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What is the role of MLA in modern research publishing? Chicago and APA occupy so much of the space within modern scholarship that MLA sometimes seems like an afterthought. This is mostly a misperception, however. This style guide sets the standards for modern English usage in academic and pedagogical contexts. As such, it constitutes an invaluable resource for writers, teachers, and professors. Even if it operates partially in the background. MLA as Teaching Tool The Read more…

Conclusions are possibly the most universally hated part of writing. Even for writers who follow a fairly standard formula or outline, conclusions can pose problems: How do you summarize a large amount of information effectively? How do you make sure you don’t just repeat content? How do you leave readers with a compelling takeaway? These are all questions that I hear frequently from clients. It’s all well and good to say that a conclusion should Read more…

A frequent request I hear from clients is to ensure that their manuscript establishes a clear narrative arc. All research tells a story about why it is necessary, how it was executed, and how it contributes to both industry and inquiry. A worthwhile editor will help you to refine this story so that it is as clear and sharp as possible. The good news is that writers who practice solid fundamentals will usually not struggle Read more…

It’s a cliché, but when it comes to organization, you can always do worse than, “Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them.” While everyone understands the value of a good outline before writing, you can import snippets of that outline to sharpen the clarity of your manuscript. These reminders of the latent structure underneath the text guide your reader and ensure that they take Read more…

Sometimes in the middle of editing a paper, I come across a table, a phrase, or a graphic that, while not wrong per se, forces me to stop and take a good look at it. Something is just off. Usually, what I’m trying to put my finger on is that a particular table or heading or term is out of step with what I have read before in the manuscript. It is, in a word, Read more…