Can you use between or from and to with a number range expressed using numerals and an en dash?
You can express a number range using words (“from . . . to”): The party will take place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Or you can… Read More
Posts related to writing tips
Should I translate names of foreign institutions?
In your works-cited-list entry, provide the name of a foreign institution in the original language if that is how it is presented in your source. Read More
How do I punctuate a quotation within a quotation within a quotation?
A simple principle applies for what seems like a thorny issue: Nest punctuation that appears within punctuation by alternating punctuation marks to disambiguate–in this case,… Read More
If I refer to two people with the same last name in my writing, should I repeat their full names each time I mention them?
If you refer to two people with the same last name, repeat their full names for subsequent mentions whenever your reader might not be certain… Read More
Is it acceptable to begin an essay with a block quotation?
Yes, an essay may start with a block quotation. The quotation should be important to your discussion and referred to in your prose. This distinguishes it… Read More
How do you make a plural out of the word so?
Someone might write, for example, “There are too many sos in this sentence,” in response to: So many people were present, so he said so,… Read More
How do I cite an author who has transitioned?
Authors may write and publish under different names—by adopting pseudonyms or changing their names. When you are aware that an author has published under different… Read More
Why do periods and commas go inside quotation marks in MLA style?
The MLA Handbook notes, “By convention, commas and periods that directly follow quotations go inside the closing quotation marks” (267). Thus, in the following sentence, the comma… Read More
Should periods be used with degrees (e.g., B.A.)?
Practice varies. As indicated in section 1.6 of the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook, MLA style does not use periods between letters for abbreviations composed… Read More
Is it OK to italicize a word for emphasis in my paper?
The MLA style discourages the use of italics in academic prose to emphasize or point, because they are unnecessary—most often, the unadorned words do the… Read More