Advice from the Editors

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On Crafting Topic Sentences: “The Age of ‘The Age of Innocence,’” by Elif Batuman

by Michael Simon

When composing an essay, make sure that your topic sentences point your work in the right direction Read More

grammar punctuation usage

Inanimate Nouns and Possession

by Barney Latimer

Opinions vary on which inanimate nouns can be made possessive by adding ’s Read More

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What Is a Usage Guide?

by Joseph Wallace

This post discusses usage guides, a type of reference work consulted in the publishing industry Read More

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Three Guides on the Path to Publication: Style Manuals, In-House Guides, and Style Sheets

by Zahra Brown

Learn about the differences between a style manual, an in-house guide, and style sheet Read More

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“Scary” Punctuation: The Origins, Use, and Abuse of Scare Quotes

by Susan Doose

An MLA editor explains the origins of scare quotes Read More

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On Integrating Critical Works: Adam Wilson’s “Good Bad Bad Good: What Was the Golden Age of TV?”

by Jennifer Rappaport

Integrating critical works into a paper is challenging. Read More

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Versus or Against?

by Barney Latimer

Writers often misuse the term versus Read More

spotlight on good writing word choice writing tips

On Words: Michael Chabon’s “Ulysses on Trial”

by Joseph Wallace

Words should suit the context and purpose of a piece of writing Read More

grammar punctuation writing tips

Attributive Nouns; or, Why There Is Sometimes No Apostrophe in Terms Such As Teachers Union

by Jennifer Rappaport

The possessive of plural nouns ending in s is formed by adding an apostrophe . . . Read More

grammar punctuation writing tips

Commas: Essential and Nonessential Elements

by Barney Latimer

The little comma wields a lot of power . . . Read More