Advice from the Editors

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grammar usage word choice writing tips

It is . . . that; or, How Not to Edit Jane Austen

by Barney Latimer

The formula it is . . . that is common in academic writing Read More

punctuation spelling usage word choice writing tips

President’s Day: A Singular Holiday?

by Jennifer Rappaport

Authorities disagree about the name Presidents' Day . . . Read More

abbreviations capitalization punctuation spelling usage writing tips

MLK Day the MLA Way

by Jennifer Rappaport

Martin Luther King Day? Martin Luther King, Jr., Day? MLK Day? . . . Read More

capitalization usage word choice writing tips

Celebrate the New Year in (MLA) Style

by Jennifer Rappaport

Should you write, “Happy New Year,” “Happy new year,” or “Happy New Year’s”? . . . Read More

usage word choice writing tips

When Not to Include

by Michael Kandel

On the use of include to mean are . . . Read More

conference presentations paraphrases quotations using sources works-cited lists

5 Tips for Documenting Sources in a Talk

by Angela Gibson

Read these 5 easy tips for crediting the work of others in a talk . . . Read More

usage word choice writing tips

Overhedging

by Michael Kandel

Some writers are timid—or pretend to be—about making a statement, so they hedge Read More

usage word choice writing tips

Former and Latter

by Barney Latimer

There are many stylistic sins worse than using former and latter Read More

usage word choice writing tips

Critique versus Criticize

by Michael Kandel

Claire Kehrwald Cook noted that critique as a verb “has not yet won full acceptance” Read More

grammar usage word choice writing tips

Liberate Those Verbs!

by Barney Latimer

Some phrases in English lengthen a sentence while adding nothing to its meaning . . . Read More