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Grammar Shorts: Passive or active voice?

Consistency in verb usage immediately elevates any manuscript. Tense consistency is one of the keys to better verb usage, and so is the choice between passive or active voice. In the active voice, the subject performs the action. For the passive voice, the subject is acted upon by the verb. In active voice, the actor is clearly apparent. In the passive voice, this actor becomes obscure. Passive voice thus constitutes a form of indirect speech, Read more…

By C.L. Ring, ago
Comprise, compose, or constitute? The devil is usually in the details.

Comprise, compose, or constitute?

Most experienced writers have struggled at least once in their career with a choice between “comprise,” “compose,” or “constitute.” These three verbs frequently cause confusion due to subtle gradations in usage that make them only partially synonymous. While sticking the landing with “comprise” signals an extra level of polish and sophistication, uncertainty about its usage leaves many writers worrying about an embarrassing (perhaps even costly) mistake. What, precisely, are the differences between these words, and Read more…

By C.L. Ring, ago

Tools for Writers: Edifix Reference Checking

One of the more tedious aspects of preparing a manuscript for publication is checking citations and reference lists. As citation organization tools have gained traction for the research process, machine learning has started to offer the possibility of relieving some of the task of re-checking references on the back end. A previous post explored one such tool for checking the internal consistency of in-text citations and bibliographies. Unfortunately, for now, the technology remains limited to Read more…

By C.L. Ring, ago

Usage and Choosing Your Terms

The question of usage in formal writing is often associated with avoiding mistakes–especially, embarrassing mix-ups between close synonyms. More positively, attention to usage represents an opportunity to carefully select the best possible language for expressing technical ideas. It would certainly be possible to simply turn this post into a list of commonly misused words and phrases, but the question of usage arises in a variety of different contexts. Thus, it might be more useful to Read more…

By C.L. Ring, ago

Grammar Shorts: Consistency in Verb Tenses

In academic and technical writing, consistency in verb tenses frequently poses a problem. When it comes to verbs–especially in longer, complex pieces of writing–the key question is how to balance consistency and flexibility. How do authors keep tenses consistent without sounding rigidly simplistic? This becomes particularly acute when dealing with highly technical or complex ideas within the context of evolving research. The Rules At the basic writing level, the rules are fairly simple. Rule 1: Read more…

By C.L. Ring, ago

Tools for Writers: Recite Reference Checker

One of the final steps in polishing a paper is checking references and in-text citations for accuracy. Most authors must perform this tedious and often time-consuming task manually. Little wonder, then, that some editors and proofreaders specialize particularly in reference checking. Fortunately for researchers working with either APA or Harvard referencing styles, there is now some technological assistance available. Recite is a program that compares your in-text citations to your Reference list for consistency. It Read more…

By C.L. Ring, ago

Grammar Shorts: Verbs

Verbs constitute one of the most powerful aspects of written English. The most fundamental rule of English grammar states that all sentences can be distilled down to the formula subject + verb + object. As its central position in that formula implies, the verb functions as the fulcrum of every sentence in English. Unsurprisingly then, for authors looking to elevate their prose, attending to the choice of verbs remains one of the most effective methods Read more…

By C.L. Ring, ago

Friday Translation: The 12 Chairs

The blog will be on hiatus for a little while due to vacation, but I thought I would share a short, original translation of the first few paragraphs of Il’f and Petrov’s The Twelve Chairs. If you like the surrealism and humor of Master and Margarita, this novel might be for you, and there are multiple official translations available in English. The plot follows a former member of the minor nobility, Ippolit Matveevich, on his Read more…

By C.L. Ring, ago

Making the Style Guide Work for You: Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, writers will probably only work within a very narrow range across one or two manuals at most. Not every single entry in this series will have the same utility for every single writer. No matter which guide you use, though, there are still some general tips that are helpful to all writers. Which Guide Should You Choose? The easiest way to avoid any doubt on this question is to Read more…

By C.L. Ring, ago

Making the Style Guide Work for You: AP Stylebook

So far, this series has focused primarily on academic journals and guides. They are, after all, the first step in bringing research to public attention. If you want to make the jump from the pages of academia to public influence, however, at some point you will likely come across the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook. You may even have to write to this guide yourself! This is the guide that governs your access to popular outlets. Read more…

By C.L. Ring, ago