The Case of the Thick Black Eyebrows; or, When to Omit Commas between Multiple Adjectives Preceding a Noun
An MLA editor shows you how to decide whether commas are needed between adjectives preceding a noun Read More
Posts related to writing tips
Be Skeptical When You Read Your First Draft
At the core of what an editor does lies a skeptical frame of mind Read More
Once upon an Introduction: “Daniel Dennett’s Science of the Soul,” by Joshua Rothman
Introductions may be informative, but they can also entertain Read More
To Dangle or Not to Dangle: On Ending a Sentence with a Preposition
Somewhere along the line, I was taught not to dangle my prepositions Read More
On Crafting Topic Sentences: “The Age of ‘The Age of Innocence,’” by Elif Batuman
When composing an essay, make sure that your topic sentences point your work in the right direction Read More
What Is a Usage Guide?
This post discusses usage guides, a type of reference work consulted in the publishing industry Read More
Three Guides on the Path to Publication: Style Manuals, In-House Guides, and Style Sheets
Learn about the differences between a style manual, an in-house guide, and a style sheet Read More
“Scary” Punctuation: The Origins, Use, and Abuse of Scare Quotes
An MLA editor explains the origins of scare quotes Read More
On Integrating Critical Works: Adam Wilson’s “Good Bad Bad Good: What Was the Golden Age of TV?”
Integrating critical works into a paper is challenging. Read More
Versus or Against?
Writers often misuse the term versus Read More