Should I indicate in my works-cited-list entry that an article is a cover story?
No. But if the information is useful for your argument—for example, because it signals the importance of the article’s topic—you can mention it in your… Read More
Should media in reference to mass media be treated as a singular or plural noun?
The MLA follows Merriam-Webster, which states that media can be treated as singular or plural when the reference is to mass media (“Media”). So you may choose… Read More
To Dangle or Not to Dangle: On Ending a Sentence with a Preposition
Somewhere along the line, I was taught not to dangle my prepositions Read More
After I’ve given a person’s name in full, should I use last name only thereafter even if I am writing a work with chapters rather than an essay?
Yes, generally follow this guideline, especially for frequently mentioned people or those who are the subject of the work. Read More
Why are internal capital letters retained in titles of websites in MLA style?
When special typography is strongly associated with a brand, we retain it (e.g., SoundCloud, YouTube). The Chicago Manual of Style supports this practice, advising, “[N]ames that… Read More
On Crafting Topic Sentences: “The Age of ‘The Age of Innocence,’” by Elif Batuman
When composing an essay, make sure that your topic sentences point your work in the right direction Read More
Are medical terms such as Staphylococcus aureus and their acronyms italicized only at first instance?
Medical terms such as Staphylococcus aureus are italicized at each instance, but acronyms for these terms (in this case, MRSA), are always set in roman… Read More
Should a project labeled “thesis” that is submitted for a doctoral degree in the United Kingdom be referred to as a PhD thesis or a PhD dissertation in my works-cited list?
In the United States, the written project submitted by a candidate for a doctoral degree is called a dissertation. In the United Kingdom, it is… Read More
Should I reproduce emojis in my essay?
In general it is not necessary to reproduce emojis. However, if an emoji is important to a point you are making in your essay, you… Read More
How should the term Black Lives Matter be styled?
We follow our colleagues at The Chicago Manual of Style and capitalize the term Black Lives Matter. No italics or quotation marks are necessary. Read More