Getting to the Bottom of Principle and Principal
Learn the difference between principle and principal. Read More
Posts Authored by Michael Simon
Michael Simon is associate editor at the MLA. He received an MFA in poetry from Columbia University and a BA in comparative literature from Brown University. Before coming to the MLA, he worked as an editor for several academic publishers.
Pointing Out Reasons with As, Since, For, and Because
Learn how to use the conjunctions as, since, for, and because Read More
Distinguishing Tropes, Figures, Themes, and Motifs
Learn how to use the terms trope, figure, theme, and motif. Read More
Parts of the Whole: Using Comprise and Compose
Learn how to use the verbs comprise and compose. Read More
Pay It Forward by Using Curriculum Correctly
Learn how to use the word curriculum correctly. Read More
Hitting the Mark: On Placing Adverbs
This post will help you put your adverbs exactly where they belong. Read More
It’s Alive—or Is It? Using the Relative Pronouns Who and That
Learn when to use the relative pronouns who and that Read More
When a Preposition Wrongly Replaces a Conjunction
Writers sometimes wrongly use a preposition to join the nouns in a compound subject Read More
“Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow”: When a Comma Separates Subject and Verb
Learn when to separate a subject and verb with a comma Read More
Once upon an Introduction: “Daniel Dennett’s Science of the Soul,” by Joshua Rothman
Introductions may be informative, but they can also entertain Read More