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Boundaries

The Stop / Half-Stop / Go Method · 11 Rules

SAT R&W Standard English Conventions
95 problems · ≈ 1–2 per module
CORD — C Concept O Operation · Method R Recognition D Drill

What this chapter tests: pick the right punctuation for a blank in a sentence — period, comma, semicolon, colon, or dash. Every question reduces to one move: test what's on each side of the blank, then apply the rule that fits.

Know These 5 Terms

IC (Independent Clause)
A complete sentence: subject + verb + complete thought. Can stand alone. "The team won."
DEP (Dependent Clause)
Not a complete sentence — starts with although, because, when, if, who, which, that… "Although it rained,…"
FANBOYS
The 7 coordinating conjunctions: For · And · Nor · But · Or · Yet · So
Restrictive
Modifier essential to meaning → NO commas. "The student who studies hardest wins."
Non-essential
Info you could delete → TWO commas (or two dashes, or two parens). "My brother, a doctor, lives in Tokyo."
Fragment
Not a complete sentence — missing a subject, verb, or complete thought. Can't stand alone. "themes of:" · "smiling broadly." · "Although it rained."

Foundation Rules · 1–3 · The 3 Families (IC test → pick family → apply Rules 4–11)

Rule 1 STOP family — between two ICs Drill 29

Use any STOP punctuation: Period · Semicolon · Comma+FANBOYS · Dash. All 4 are equivalent: . = ; = , FANBOYS = —

"A subseasonal forecast attempts to predict weather conditions" ; "its predictions are short-term."

If 2+ STOP forms appear in the choices: they're all valid for STOP, so check Rules 4–11 to eliminate the ones that break a stricter rule (over-punctuation, fragment on one side, etc.).

RecognitionPicks a comma alone between two complete sentences instead of a STOP punctuation.
Rule 2 HALF-STOP family — IC + elaboration Drill 7

Use colon or dash when the left side is an IC and the right side is a list, definition, or explanation. Left side MUST be an IC.

"The book examines three themes" : "childhood, womanhood, identity."

RecognitionUses a colon or dash when the left side isn't a complete sentence.
Rule 3 GO family — everything else Drill 35

Use comma for intro phrase, non-essential modifier, or list. Use no punctuation between subject + verb, verb + object, or noun + restrictive modifier.

"Although it rained" , "we still played." — left is DEP, so GO (not STOP).

RecognitionUses STOP punctuation after an introductory dependent clause.
Quick Card · Page 1
IC test on each side · Apply Rule 1, 2, or 3 · Check Rules 4–11 for violations
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Boundaries · Rules 4–11

Specialized Rules · what to do + what students get wrong

SAT R&W Standard English Conventions
Rules Catalog
💡 How to use this with explanations. When you review a wrong answer, the explanation will say violates Rule N. Look up that rule below to see the pattern, the example, and how to avoid it next time. Foundation Rules 1–3 are on Page 1.
Two traps dominate in this bank — Rule 10 (fragment after STOP) at ~140 instances and Rule 11 (over-punctuating) at ~50. If a choice puts a period/semicolon/dash before a non-IC, or adds a comma where the family is GO — eliminate without thinking twice.
Rule 4 However-Trap (conjunctive adverb splice) Drill 4

Words like however, therefore, moreover don't glue ICs together. Use semicolon, not comma.

"X is true, however, Y is false." → "X is true; however, Y is false."

RecognitionUses commas around 'however' to join two complete sentences.
Rule 5 Non-essential needs TWO Drill 9

Non-essential modifier needs a matching pair: `,___,` OR `—___—` OR `(___)`. Mix is wrong.

"the method (called ELISA,…" — open paren, close comma = mismatch.

RecognitionMixes the punctuation pair, like opening with a paren and closing with a comma.
Rule 6 Essential = NO commas

If the modifier tells you which one (restrictive), no commas. Don't add them.

"The student, who studies hardest, wins." — without "who studies hardest," we don't know which student.

RecognitionWraps a restrictive 'who/that/which' modifier in commas as if it were extra info.
Rule 7 Colon requires IC on left

A colon must follow an IC. If the left side is a fragment (no main verb), no colon.

"themes of: childhood, womanhood." — "themes of" isn't an IC.

RecognitionPuts a colon after a fragment like 'themes of'.
Rule 8 Super-comma list Drill 3

When list items themselves contain commas, separate items with semicolons.

"Paris, France; Tokyo, Japan; Lima, Peru."

RecognitionUses commas to separate list items that already contain internal commas.
Rule 9 Embedded question Drill 5

A question inside a sentence ends with a period (not "?") and uses statement word order.

"Scientists wondered why X is true." — period, not "?".

RecognitionUses ? after an indirect question inside a statement.
Rule 10 STOP needs IC on BOTH sides

Period, semicolon, dash, and comma+FANBOYS all need an IC on each side. Right side as a fragment = wrong.

"He won; smiling broadly." — "smiling broadly" isn't an IC.

RecognitionPuts a period or semicolon before an -ing fragment.
Rule 11 Don't over-punctuate (#1 wrong-choice pattern) Drill 3

No comma between verb + object, subject + verb, noun + restrictive modifier. No comma before of, in, at, with, for.

"the book, that I read" — restrictive modifier, no comma. · "themes, of childhood" — comma before "of".

RecognitionAdds a comma between verb and object, or before prepositions like 'of' or 'in'.
Rules Catalog · Page 2
Most wrong choices violate Rule 10 (fragment) or Rule 11 (extra comma).
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