Helping Students Use Grammar to Support Their Writing Goals

by Sarah Felber

Teachers can help their students by addressing grammar in the context of student writing Read More

How do I punctuate quoted dialogue from a novel?

How you punctuate quoted dialogue from a novel will depend on what you are quoting and how you are quoting it. See the three most… Read More

How do I cite an abstract?

Very few circumstances call for citing an abstract. Never cite an abstract as a short-cut, a way of avoiding reading and citing the full published… Read More

Do Like I Say, Not Like I Do

by Jennifer Rappaport

Some writers incorrectly use like in sentences, such as the title of this blog post, that require as. Other writers, wary of like, avoid the term even in sentences that require it . . . Read More

How do I format an appendix and style its heads?

There are many possible ways to format an appendix. A rule of thumb is to let the content guide the choice of format. Types of… Read More

In-text citations in MLA style involve authors, titles, and page numbers. Can I also include the date of a work?

In MLA style, you must key works you discuss to the works-cited list. You may do so by mentioning the author in the text or in a… Read More

Comma Sense

by Jennifer Rappaport

Some commas are needed to prevent misreading, some are harmful, and others are optional Read More

Distinguishing Tropes, Figures, Themes, and Motifs

by Michael Simon

Learn how to use the terms trope, figure, theme, and motif. Read More

Understanding Back-Formations: Established Expressions or Curious Coinages?

by Erika Suffern

A post describing what back-formations are Read More

What should I do if an author’s last name is not provided in a source?

If an author’s last name is not provided in the source you are consulting, you may opt to follow the guidance provided in section 5.122… Read More