TSI ELAR Study Guide
Punctuation and Mechanics
Punctuation shows how ideas within a sentence connect. A misplaced comma, apostrophe, semicolon, or colon can change a sentence’s meaning or make its structure unclear.
Commas
The key is to recognize why a comma is needed, not to insert one wherever you’d pause while speaking.
After introductory elements
Use a comma after an introductory word, phrase, or dependent clause.
With coordinating conjunctions
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction when it joins two independent clauses:
Both sides can stand alone — “The forecast predicted heavy rain.” “The game continued as scheduled.” — so the comma is appropriate.
No comma before and here. The words after it have no subject of their own, so they aren’t an independent clause. Don’t automatically put a comma before every and or but.
In a series
Items in a series should also be grammatically parallel.
With nonessential information
Set off information that adds detail but isn’t needed to identify the person or thing.
Nonessential — commas
Dr. Chen, who joined the university in 2018, teaches biology.
The sentence still identifies Dr. Chen without the extra information.
Essential — no commas
Students who complete the application by Friday will receive priority consideration.
The phrase identifies which students. Remove it and the meaning changes.
Quick test
Remove the information. If the sentence still identifies the intended person or thing and keeps its basic meaning, the information is nonessential and needs commas.
Apostrophes
Singular possession
Add ‘s.the student‘s notebook
One student’s notebook.
Plural ending in s
Add an apostrophe after the s.the students‘ notebooks
Several students’ notebooks.
Irregular plural
Add ‘s.the children‘s booksthe women‘s team
Contractions
Possessive pronouns — its, yours, theirs, hers — never take apostrophes. “The company changed its policy.”
Not for ordinary plurals
Incorrect
The store sells several type’s of computer’s.
Correct
The store sells several types of computers.
Semicolons
Each side could stand alone as a sentence, and the ideas are closely connected.
With transitional words
When a transition like however, therefore, consequently, or for example joins two independent clauses, put a semicolon before it and a comma after.
Comma splice
The first trial produced unexpected results, therefore, the researchers repeated the experiment.
Correct
The first trial produced unexpected results; therefore, the researchers repeated the experiment.
The test
If either side can’t stand alone as a sentence, a semicolon is usually wrong.
Colons
Introducing a list
The job requires three skills: patience, organization, and creativity.
“The job requires three skills” is a complete sentence.
Introducing an explanation
Maya had one goal: to finish the project before Friday.
The words after the colon explain what the goal was.
Incorrect
The job requires: patience, organization, and creativity.
A colon right after a verb, when the sentence naturally continues into the list.
Correct
The job requires patience, organization, and creativity.
Semicolon or colon?
;
Semicolon
Connects two closely related complete sentences. The ideas are grammatically equal.The road was closed; we took another route.
:
Colon
Introduces something that explains or develops the statement before it.We had only one option: we needed to take another route.
Capitalization
Capitalize:
Common noun — lowercase
The president of the company addressed the employees.
Title with a name — capitalize
President Garcia addressed the employees.
Don’t capitalize ordinary common nouns just because they seem important.
Spelling
Some questions ask you to recognize correctly spelled words, or errors that come from using the wrong word.
Watch for spelling changes when suffixes are added:
On the test
Read the entire sentence. What looks like a spelling problem is sometimes the wrong word.
TSI strategy: check the structure first
Ignore the punctuation at first and look at the sentence’s structure.
Ask
Is the group of words before the punctuation a complete sentence? Is the group after it a complete sentence?
This is especially useful when choosing among a comma, semicolon, colon, and period.
The second part is a complete sentence, but the first part needs a word showing why the concert was postponed. A semicolon wouldn’t express that as clearly as a conjunction:
Don’t choose punctuation based on where a pause feels natural. Determine how the words and clauses are grammatically related.
Learn to recognize an independent clause — a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence. Once you can spot them quickly, most comma and semicolon questions become easy. Then remember one rule for colons: the words before a colon should form a complete thought.