How do I use singular they?

Singular they has two uses: specific and generic (“Pronouns”).  Specific Use The MLA advises writers to always follow the personal pronouns of individuals they write… Read More

Are medical terms such as Staphylococcus aureus and their acronyms italicized only at first instance?

Medical terms such as Staphylococcus aureus are italicized at each instance, but acronyms for these terms (in this case, MRSA), are always set in roman… Read More

When is it OK to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction?

You can use a comma or a dash to connect these pairs of sentences, but writing them separately is not incorrect. It is looked upon… 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

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

How do I cite a quotation that I’ve altered?

In almost all cases you should transcribe a quotation exactly as it appears in the source. However, you may occasionally want to italicize words in… Read More

Should sun, moon, and earth be capitalized?

When Merriam-Webster indicates that a term is “capitalized” or “usually capitalized,” the MLA capitalizes the term in its publications. When Merriam-Webster indicates that a term… Read More