Advice from the Editors

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Colons: How to Use Them

by Erika Suffern

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

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Apostrophes: One Mark, Three Ways

by Jennifer Rappaport

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

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Get tips on using en dashes and hyphens from our previously unpublished style guidelines .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

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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

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Using Notes in MLA Style

by Angela Gibson

Our comprehensive guidelines on using notes in MLA style . . . Read More

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When Is a Web Site a Container?

by Angela Gibson

Learn how to cite Web sites in MLA style . . . Read More

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Optional Elements: A Primer

by Angela Gibson

All you need to know about the optional-element slot on the MLA style template . . . Read More

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Using the Present Tense with Works; or, Othello Still Exists

by Erika Suffern

When to use the present tense in discussing texts. Hint: the key is consistency Read More