PSAT/NMSQT Sentence Completions: Gaining Information from
Punctuation  Punctuation is your friend when you’re trying to
crack a sentence completion because punctuation adds meaning to
written expression. On the PSAT/NMSQT, you get the most mileage
out of three punctuation marks: the semicolon, the colon, and
quotation marks.  Paying attention to punctuation pays off when
you hit the passage-based questions, too.  A semicolon (a dot
atop a comma) is like the bench that you sit on for a moment
while hiking, according to one writer. You rest there and then
continue the journey. If you see a semicolon, you probably won’t
see a change in meaning.  Instead, the second portion of the
sentence (the part that follows the semicolon) is an extension
of the first portion. The relation may be implied cause-and-
effect or an additional fact. Take a look at these examples:
The committee chair must take attendance; the meeting can’t be
held if too many members are absent. Efforts to locate the puppy
were unsuccessful; the se