The ACT English section may seem straightforward, but it often tests students on subtle language rules and logical reasoning skills that even the most prepared test-takers can overlook. While grammar and punctuation are essential, the exam also evaluates clarity, style, and coherence. Here are some commonly overlooked mistakes and strategies to avoid them.
1. Misinterpreting Questions
The ACT English section doesn’t just test knowledge of grammar rules—it assesses how well you apply them in context. Many students rush through questions without fully understanding what’s being asked. Sometimes, a question seems to test one rule, but it actually assesses another. For example, a sentence might appear to require subject-verb agreement but is actually testing parallel structure.
How to Avoid It: Slow down and read both the question and the answer choices carefully. If a question asks which revision is “most concise” or “most logical,” focus on clarity rather than just fixing grammatical errors.
2. Overcorrecting Sentence Structure
Many students assume longer, more complex sentences sound more sophisticated and therefore choose unnecessarily wordy answers. This often leads to redundancy or awkward phrasing, which can cost valuable points. The ACT favors clear, direct writing.
How to Avoid It: Choose the simplest answer that preserves the sentence’s meaning. Avoid redundant phrases like “basic fundamentals” or “unexpected surprise.” If two answer choices are grammatically correct, the more concise one is usually right.
3. Misusing Punctuation in Complex Sentences
While most students understand basic comma and period rules, the ACT frequently tests advanced punctuation, such as semicolons, colons, and dashes. Misplacing or omitting these can change the meaning of a sentence.
How to Avoid It: Know the distinct functions of each punctuation mark:
Semicolon (;): Connects two independent clauses without a conjunction.
Colon (:): Introduces a list, explanation, or clarification.
Dash (—): Creates emphasis or inserts a break in thought. If two answer choices seem correct but one uses unnecessary punctuation, it’s likely incorrect.
4. Ignoring Parallel Structure
Parallelism ensures that elements in a list or comparison follow the same grammatical pattern. Even advanced students sometimes miss subtle shifts in structure, making sentences awkward or grammatically incorrect.
How to Avoid It: When dealing with lists, comparisons, or paired conjunctions (e.g., “not only…but also”), ensure all elements match in form:
Incorrect: She enjoys reading, writing, and to paint.
Correct: She enjoys reading, writing, and painting.
5. Overlooking Logical Transitions
The ACT Exam frequently tests logical relationships between ideas. Many students focus on grammar but neglect how sentences flow, leading to inappropriate transitions.
How to Avoid It: Pay attention to the logical connections between sentences. Words like “however,” “therefore,” “consequently,” and “nevertheless” each serve specific purposes. For example:
Incorrect : “The company faced financial difficulties. Nevertheless, it expanded aggressively.”
Correct : “The company faced financial difficulties. However, it expanded aggressively.”
6. Neglecting Verb Tense Consistency
Students often focus so much on individual sentence corrections that they miss tense inconsistencies within a passage. This is particularly tricky in passages that shift between past and present tense.
How to Avoid It: Identify the main tense of the passage. If a sentence shifts from past to present without a logical reason, it’s likely incorrect. For example:
Incorrect: She walked into the room and sees the painting.
Correct: She walked into the room and saw the painting.
7. Choosing Pronouns Without Clear Antecedents
Many students assume that if a pronoun sounds natural, it must be correct. However, the ACT tests whether pronouns clearly refer to a specific noun, avoiding ambiguity.
How to Avoid It: Always ensure the noun the pronoun refers to is clearly stated. If a sentence uses “it,” “this,” or “they,” ask yourself: “What exactly does this pronoun refer to?” If it’s unclear, rephrase the sentence.
Incorrect: The company revised the employee policies after consulting with the legal team, which they found problematic.
(Who found what problematic? Did the company find the policies problematic? Did the legal team find the policies problematic? The meaning is ambiguous.)
Correct: The company revised the employee policies after consulting with the legal team, which found certain clauses problematic.
(Now, it’s clear that the legal team found issues with the policies.)
