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. Read more
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 Read more
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 Read more
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 Read more
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 Read more
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 Read more
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 Read more
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 Read more
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. Read more
If Chicago is the generalist’s handbook, APA is the one-stop shop for technical writers. Some of the same principles do cross-apply between these two manuals. Most notably, the rule that in-text citations and reference footnotes do not mix holds across almost all manuals. While Chicago sets the standards for publishers Read more