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
Posts related to usage
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
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
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
Do Like I Say, Not Like I Do
Some writers incorrectly use like in sentences, such as the title of this blog post, that require as. Other writers, wary of like, avoid the term even in sentences that require it . . . Read More
The Confused Answer
After reading the title of this post, you probably think that I will be telling you about an answer that is mixed up . . . Read More
How do I refer to works with identical titles?
It’s not uncommon for a writer to discuss two or more works with the same title. For example, a writer may compare different editions or… Read More
A Dash of Sense
Get tips on how to avoid dashes run amok . . . Read More