In reference to centuries, when should I use a hyphen with early and late?
MLA style generally hyphenates elements of a compound adjective and does not use a hyphen for a noun phrase. a poet of the early nineteenth… Read More
Posts related to writing tips
How should I form the plural of an abbreviation if the spelled-out form contains a plural term?
The plural of an abbreviation is formed by adding an s, even if the spelled-out form contains a plural term: prisoners of war (POWs) runs batted… Read More
Commas: Essential and Nonessential Elements
The little comma wields a lot of power . . . Read More
How should I format math equations in my paper?
For guidance on formatting mathematical expressions, we defer to our colleagues at The Chicago Manual of Style (“Mathematics”). For guidance on citing mathematical theories, see our… Read More
How does the MLA capitalize names of generations?
In our publications, we follow the recommendations in The Chicago Manual of Style (“Generation”). We generally lowercase generation names such as baby boomers and millennials, but we capitalize… Read More
How does the MLA capitalize names of academic degrees?
The MLA follows Merriam-Webster and lowercases the names of academic degrees. Read More
How should I style the name of an earthwork, such as the Great Serpent Mound?
Names of earthworks, like names of buildings, should not be italicized: We took a trip to see the Great Serpent Mound. Read More
Is it acceptable to use superscript for the letters following a numeral when I am listing numbered editions?
When listing numbered editions (e.g., 2nd, 3rd, 4th), most publishers, including the MLA, do not set the letters after the numeral superscript, but an instructor… Read More
Impact as a Verb
The MLA recommends restricting the use of impact as a verb . . . Read More
This Can Be Confusing
Chances are, you've begun many sentences with This Read More