# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Introduction to Paragraphs and the MEAL Plan

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Passive Voice: What Passive Voice Is and When to Use It | Grammarly

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The passive voice is often maligned by teachers and professors as a bad writing habit. Or, to put that in the active voice: Teachers and professors across the English-speaking world malign the passive voice as a bad writing habit.

What is the passive voice?

In general, the active voice makes your writing stronger, more direct, and, you guessed it, more active. The subject is something, or it does the action of the verb in the sentence. With the passive voice, the subject is acted upon by some other performer of the verb. (In case you weren't paying attention, the previous two sentences use the type of voice they describe.)

But the passive voice is not incorrect. In fact, there are times when it can come in handy. Read on to learn how to form the active and passive voices, when using the passive voice is a good idea, and how to avoid confusing it with similar forms.

Write with Grammarly

The difference between active and passive voice

While tense is all about time references, voice describes whether the grammatical subject of a clause performs or receives the action of the verb.

Here's the formula for the active voice:

[subject]+[verb (performed by the subject)]+[optional object]
Chester kicked the ball.
In a passive voice construction, the grammatical subject of the clause receives the action of the verb. So the ball from the above sentence, which is receiving the action, becomes the subject. The formula:

[subject]+[some form of the verb to be]+[past participle of a transitive verb]+[optional prepositional phrase]

That last little bit-"by Chester"-is a prepositional phrase that tells you who the performer of the action is. But even though Chester is the one doing the kicking, he's no longer the grammatical subject. A passive voice construction can even drop him from the sentence entirely:
The ball was kicked.
How's that for anticlimactic?

When (and when not) to use the passive voice

If you're writing anything with a definitive subject that is performing an action, you'll be better off using the active voice. And if you search your document for occurrences of was, is, or were and your page lights up with instances of passive voice, it may be a good idea to switch to active voice.

That said, there are times when the passive voice does a better job of presenting an idea, especially when the performer of the action of a sentence's verb is very general or diffuse, is unknown, or should get less emphasis than the recipient of that action, including in certain formal, professional, and legal contexts. Here are five common uses of the passive voice:

1 In broad statements about widely held opinions or social norms

The writer of this sentence is communicating that they believe enough people share the opinion that tipping less than 20 percent is rude to qualify as a consensus. In other words, the performer of the action-the people doing the considering-is so general that it can be left out of the sentence entirely.

2 In reports of crimes with unknown perpetrators or other actions with unknown doers
My car was stolen yesterday.
If you knew who stole the car, you might be closer to getting it back. The passive voice here emphasizes the stolen item and the action of theft.
The grass was cut yesterday.
The emphasis here is on the grass, which presumably is observably shorter. Someone must have cut it, but whoever it was is not the concern of this sentence.

3 In scientific contexts

Who placed the rat in the maze? Scientists, duh. But that's less important than the experiment they're conducting. Therefore, passive voice.

4 When the writer or speaker wants to avoid blame

Sometimes, someone wants to acknowledge that something unpleasant happened without making it crystal -clear who's at fault. The classic example:

Who made them? Is anyone taking responsibility? What's the solution here? One political scientist dubbed this kind of construction the "past exonerative" because it's meant to exonerate the speaker/writer from whatever foul may have been committed. In other words, drop the subject, get off the hook.

5 In any other situation where you want to keep the focus on an action and/or the recipient of the action

How many people can remember off the top of their heads who swears in presidents? Clearly, the occasion of swearing in the commander in chief is the thing to emphasize here.

In this case, we know what brought about the action: It was the experience of traveling alone in South America. But the thing the sentence most urgently wants us to know is that a person, Cleo, had an important thing happen to them. So making the recipient of the action ( Cleo) the subject of the sentence, using the passive voice, and tucking the performer of the action ( the experience) after the action as the object of the preposition by makes sense.

