Teaching the History of the English Language: An Interview
The study of the history of the English language (HEL) reaches back to the fifth century . . . Read More
Posts related to usage
How to Get out of a Tangle When Your Modifiers Dangle
Dangling modifiers take several forms. Here are a few types—and some ways to fix them . . . Read More
How can I avoid redundancy in my in-text citations?
As the MLA Handbook notes, “The in-text citation should direct the reader unambiguously to the entry in your works-cited list for the source—and, if possible, to a passage in… Read More
How do I style a percentage at the start of a sentence?
Since you should never begin a sentence with a numeral, you should first try to reword the sentence. If you find it unwieldy to reorder… Read More
What pronoun should I use if I do not know the gender identity of the person I am writing about?
Do not use a pronoun in such cases. If a last name is given, repeat the person’s last name on subsequent mentions in your paper. Read More
How do I style the names of fictional characters?
Style the name of a fictional character just as you would the name of a person: capitalize the initial letter of each name. Do not… Read More
President’s Day: A Singular Holiday?
Authorities disagree about the name Presidents' Day . . . Read More
Celebrate the New Year in (MLA) Style
Should you write, “Happy New Year,” “Happy new year,” or “Happy New Year’s”? . . . Read More
However: Where to Place It?
Where to place however when it means “but” or “in spite of that” Read More
Clearing Up the Confusion between You and I
Many writers substitute the phrase between you and I for between you and me . . . Read More