Quotes When Nothing Is Being Quoted
Authors often use quotation marks when nothing is being quoted . . . Read More
Posts related to punctuation
Commas, Conjunctions, and Modifiers
Many writers have trouble deciding where to place commas in these types of sentences . . . Read More
To Splice or Not to Splice?
Writers should generally not use a comma to connect two independent clauses . . . Read More
Comma Sense
Some commas are needed to prevent misreading, some are harmful, and others are optional Read More
MLK Day the MLA Way
Martin Luther King Day? Martin Luther King, Jr., Day? MLK Day? . . . Read More
When citing a work whose title ends in a question mark or exclamation point, should I also include a period?
The MLA format template calls for a period after the title of a source, but if the title of a source ends in a question mark… Read More
Does the MLA abbreviate United States as U.S. or US?
In its publications, the MLA uses the abbreviation US. (Practices among publishers vary, however, and it is not incorrect to use U.S. Whichever abbreviation you… Read More
Do I use a comma before Jr. and Sr.? What about names followed by roman numerals?
In the main text of your written work, use a suffix that is an essential part of the name—like Jr. or a roman numeral—when you… Read More
How many spaces should I leave after a period?
Leave one space after a period or other concluding punctuation mark, unless your instructor prefers two spaces. Whichever spacing you choose, be sure to use… Read More
Is it wrong to type spaces before and after a dash?
The appropriateness of spaces before and after a dash depends on various considerations: the typeface used, the medium (print, online), and so on. In the… Read More