ACT English rewards pattern recognition, not vocabulary. Master these twelve rules and a 36 is realistic. 1. **Comma splices** — Two independent clauses can't be joined by a comma alone. 2. **Semicolons vs colons** — Semicolon = two independent clauses; colon = introduces a list or explanation. 3. **Subject-verb agreement** — Ignore prepositional phrases when finding the subject. 4. **Pronoun clarity** — Every 'it', 'they', 'this' must have one clear antecedent. 5. **Modifier placement** — The modifier attaches to whatever noun sits nearest — avoid dangling modifiers. 6. **Parallel structure** — Lists and comparisons need matching grammatical forms. 7. **Concision** — Shorter is almost always correct when meaning is preserved. 8. **Transitions** — Read the sentence before AND after — logic beats vocab. 9. **Redundancy** — 'Return back', 'end result', 'past history' — always wrong on ACT. 10. **Which vs that** — 'That' for essential clauses; 'which' for non-essential (with commas). 11. **Verb tense consistency** — Match the tense already established in the passage. 12. **Author's purpose** — Rhetoric questions reward the answer that fits the paragraph's function. Our ACT tutors run 8-week 30+ cohorts with weekly timed sections — book a free diagnostic.

ACT English 36: The Grammar Rules That Actually Get Tested

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