How do I format and document epigraphs in MLA style?
Epigraphs establish tone, highlight allusions, provide commentary, and mark transitions between parts of a work. Primarily ornamental, they are not discussed subsequently in the text. … Read More
Posts related to punctuation
If I need to fit a quotation syntactically into a sentence, can I use empty brackets to indicate that I have removed letters from a verb?
No. In MLA style, brackets are generally only used to add material or show visible alterations, not to indicate omissions.1 So when attempting to fit… Read More
Is a comma needed after a short introductory phrase?
No. For more on when to include and omit commas, see our post. Read More
How should I style a direct question contained in a sentence?
If a direct question contained in a sentence is long or has internal punctuation, set the question off with a comma and begin it with a capital… Read More
Can you use between or from and to with a number range expressed using numerals and an en dash?
You can express a number range using words (“from . . . to”): The party will take place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Or you can… Read More
How do I punctuate a quotation within a quotation within a quotation?
A simple principle applies for what seems like a thorny issue: Nest punctuation that appears within punctuation by alternating punctuation marks to disambiguate–in this case,… Read More
Why do periods and commas go inside quotation marks in MLA style?
The MLA Handbook notes, “By convention, commas and periods that directly follow quotations go inside the closing quotation marks” (267). Thus, in the following sentence, the comma… Read More
Should periods be used with degrees (e.g., B.A.)?
Practice varies. As indicated in section 1.6 of the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook, MLA style does not use periods between letters for abbreviations composed… Read More
How do I handle prefixes such as pre- and post- in MLA style?
MLA style, which follows Merriam-Webster, does not use hyphens after most prefixes. We would write, for example, antiestablishment, coauthor, nonlinear, and prealgebra. A hyphen is needed, however, before a capital letter… Read More