However: Where to Place It?
Where to place however when it means “but” or “in spite of that” Read More
Posts related to writing tips
Styling Titles of Online Works
To determine how to style an online work, consider the work's length, genre, and context . . . Read More
Can I use brackets to change the tense of a verb so that a quotation will fit syntactically into my sentence?
When a verb in a quotation does not fit syntactically into your sentence, you may use brackets to change the tense: If Charles Dickens were… 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
If I am referring to two sources that make the same point, how do I make my citations clear?
If you directly cite two sources that make the same point, you must make clear to your reader the source of each quotation. Johnson argues that “mint chip ice… 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
Should a hyphen or an en dash be used for inclusive page ranges?
In the MLA Handbook and examples of student writing on The MLA Style Center, hyphens are used in page ranges since hyphens may be easier for students… Read More
How do I style the names of contests?
Names of titled contests are set roman without quotation marks: The American Association for the Advancement of Science announced the tenth annual Dance Your Ph.D. contest. When… Read More
How should I style a direct question contained in a sentence?
If a direct question contained in a sentence is long or has internal punctuation, set the question off with a comma and begin it with a capital… 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