In each of the above contexts, the action itself-or the person or thing receiving the action-is the part that matters. That means the performer of the action can be absent from the sentence altogether or appear in a prepositional phrase with by. Although some of these examples are formal, others show that the passive voice is often useful and necessary in daily life. In each of the sentences below, the passive voice is natural and clear for one of the reasons in the list above. Rewriting these sentences in the active voice renders them sterile, awkward, or syntactically contorted.

Passive: Bob Dylan was injured in a motorcycle accident.

Active: A motorcycle accident injured Bob Dylan.

Passive: Elvis is rumored to be alive.

Active: People rumor Elvis to be alive.

Passive: Don't be fooled!

Active: Don't allow anything to fool you!

Creative ways to use the passive voice in writing

The above examples show some common uses of the passive voice, but some writers and speakers take advantage of the shift in emphasis it provides for other reasons. Here are some uses for the passive voice as a stylistic decision that suits the author's writing goals.

Beating around the bush

Jane Austen is a master of poking fun at her characters so euphemistically that it seems almost polite, and the passive voice is one of her favorite methods for doing that.

Austen could have rephrased this sentence like so:
Though Mr. Middleton carried his entreaties to a point of perseverance beyond civility, they could not give offense.
Though maybe she means something closer to:
Mr. Middleton repeated his invitations beyond the point of politeness and into pushiness, but he meant well and they didn't feel they could say "no."
In cases like this, the passive voice allows for more polite phrasing, even if it's also a little less clear. In this specific case, Austen's use of the passive also abets her gentle humor and vivid characterization.

Directing the reader's attention

This is like the grass getting cut or the president being sworn in: The recipient of the action of the verb is more important than the performer of the action.

Here, you could invert the sentence to say "Historians evoked that treasure" and so on. But that would take the focus away from that oh-so-intriguing treasure and corpse. And since the historians are less important here, the author makes the choice to stress the key idea of the sentence through the passive voice.

Here's another famous example that puts the emphasis on what happens to the recipient instead of on what the performer is doing:

"All men" (these days, we take this to mean all people) gets boosted to the front of the phrase because the people and their equality and rights are the focus. It makes sense that a statement declaring independence would focus on the citizens who get that independence, after all.

Passive voice misuse

Sometimes what looks like passive voice isn't passive voice at all. Even the most careful eye can mistake the following sentences for being in passive voice.
Chester's favorite activity is kicking. The bank robbery took place just before closing time. There is nothing we can do about it. There were a great number of dead leaves covering the ground.
Despite what any well-meaning English teachers may have told you, none of the sentences above are written in the passive voice. The sentence about the leaves, in fact, was (wrongly) presented as an example of the passive voice by none other than Strunk and White in The Elements of Style.

Using the verb to be doesn't automatically put a verb phrase into the passive voice. You also need a past participle. That's how to keep passive voice masqueraders from fooling you.

Passive voice summed up

The passive voice isn't a grammatical error; it's a matter of style.

Use the active voice if it makes your sentence sound clearer and more natural.

Forming passive voice requires the verb to be and a past participle.

The passive voice is your friend when the thing receiving an action or the action itself is the important part of the sentence-especially in scientific and legal contexts, times when the performer of an action is unknown, or cases where the subject is distracting or irrelevant.

When it comes to good writing, don't be passive-even if your sentences sometimes need to be.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Passive Voice: When to Avoid It and When to Use It

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The passive voice is often maligned by teachers and professors as a bad writing habit. Or, to put that in the active voice: Teachers and...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We are a globally renowned resource that provides assistance with English to students, teachers, professionals, and organizations across the world. Our goal is to assist clients in their development as writers - no matter their skill level.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Purdue OWL® - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We are a globally renowned resource that provides assistance with English to students, teachers, professionals, and organizations across the world. Our goal is to assist clients in their development as writers - no matter their skill level.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
The Classroom | Empowering Students in Their College Journey

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Barbara Bean-Mellinger - Updated June 25, 2018

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dead verbs are the bane of English teachers because they just take up space. The typical list includes 23 verbs --

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Transition Words and Phrases to Improve Your Writing | Grammarly Blog

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Think back to when you were first taught how to write essays. You were probably taught to organize your writing by starting each paragraph with a word like first, additionally, further, secondly, or third. These words are transition words.