8. Failing to Recognize Modifier Placement Errors
Misplaced or dangling modifiers can create confusion or even humorous misinterpretations of a sentence.
How to Avoid It: Place modifying phrases as close as possible to the words they describe:
Incorrect: Running through the park, the flowers looked beautiful.
Correct: Running through the park, she noticed the flowers looked beautiful.
9. Misjudging Conciseness and Redundancy
Many students mistakenly believe that the longest answer choice is the most thorough and correct. The ACT often includes redundant or overly complex phrasing to mislead test-takers.
How to Avoid It: The best answer is usually the shortest one that retains the sentence’s meaning. Avoid phrases like “in order to” when “to” suffices or “due to the fact that” when “because” is more concise.
Incorrect: The committee came to the conclusion that, in light of recent developments, it was necessary to postpone the meeting until a later date.
Correct: The committee concluded that the meeting needed to be postponed.
10. Overlooking Subject-Verb Agreement in Complex Sentences
While most students recognize basic subject-verb agreement errors, complex sentence structures can make these mistakes harder to spot.
How to Avoid It: Identify the true subject of the sentence and ensure it matches the verb. Watch out for misleading prepositional phrases or words between the subject and verb:
Incorrect: “The team of scientists, along with their assistants, were analyzing the data.”
Correct: “The team of scientists, along with their assistants, was analyzing the data.”
11. Ignoring Author’s Style and Tone in Sentence Placement
Students who focus too much on grammar may overlook the logical flow of ideas. The ACT tests whether sentences fit contextually, not just grammatically.
Example: If a paragraph builds an argument step-by-step, inserting a counterpoint too early can disrupt the logical flow, even if the sentence itself is well-written.
How to Improve Accuracy and Master ACT English
Understanding common mistakes is crucial, but actively improving your accuracy requires deliberate practice. Here are some key strategies to sharpen your skills:
1. Develop a Systematic Approach
Read the full sentence: Instead of focusing only on the underlined portion, read the entire sentence to understand its structure and meaning.
Eliminate wrong answers: If an answer choice sounds unnatural or unnecessarily wordy, it’s probably incorrect.
Check for multiple rules: A single question can test more than one concept, such as subject-verb agreement and conciseness.
2. Master the ACT Grammar Rules
ACT English isn’t about memorizing every grammar rule—it’s about recognizing patterns. Focus on:
Punctuation: Know when to use commas, semicolons, colons, and dashes.
Subject-verb agreement: Identify tricky singular/plural mismatches.
Pronoun clarity: Ensure every pronoun refers to a specific noun.
3. Practice with Official ACT Tests
Work through official ACT practice tests to familiarize yourself with real test phrasing.
Time yourself to simulate test conditions and improve your pacing.
4. Review Mistakes Carefully
When reviewing practice questions, don’t just note the right answer—understand why the wrong choices were incorrect.
Keep a mistake log of recurring errors to track patterns in your understanding.
5. Read High-Quality Writing
Engaging with well-edited sources such as The Atlantic, The New York Times, or The Wall Street Journal can enhance your ability to recognize correct grammar and sentence construction. As you read, take note of how sentences are structured, how ideas transition smoothly, and how punctuation is used effectively.
6. Leverage Resources from The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review offers expert-curated ACT prep courses, drills, and full-length practice tests that emphasize clarity, conciseness, and grammatical precision—the same qualities the ACT rewards. Their strategies, such as the “4 C’s” (Complete, Consistent, Clear, Concise), provide a structured approach to evaluating answer choices and mastering tricky concepts.
Conclusion
Excelling in the ACT English section isn’t just about knowing grammar—it’s about understanding how sentences work together for clarity and coherence. By recognizing common mistakes, practicing with real test materials, and refining your approach, you can significantly improve your accuracy. Analyzing errors, reading well-structured writing, and applying test-taking strategies consistently will help you gain confidence. With dedication and the right preparation, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle the exam successfully.