, which places a semicolon after "foliage." To see if this is correct, we need to check if the part *after* the semicolon can be its own standalone sentence.
Test Sentence: "Just remember to destroy the fern-like foliage before the new growth appears in the spring."
This is a command, but it's not an independent clause in this context; it's a continuing instruction. Because it's not a complete, standalone sentence, you cannot place a semicolon (or a period) before it.
The Power of Elimination
This single rule is incredibly powerful. Knowing that the second half of the sentence is an incomplete thought (a fragment) allows us to immediately eliminate any answer that uses a semicolon.
- Choice C (foliage; just remember) is incorrect.
- Choice D (foliage just remember;) is also incorrect (and logically misplaced).
Just like that, we've cut our options in half. The choice is now between using a comma (A) or using no punctuation at all (B).
Comma vs. No Punctuation
Now we decide if a comma is necessary. Let's test Choice B by reading the sentence without punctuation:
"When getting ready for winter, cover the bed with straw and any lingering foliage just remember to destroy..."
Reading this aloud makes the problem obvious—it's clunky and hard to follow. Grammatically, this is a run-on sentence, where two distinct ideas are mashed together without a proper break. The phrase "just remember to destroy..." acts as an additional instruction. A comma is the perfect tool to create the necessary pause and separate these ideas clearly.
This leaves us with the only grammatically sound option: Choice A.
The TTA Pro Strategy for Punctuation Questions
This problem highlights a critical approach for the SAT Writing and Language test.
How to Attack Punctuation Questions
- Analyze the Answer Choices First: When the choices are nearly identical except for punctuation, you know it's a grammar rule question, not a meaning question.
- Apply the Semicolon = Period Rule: This is your most powerful tool. Immediately check if any answer choice uses a semicolon. If it does, run the "Independent Clause Test" on the parts before and after it.
- Eliminate Incorrect Options: Confidently cross out any answer choices that misuse semicolons or create run-on sentences.
- Select the Clearest and Most Correct Option: The right answer will create a sentence that is grammatically correct, clear, and logical.
Conclusion: Be a Smart Test-Taker
The SAT is designed with subtle tricks to catch you off guard. By learning the fundamental rules—like the non-negotiable function of a semicolon—you can disarm these traps and approach each question with a clear, effective strategy. It’s not about being a grammar expert; it's about being a strategic test-taker.
To apply these strategies to the most realistic Digital SAT practice papers available, check out our plans.
View Practice Test Plans