Not all transition words are individual words. Sometimes, you need a whole phrase to make a smooth transition in your writing. These phrases are known as transition phrases. One transition phrase you were probably taught in school is in conclusion, a common way to begin an essay's final paragraph . As you moved further in your academic career, you were probably taught to move away from these transition phrases and use subtler ones in your writing.

Read on to learn all about the best transition words and phrases and when to use them, as well as common pitfalls you might encounter when incorporating transitions into your writing.

What are transition words?

Transition words are words that help writing move smoothly from one topic to another without confusing the reader. Words like , , or in conclusion prepare the reader by signaling that the topic is shifting. Transition words can introduce new or contrasting ideas, show cause-and-effect relationships, and form other connections between different sentences.

When to use transition words

Transition words illustrate relationships between other words and phrases. Although students are generally taught to use transition words at the beginning of sentences, this isn't the only place they're used.

Generally, a transition word is the crux of its . This is the decisive point where the sentence's core message is communicated. Not every sentence contains a transition word, but when one the transition word is usually critical to its question or statement.

Types of transition words

Transition words present the writer's thoughts in an orderly fashion, express nuance, clarify vagueness, forge connections, and demonstrate comparisons. Because they do so many different jobs, transition words are divided into eight distinct categories.

Transition words that introduce, agree, and add on

One of the most common ways transition words are used is to introduce new ideas and add onto topics that have already been explored in the piece.

Transition words and phrases in this category include:

Take a look at a few ways you can use these kinds of transition words in a sentence:

Transition words that oppose and limit

Transition words can also communicate opposition or limits to ideas and phrases. These words' role is largely the opposite of the role played by the category above. Transition words that create opposition and limits include:

Here are a few examples:

While Shekani is a stickler for tradition, Mei gives every holiday party a new twist.

Cause and conditional transition words

These transition words show how one action led to a specific effect or how one circumstance is conditional on another. This category also includes words and transition phrases that illustrate the relationship between an intention and an action.

Cause and conditional transition words include:

A few examples of these words in sentences include:

As long as there are pets that need homes, I'll keep volunteering at the shelter.

Effect and result transition words

Similar to the category above, these transition words demonstrate the result of a specific action. Here's the difference between the two: When your sentence is focused on the cause the effect, you'd use one of the transition words from the "Cause and conditional" category above. When the emphasis is on the effect itself, you would use a word from this "Effect and result" category that fits with the rest of your sentence.

For example, you might announce that you've postponed your barbecue by sending a group message that says " because of the weather, I postponed the barbecue." But you can communicate the same message with a slightly different focus by phrasing it as "it's raining, so consequently I've rescheduled the barbecue."

Words and phrases in this category include:

A few more examples of sentences that include these transition words are:

Transition words that describe examples and support

Other transition words make it clear that one concept supports another, either by providing evidence, emphasizing it, or simply being an example. These words include:

Here are a few examples of these transition words at work:

Conclusion and summary transition words

These are the transition words that bring paragraphs , arguments, and pieces of writing to a close. They can also be used to summarize and restate ideas. These transition phrases and words include:

Take a look at a few ways these words work in sentences:

In conclusion, an upgraded security system isn't a luxury; it's a necessity.

Transition words for describing time

Another category of transition words deals with time, specifically something happened or will happen in relation to another event. These words include:

Take a look at these transition phrases and words in action:

Transition words for locations

Transition words can also draw a reader's attention to something is located, or the physical or spatial relationship between two things. This can mean where someone or something is located, or they can be used figuratively, like "Dan's auto body shop is above Rick's when it comes to quality and attention to detail."

