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Polishing Your Language

Trimming Prose for Clarity and Concision

This resource can help you reduce your word count, whether you are just revising or facing a strictly imposed word limit. Learn more about Trimming Prose for Clarity and Concision.

Key Differences Between Oral and Written Prose Style

Advice for preparing the text of a conference presentation (especially one you will read aloud). Learn more about Key Differences Between Oral and Written Prose Style.

Maintaining an Appropriate Tone When Responding to Peer Review

This resource presents potential responses to criticism from peer reviewers.  By choosing the one you think is best and checking it against our commentary, you can think ahead about how to handle comments of your own. Read more about Maintaining an Appropriate Tone When Responding to Peer Review.

Making Negative Critiques Sound More Positive

This resource helps writers preparing book reviews for publication give appropriate criticism while still maintaining a positive tone.

Awk-word-ness: Fixing Problems That Lead to Awkward Sentences

It can be difficult to identify what is “not quite right” about the words you put on the page, but this resource is here to help. Read more about Awk-word-ness: Fixing Problems That Lead to Awkward Sentences.

Identifying and Fixing Run-on Sentences

This resource can help you revise your run-on sentences and stray clauses into sensible (and comprehensible!) sentences. Read more for advice on Identifying and Fixing Run-on Sentences.

Identifying and Revising Passive Sentences

How to Use a Thesaurus

Different words aren’t always better!  This resource is here to help you use your thesaurus wisely. Read more about How to Use a Thesaurus.

Identifying and Fixing Pronoun Errors

Pronouns need to be clear and in agreement to serve your writing well.  This resource will help you identify and correct common pronoun errors.

Fixing Common Comma Errors

In this resource, we’ll walk through some of the most common comma mistakes and explain the underlying rules for them. Learn more about Fixing Common Comma Errors.

Using Adjectives in the Correct Order

Adjectives can make your writing more expressive.  This resource will help you arrange them in the right order to keep your meaning crystal clear.  Learn more about Using Adjectives in the Correct Order.

Identifying and Fixing Common Prepositions

In this resource, you will look at lists of prepositions and how to successfully pair them with verbs. Continue reading for this activity on Identifying and Fixing Common Prepositions.