The Case of the Missing Referent; or, Keeping Pronouns in Line
Learn about three common errors that writers make with regard to pronouns and referents. Read More
Posts related to writing tips
How do I cite a quotation I include in a title or heading?
Quoted material must be attributed wherever it occurs. In your prose, this generally means including an in-text citation or endnote in due proximity to the… Read More
Hitting the Mark: On Placing Adverbs
This post will help you put your adverbs exactly where they belong. Read More
Parallel Headings in Research Papers
Discusses techniques for making headings in research papers parallel Read More
If an author’s name in my source is in all capital or lowercase letters, how should I style it in my paper?
In prose and works-cited-list entries, the first and last names of authors should begin with a capital letter. All other letters should be lowercase. Let’s… Read More
One and Then the Other: Using Alternate and Alternative
When choosing between alternate and alternative, it's easy to get confused. Read More
What is the difference between fewer and less?
Use the adjective fewer to describe countable items; otherwise, use the adjective less. And here’s a tip: in general, if the noun is plural, use… Read More
It’s Alive—or Is It? Using the Relative Pronouns Who and That
Learn when to use the relative pronouns who and that Read More
Five Common Grammar Questions
An MLA editor addresses five common grammar questions Read More
Are scientific laws, theories, and terms capitalized?
Scientific laws, theories, and terms are lowercased except when preceded by a proper adjective. Read More