These words and phrases include:

You'll notice that many of these words can also function as prepositions in a sentence. They can also function as transition words that are part of adverbial clauses . Here are a few examples of this kind of transition word at work:

In the back, my cousin was grilling hamburgers.

Among the students surveyed, more than half were excited to return to campus full-time.

Next to the garage, they found a parking spot.

Common mistakes writers make with transition words

Working with transition words isn't always easy. Sometimes, especially when English isn't your primary language, you may accidentally use the wrong word for the type of transition you're making or use a word that doesn't have the right connotation for your message. For example, you might say something like, "We could go out for burgers, pizza, sushi, or tacos. In either case, that works for me." Either implies that there are only two choices, so in this scenario, it doesn't fit because there are a total of four choices. (Here, the best way to phrase this would be "in any case.")

Here are a few other commonly mistaken transition words:

As well as when you mean and. Using " as well as," a synonym for "in addition to," implies that the following piece of information is less important than the preceding piece, whereas "and" implies they are equally important.

Essentially when you mean explicitly. "Essentially" refers to a fundamental factor or truth at a subject's core, whereas "explicitly" communicates that something is literal and clear, with no room for misinterpretation.

Although they offer personal training and classes, that gym is essentially an overpriced equipment store.

The gym's website explicitly states that no guest passes will be issued until further notice.

Another mistake writers sometimes make with transition words is using them in inappropriate contexts. As you saw in the lists above, some transition words and phrases feel more formal and academic than others. You can make your writing feel too formal-or too casual-by choosing a transition word that doesn't fit your tone or the type of writing you're doing. Here are a few examples of transition words that don't fit their sentences:

In Kate Chopin's The Awakening, Edna Pontillier felt inadequate whenever she spent time with Adele Ratignolle.

See how they're all either too formal or too casual for the messages they're communicating? Word choice is crucial to effective communication, and that includes choosing the right transition for each sentence.

Make every transition a smooth one

Not sure if the transition word you chose is the right one? Run your writing through Grammarly and get suggestions for how to pick the perfect words and strike the appropriate tone that works best for what you're communicating.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Think back to when you were first taught how to write essays. You were probably taught to organize your writing by starting each...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Games

Calling all cruciverbalists! Sharpen your mind with crosswords and word games, or take a brain break with your favorite classic games.
Play 80+ games

Newsletter

Salutations, logophile!

Sign up to get everything a word lover could want: word origins, fun facts, and the latest language trends.

About

Careers

Shop

Contact us

Advertise with us

Cookies, terms, & privacy

Do not sell my info

Follow us

Get the Synonym of the Day every day!

My account

© 2023 Dictionary.com, LLC

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Thesaurus.com - The world's favorite online thesaurus!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Thesaurus.com is the world's largest and most trusted online thesaurus for 25+ years. Join millions of people and grow your mastery of the English language.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Write a Thesis Statement: Writing Guides: Writing Tutorial Services: Indiana University Bloomington

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Pamphlet: How to Write a Thesis Statement

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Write a STRONG Thesis Statement | Scribbr 🎓

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Recognize an arguable thesis

Below are some of the key features of an argumentative thesis statement.

An argumentative thesis is . . .

Debatable

An argumentative thesis must make a claim about which reasonable people can disagree. Statements of fact or areas of general agreement cannot be argumentative theses because few people disagree about them.

Assertive

An argumentative thesis takes a position, asserting the writer's stance. Questions, vague statements, or quotations from others are not argumentative theses because they do not assert the writer's viewpoint.

Reasonable

An argumentative thesis must make a claim that is logical and possible. Claims that are outrageous or impossible are not argumentative theses.

Evidence Based

An argumentative thesis must be able to be supported by evidence. Claims that presuppose value systems, morals, or religious beliefs cannot be supported with evidence and therefore are not argumentative theses.

