by Kaelyn Barron |
Hyphens are frequently confused with dashes (like the em dash or en dash), and many writers struggle with remembering how to use them properly. Misuse of the hyphen (or any other punctuation mark) may seem like a minor mistake, but it can be a glaring error and even a...
by Kaelyn Barron
Research papers are a fact of life for any high school or university student. Tears of frustration, endless refills of strong coffee, long hours staring blankly at a computer screen—these might be some of the images that come to mind if you’ve ever had the...
by Kaelyn Barron
The en dash (–) is the oft-overlooked punctuation that you probably didn’t know you should be using. Named for its size, it’s roughly the same width of the capital letter N. (Its sister, the em dash, is about the width of the capital letter M.) Although they look...
by Kaelyn Barron
Every great story needs a strong central character that keeps readers invested. While protagonists can come in a variety of forms, what matters most is that they are written well—a mediocre, wishy-washy lead never led us to anything interesting. Above all, the best...
by Kaelyn Barron
Parallel structure can make your writing more effective and establish a more rhythmic, elegant flow to your words. It’s a key element in any well-constructed sentence that supports related ideas. But don’t worry: we’re not about to spring more geometric lingo on you....
by Kaelyn Barron
A memorable protagonist is the key to any great narrative. If your readers don’t feel invested in your main character, it’s unlikely they’ll feel invested in the rest of your story. But take care not to confuse “protagonist” with “hero”—the best protagonists are just...
