“Scary” Punctuation: The Origins, Use, and Abuse of Scare Quotes
An MLA editor explains the origins of scare quotes Read More
Posts related to writing tips
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
In a block quotation, can I reverse the order of two sentences if I separate them with an ellipsis?
No. Sentences in a block quotation cannot be reversed because, as the MLA Handbook notes, “[a] quotation should never be presented in a way that could cause… Read More
On Words: Michael Chabon’s “Ulysses on Trial”
Words should suit the context and purpose of a piece of writing Read More
Should department names be capitalized in MLA style?
In general, the MLA follows The Chicago Manual of Style for the capitalization of academic department names (“Academic Subjects”) and administrative bodies (“Administrative Bodies”). We capitalize… Read More
How should commas be used with dates in my prose?
In the day-month-year style, do not use commas: School started on 4 September 2018. In the month-day-year style, use a comma to set off the… Read More
When should commas be used with introductory phrases that include dates?
A comma may generally be omitted from an introductory phrase of two or three words, but consider using a comma when you wish to emphasize… Read More
How Publishing Work as a Student Shaped My College Writing Experience
Publishing work during college can help students learn to enjoy writing academic research papers Read More
If a phrase is repeated throughout a work, what page number should I use when discussing the phrase?
When citing a phrase that appears more than once in a work, give the page number of the first instance in the parenthetical reference: B. Read More