Focused

An argumentative thesis must be focused and narrow. A focused, narrow claim is clearer, more able to be supported with evidence, and more persuasive than a broad, general claim.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Recognize an arguable thesis Below are some of the key features of an argumentative thesis statement. An argumentative thesis is . . . An argumentative thesis must make a claim about which reasonable people can disagree. Statements of fact or areas of general agreement cannot be argumentative theses because few people disagree about them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Try the Fallacy Detector

Definition of a 'Fallacy'

A misconception resulting from flaw in reasoning, or a trick or illusion in thoughts that often succeeds in obfuscating facts/truth.

Formal

A formal fallacy is defined as an error that can be seen within the argument's form. Every formal fallacy is a non sequitur (or, an argument where the conclusion does not follow from the premise.)

Informal

An informal fallacy refers to an argument whose proposed conclusion is not supported by the premises. This creates an unpersuasive or unsatisfying conclusion.

What are Logical Fallacies?

Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning or argumentation that can undermine the validity of an argument. They are often used to mislead or distract from the truth, or to win an argument by appealing to emotions rather than reason. It's important to be aware of these fallacies in order to critically evaluate arguments and avoid being misled.

These mistakes in reasoning can be both intentional and unintentional, often leading to false or misleading conclusions. They undermine the strength and credibility of an argument, making it difficult to persuade others or arrive at accurate judgments.

There are two main types of logical fallacies: formal and informal. Formal fallacies involve errors in the structure or form of an argument, while informal fallacies arise from errors in the content, context, or delivery of the argument.

Logical fallacies can be difficult to identify, as they often involve seemingly reasonable arguments that, upon closer examination, reveal underlying flaws. To avoid falling prey to logical fallacies, it is essential to develop critical thinking skills and a solid understanding of the principles of logic and argumentation. By doing so, one can more effectively evaluate arguments and engage in rational discourse, leading to more accurate and reliable conclusions.

Books About Logical Fallacies

A few books to help you get a real handle on logical fallacies.
The above book links to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may get a commission from the sale.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A comprehensive list of logical fallacies, with definitions, explanations, and examples that are easy-to-understand.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Write Strong Essay Body Paragraphs – with REAL Example | Scribbr 🎓

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?

Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?

Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?

Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?

Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?

Note - to help answer Authority and Purpose questions, check out a website's About page.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Research Guides: Online Research: CRAAP Test

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn how to choose the best websites to use as resources for your research!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Rumors and questionable claims we have researched recently.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You’ve done it. You’ve refined your introduction and your thesis. You’ve spent time researching and proving all of your supporting arguments. You’re slowly…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Write a Strong Essay Conclusion | Scribbr 🎓

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
HomeworkLA.org - A Service of the State Library of Louisiana

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Homework Louisiana provides free online tutoring, test prep, and job search assistance to eligible library card holders statewide. Powered by Tutor.com, Homework Louisiana is provided by the State Library of Louisiana and the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The sources you use are an important component of your research. It's important to evaluate the sources you're considering using, in order to:

Ensure that they're credible

Determine whether they're relevant to your topic

Assess the quality of their arguments

You should have a clear idea of your own research question or topic and think critically when evaluating sources.

Evaluating a source's credibility

Evaluating the credibility of a source is an important way of sifting out misinformation and determining whether you should use it in your research. Useful approaches include the CRAAP test and lateral reading.

CRAAP test

One of the best ways to evaluate source credibility is the CRAAP test. This stands for:

Currency: Does the source reflect recent research?

Relevance: Is the source related to your research topic?

Authority: Is it a respected publication? Is the author an expert in their field?

Accuracy: Does the source support its arguments and conclusions with evidence?

Purpose: What is the author's intention?

How you evaluate a source using these criteria will depend on your subject and focus. It's important to understand the types of sources and how you should use them in your field of research.

Lateral reading

Lateral reading is the act of evaluating the credibility of a source by comparing it to other sources. This allows you to:

Verify evidence

Contextualize information

Find potential weaknesses

If a source is using methods or drawing conclusions that are incompatible with other research in its field, it may not be reliable.

