Advice from the Editors

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grammar word choice writing tips

Verbs with Alternative Subjects

by Michael Kandel

Should you use a singular or plural verb after alternative subjects—that is, two nouns joined by or—when one is singular and the other plural? A common practice is to have the verb agree in number with the second subject of the pair—in other words, with the noun that is closer to the verb . . . Read More

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Finding Publication Facts Online: An Unusual Case

by Angela Gibson

Finding publication information on a website or other digital source can be a challenge . . . Read More

grammar usage writing tips

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

usage word choice writing tips

The Confused Answer

by Jennifer Rappaport

After reading the title of this post, you probably think that I will be telling you about an answer that is mixed up . . . Read More

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Colons: How to Use Them

by Erika Suffern

Like a semicolon, a colon can connect two independent clauses . . . Read More

punctuation writing tips

Apostrophes: One Mark, Three Ways

by Jennifer Rappaport

Apostrophes can be used in three ways . . . Read More

punctuation writing tips

From the Vault: Hyphens and En Dashes the MLA Way

by Angela Gibson

Get tips on using en dashes and hyphens from our previously unpublished style guidelines . . . Read More

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Ellipsis at the Beginning of a Quotation

by Michael Kandel

Read these three tips for effectively quoting from sources . . . Read More

punctuation usage writing tips

A Dash of Sense

by Angela Gibson

Get tips on how to avoid dashes run amok . . . Read More

punctuation usage writing tips

There’s Nothing Wrong with a Full Stop

by Michael Kandel

Many writers feel that the longer the sentence, the more elegant the style . . . Read More