Author Blog

Novels are often written in past tense, but writing in a consistent tense can be tricky. Here are some tips for writing a novel in past tense.

We see dangling and misplaced modifiers quite a lot in novels. Read on to discover how to recognize and fix dangling and misplaced modifiers.

Parallel structure is needed to make sentences readable, and using it will make your writing better. Here is a quick rundown on parallel structure and how to use it.

We all know that titles should be capitalized, but what words, exactly, do you capitalize in title case? Here are a few tips to get it right.

Capitalization can be tricky. Read on to find out the general rules for when to capitalize, along with exceptions and specific examples.

Hyphens are used to create compound words, but when is it appropriate to use a hyphen? Here are some tips that will help you with how to use hyphens.

We’ve created a list of common editing mistakes that authors make, so you can watch out for them when you self-edit your books.

Are you sometimes a little unsure when it's appropriate to use colons? Here is a list of instances when a colon might be just what you need.

Comma usage can be tricky. Here are some basic tips to resolve comma dilemmas that sometimes have us scratching our heads.

Knowing when to capitalize "mom" and "dad" can be confusing. Here are some easy tips to get it right!

You know how to use an em dash, but what about an en dash? Here are some easy examples!

We've seen ellipses formatted a variety of ways in ebooks. But what is correct and more visually appealing to readers?

We all know that it is incorrect to say "Sally and me are going to the store." But are there some instances when using "me" is correct? Yes, there are! Read more to learn the simple rules.

To use or not to use a semicolon? Become a semicolon master with these 5 quick tips.

Have you ever been confused about how to use or conjugate lay and lie? Mix-ups between these verbs is common, but with a few simple tips, you can always feel confident in your word choice.

When should you use apostrophes with omitted letters and possessives? Which way should they face? A few simple rules will help you use apostrophes with confidence.

Tenant/tenet, then/than, bad/badly—do you really know the difference? Here are some words that writers commonly confuse and examples on how to use them.

When recounting events, “then” is a weak transition. Try eliminating “then” with specific references to time or location, or by listing characteristics. The excessive use of "then" can quickly become repetitive and is a lazy way of showing sequences of events.

Punctuation usually goes inside quotation marks, especially in dialogue, but that is not always the case with other usage. Deciding where to put punctuation with quotation marks is simple if you follow a few rules.