Example: Lateral reading
You're reading an article on rates of immigration into the US. The secondary source cites specific figures as evidence that immigration is at an all-time high.
Rather than taking these figures at face value, you decide to determine the accuracy of the source's claims by cross-checking them with official statistics such as census reports and figures compiled by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Immigration Statistics.

This way, you can assess whether the source is representing the data accurately, or cherry-picking to give a misleading picture of the situation described in the primary source.

Evaluating a source's relevance

How you evaluate the relevance of a source will depend on your topic, and on where you are in the research process. Preliminary evaluation helps you to pick out relevant sources in your search, while in-depth evaluation allows you to understand how they're related.

Preliminary evaluation

As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, you can use preliminary evaluation to determine which sources might be relevant. This is especially important when you're surveying a large number of sources (e.g., in a literature review or systematic review).

One way to do this is to look at paratextual material, or the parts of a work other than the text itself.

Look at the table of contents to determine the scope of the work.

Consult the index for key terms or the names of important scholars.

You can also read abstracts, prefaces, introductions, and conclusions. These will give you a clear idea of the author's intentions, the parameters of the research, and even the conclusions they draw.

Preliminary evaluation is useful as it allows you to:

Determine whether a source is worth examining in more depth

Quickly move on to more relevant sources

Increase the quality of the information you consume

While this preliminary evaluation is an important step in the research process, you should engage with sources more deeply in order to adequately understand them.

Note: When using databases or search engines, you can search keywords using Boolean operators and sort results by "relevance." This will provide results based on the article's title or how many times a keyword appears in a source. While this is a good first step, it can't tell you for sure if a source is actually relevant to your research. You should carefully read the source to determine this.

In-depth evaluation

Begin your in-depth evaluation with any landmark studies in your field of research, or with sources that you're sure are related to your research topic.

As you read, try to understand the connections between the sources. Look for:

Key debates: What topics or questions are currently influencing research? How does the source respond to these key debates?

Major publications or critics: Are there any specific texts or scholars that have greatly influenced the field? How does the source engage with them?

Trends: Is the field currently dominated by particular theories or research methods? How does the source respond to these?

Gaps: Are there any oversights or weaknesses in the research?

Even sources whose conclusions you disagree with can be relevant, as they can strengthen your argument by offering alternative perspectives.

Evaluating a source's arguments

Every source should contribute to the debate about its topic by taking a clear position. This position and the conclusions the author comes to should be supported by evidence from direct observation or from other sources.

Most sources will use a mix of primary and secondary sources to form an argument. It is important to consider how the author uses these sources. A good argument should be based on analysis and critique, and there should be a logical relationship between evidence and conclusions.

To assess an argument's strengths and weaknesses, ask:

Does the evidence support the claim?

How does the author use evidence? What theories, methods, or models do they use?

Could the evidence be used to draw other conclusions? Can it be interpreted differently?

How does the author situate their argument in the field? Do they agree or disagree with other scholars? Do they confirm or challenge established knowledge?

Situating a source in relation to other sources ( lateral reading) can help you determine whether the author's arguments and conclusions are reliable and how you will respond to them in your own writing.

Other interesting articles

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools, citation, and plagiarism, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Frequently asked questions about evaluating sources

What is lateral reading?

Lateral reading is the act of evaluating the credibility of a source by comparing it with other sources. This allows you to:

Verify evidence

Contextualize information

Find potential weaknesses

What makes a source credible?

A credible source should pass the CRAAP test and follow these guidelines:

The information should be up to date and current.

The author and publication should be a trusted authority on the subject you are researching.

The sources the author cited should be easy to find, clear, and unbiased.

For a web source, the URL and layout should signify that it is trustworthy.

What is the CRAAP test?

The CRAAP test is an acronym to help you evaluate the credibility of a source you are considering using. It is an important component of information literacy.

The CRAAP test has five main components:

Currency: Is the source up to date?

Relevance: Is the source relevant to your research?

Authority: Where is the source published? Who is the author? Are they considered reputable and trustworthy in their field?

