Choosing Between
Read about between and among and how to choose confidently between them Read More
Posts related to writing tips
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
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
Should I indicate in my works-cited-list entry that an article is a cover story?
No. But if the information is useful for your argument—for example, because it signals the importance of the article’s topic—you can mention it in your… Read More
Should media in reference to mass media be treated as a singular or plural noun?
The MLA follows Merriam-Webster, which states that media can be treated as singular or plural when the reference is to mass media (“Media”). So you may choose… 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
After I’ve given a person’s name in full, should I use last name only thereafter even if I am writing a work with chapters rather than an essay?
Yes, generally follow this guideline, especially for frequently mentioned people or those who are the subject of the work. 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
How do you form the plural and the plural possessive of family names ending in s?
Form the plural of family names ending in s by adding es. For example, below are the plural forms of the names Myers, Daniels, Forlines, and Collins: Myerses Danielses… Read More