SAT Conventions — however, therefore, for example: semicolon or commas?

Words such as however, therefore, consequently, nevertheless and for example look like joining words, but grammatically they are adverbs. They cannot join two independent clauses with only a comma, and when they sit in the middle of a single clause they are set off by a pair of commas and never by a semicolon. The SAT tests both situations, often in the same sentence, and the key skill is deciding where the clause boundary actually is before looking at the word itself.

The ten quiz questions each print one original sentence or two-sentence text about astronomy, genetics, geology, ecology, space exploration or American history. Because four versions of one sentence that differ only by a comma are hard to compare on a small screen, the options describe each repair in words, such as replacing the comma after a given word with a semicolon. Three sentences are comma splices repaired at the join between the clauses: one with however, one with therefore, and one with nevertheless where a period starts the new sentence. Two place the adverb or transitional phrase inside the second clause, so the semicolon belongs at the join and not next to the adverb, a trap that catches students who punctuate "however" by habit. Two put a semicolon where a comma belongs because the adverb interrupts one clause between its subject and verb. One pairs "thus" with an -ing phrase, which is attached with a comma because a phrase cannot follow a semicolon. One leaves an interrupting "for instance" opened but not closed, and one sentence, with a semicolon before consequently and a comma after it, is already correct. Each question has exactly one defensible repair among its options, and the explanations say why each of the other options fails.

The flashcards list the common conjunctive adverbs, contrast them with the coordinating conjunctions that can join clauses after a comma, and give the semicolon test: can the words on each side stand alone as sentences?

The material offers two formats: a multiple-choice quiz with an explanation for every question, and a deck of flashcards. It is practice material written by Zestly and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the College Board, which owns the SAT.

• Distinguish conjunctive adverbs and transitional phrases from coordinating conjunctions
• Repair comma splices that contain however, therefore or nevertheless with a semicolon or a period
• Place the semicolon at the true boundary between two clauses, even when the adverb sits later in the second clause
• Set off an adverb that interrupts a single clause with a matching pair of commas
• Attach an -ing phrase introduced by thus with a comma

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the Standard English Conventions content domain of the digital SAT Reading and Writing section as described by the College Board on satsuite.collegeboard.org (Boundaries). Every sentence, option and explanation is original; nothing is reproduced from any College Board publication or practice test.