Accuracy: Is the source supported by evidence? Are the claims cited correctly?

Purpose: What was the motive behind publishing this source?

What is the difference between a scholarly and a popular source?

Scholarly sources are written by experts in their field and are typically subjected to peer review. They are intended for a scholarly audience, include a full bibliography, and use scholarly or technical language. For these reasons, they are typically considered credible sources.

Popular sources like magazines and news articles are typically written by journalists. These types of sources usually don't include a bibliography and are written for a popular, rather than academic, audience. They are not always reliable and may be written from a biased or uninformed perspective, but they can still be cited in some contexts.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the "Cite this Scribbr article" button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Ryan, E. (2023, May 31). Evaluating Sources | Methods & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved October 9, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/evaluating-sources/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The sources you use are an important component of your research. It's important to evaluate the sources you're considering using, in order to: Ensure that

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
1. Qualifications of Author

Limit your articles to scholarly/peer reviewed articles and you'll generally be able to find the qualifications of the authors on the first page of the article. The qualifications generally consist of advanced degrees and affiliations with colleges or universities. If you're not sure how, go to Tips for Academic & Scholarly Articles.

2. Purpose of the Work

You can frequently find the purpose in the abstract of the article. If there is no abstract, the first section of the article generally states the purpose.

3. Main Points

This you will have to find throughout the article. Frequently there are different main points to each section of the article. It might help to jot them down as you read.

4. Whether it is Useful

This you will also find through reading the article. You should ask: Did I learn anything? Did the authors discover something new about the topic? Did they provide data or statistics? Did they do their own original research such as experiments, human studies or surveys or did they review existing articles--or both? The more you learned or discovered something new, the more useful the articles is.

5. How it Compares

You will have to read all of the articles for your annotated bibliography before you can determine this. Once you've read them all you can compare them to each other. You should ask: Which article did you learn the most from? Which article made the most important points? How many sources did the authors use when doing their research?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
LibGuides: Tips for Writing an Annotated Bibliography : Introduction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find out what an annotated bibliography is, see an example and access sites with more information.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The passive voice isn't wrong, but it's not always appropriate. It's pretty common to use the passive voice in scientific writing or in situations where you don't know who performed a certain action, as in "My bike was stolen." But in most other cases, sticking to the active voice is more direct and produces more concise writing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The passive voice isn't wrong, but it's not always appropriate. It's pretty common to use the passive voice in scientific writing or in situations where you don't know who performed a certain action, as in "My bike was stolen." But in most other cases, sticking to the active voice is more direct and produces more concise writing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Rules for Using Commas, With Examples | Grammarly

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ah, the comma. Of all the punctuation marks in English, this one is perhaps the most misused. And it's no wonder. There are lots of rules about comma usage, and often the factors that determine whether you should use one are quite subtle. But fear not! Below, you'll find guidance for the trickiest comma questions.

What is a comma?

While a period ends a sentence, a comma indicates a smaller break. Some writers think of a comma as a soft pause-a punctuation mark that separates words, clauses, or ideas within a sentence.

Write with Grammarly

When to use commas

Commas have quite a few uses in English:

Separating items in a list of three or more

Connecting two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction

Setting apart non-restrictive relative clauses

Setting apart nonessential appositives

Setting apart introductory phrases

Setting apart interrupters and parenthetical elements

Setting apart question tags

Setting apart names in direct address

Separating parts of a date

Separating parts of a location, like a city and its country

Separating multiple coordinating adjectives

Separating quotations and attributive tags

There are a lot of technical English words in that list, but don't worry. We explain everything in detail below.

Commas with lists

When you have a list that contains more than two elements, use commas to separate them.

(The comma before the and in a list of three or more items is optional. See below, under "Serial comma," for more information.)

