 |
|
Welcome to the Purdue OWL News! This is an online newsletter about happenings in the Purdue University Writing Lab and the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL).
Welcome to the Purdue OWL News!
This is an online newsletter about happenings in the Purdue University Writing
Lab and the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL).
Thank you all for your overwhelming response to last week's question. It seems that many of you would like to see some grammar tips included in the newsletter, so here is a grammar question sent to OWL and the response given by one of our graduate online tutors.
QUESTION:
Dear Tutor: I wrote the following sentence in a survey: "The course materials
helped me to better understand the subject." Someone informed me that I had
written a split infinitive. I feel that "to understand the subject better" is
not an improvement. Can the rule be "broken" in a case like this?
RESPONSE:
Phrases in which modifiers are inserted between 'to' and the verb are called
split infinitives. Some people object to split infinitives, but others consider
them grammatically acceptable. So it's important to consider your audience when
you're trying to decide whether or not to "bend" the rule. In a more formal
context, it would be good to avoid split infinitives. Therefore, it would be
better, I think, to say "The course materials helped me to understand the subject
better."
I hope that helps.
For more information about online grammar and writing help, see “What's Happening on OWL” below.
{grammar}
Finals week is quickly approaching, and, for many of us, that means deadlines. So if you're working on a research project, you may have questions about MLA or APA style. Many teachers and professors require their students to follow these guidelines since they are standards in most areas of scholarship.
If you're wondering how to cite an interview in MLA, how to format a table in APA, or just how to get started, you can find the answers to your questions in the Writing Lab. All of the tutors have at least some experience with both styles and a lot of experience with one or the other, so you might want to make a half-hour appointment and go over your concerns with a tutor. If you're short on time or want to work on your own, you will find copies of the official MLA and APA handbooks in the lab. You can come in without an appointment and use those books to look up your questions.
And don't forget that we have handouts on MLA and APA on OWL that you can use
anytime.
APA:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html
MLA: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html
Our In-Lab Workshop series is starting to wrap up -- don't miss your chance to learn some valuable skills in a small and supportive environment!
Here are our In-Lab Workshops for the next two weeks:
Research and the Internet - Monday, April 16, 4:00 p.m.
Conquering the Comma - Wednesday, April 18, 4:00 p.m.
For more information about our In-Lab workshops, visit http://owl.english.purdue.edu/lab/labwrkshps.html. Teachers of any class at Purdue can also invite a traveling tutor to visit their classes and give workshops as well. For more information about that, please visit our page on in-class workshops at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/lab/workshops.html
{heading}
{body4}
{heading2}
{morebody4}
Tell your friends about the Purdue OWL News! They can sign up to receive this newsletter by visiting http://purdueowlnews.listbot.com and entering their email address.
If you want to unsubscribe from the newsletter, just visit http://purdueowlnews.listbot.com and enter your email address. Then click on the unsubscribe radio button to unsubscribe.
This newsletter is copyright (c) 2001 the Purdue University Writing Lab and Purdue University.
|
owl home || writing lab and owl || handouts || workshops and presentations || internet resources This page is located at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/lab/owl/owlnews Copyright ©1995-2004 by OWL at Purdue
University and Purdue University. All rights reserved.
|