Your list might be made up of nouns, as in the example above, but it could also be made up of verbs, adjectives, or clauses. Imagine, for a moment, that you have just finished doing three chores. The chores were:

Cleaning the house and garage

Raking the lawn

Taking out the garbage

If you were to list these three chores in a sentence, you would write:
I cleaned the house and garage, raked the lawn, and took out the garbage.
or
I cleaned the house and garage, raked the lawn and took out the garbage.
Serial comma (Oxford comma)

As mentioned above, when you are listing three or more items, commas should separate each element of the list. However, the final comma-the one that comes before the and-is optional. This comma is called the serial comma or the Oxford comma.

Whether or not you use the serial comma is a style choice. Many newspapers do not use it. Many trade books do use it. In your own writing, you can decide for yourself whether to use it-just be consistent.

Keep in mind, though, that occasionally the serial comma is necessary for clarity.
I dedicate this award to my parents, Jane Austen and Albert Einstein.
The sentence above will almost certainly cause readers to do a double take. Without a serial comma, it looks like "Jane Austen and Albert Einstein" is an appositive, rather than the second and third elements in a list. To put it another way, the writer seems to be saying that her parents are Jane Austen and Albert Einstein. A serial comma eliminates the possibility of misreading, so even if you're not using serial commas in your writing, make an exception for sentences like this:
I dedicate this award to my parents, Jane Austen, and Albert Einstein.
Commas with but

Use a comma before the coordinating conjunction but if it is joining two independent clauses:

If but is not joining two independent clauses, leave the comma out.

Commas with and

When correcting a comma splice by adding and-that is, when joining two independent clauses with and as a coordinating conjunction-put the comma before and.

When you have a list that contains only two items, don't use a comma before the and.

Avoiding comma splices

When you want to join two independent clauses, you need a conjunction or a semicolon; a comma alone isn't strong enough to join them. This kind of mistake is called a comma splice.

You can fix a comma splice by adding a conjunction or changing the comma to a semicolon.

We were out of milk; I went to the store.

Or you can simply write the two independent clauses as separate sentences.

Commas with relative clauses

A clause that is nonrestrictive offers extra information about something you have mentioned in a sentence, but that information isn't essential for identifying the thing you're talking about. Nonrestrictive clauses are usually introduced by which or who and should be set off by commas.

The clause "which Chester recommended" is nonrestrictive because "Posey's Cafe" is already specific. Identifying it as the restaurant recommended by Chester doesn't narrow it down any further.

The clause "whom I love dearly" is nonrestrictive because you could remove it and it would still be clear what person you're talking-"my wife" is already specific.

A clause that is restrictive adds information that is necessary in order to identify whatever it is referring to. Restrictive clauses are often introduced by that or who and should never be set off by commas.

The clause "that Chester recommended" is essential information in the sentence above. If you removed it, there would be no way to tell which restaurant you were talking about.

Commas with appositives

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that refers to the same thing as another noun in the same sentence. Often, the appositive provides additional information about the noun or helps to distinguish it in some way. If you could remove the appositive without changing the meaning of the sentence, it is said to be nonessential and should be set off with commas. If the appositive is necessary, it's said to be essential and should not be set off with commas.

Nonessential appositives
My partner, Angela, is a wonderful cook. The painter, one of the city's most promising young artists, began showing his work in galleries before he was sixteen. Chocolate, my favorite treat, always makes me feel better after a bad day.
Essential appositives
Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" is a classic. Nick Jonas's brother Kevin is the most underrated Jonas. The detective Sherlock Holmes is one of literature's greatest sleuths.
Commas with introductory phrases
Grabbing her umbrella, Kate raced out of the house. Confused by her sister's sudden change in mood, Jill stayed quiet.
A comma normally follows a participial phrase that introduces a sentence:
After the show, Cleo will be signing autographs. Behind the building there is enough space to park two limousines. Without knowing why, I crossed the room and looked out the window. In 1816 life was very different. Suddenly, a frightened black cat sprang from the shadows.
When an adverbial phrase begins a sentence, it's often followed by a comma, but it doesn't have to be, especially if it's short. As a rule of thumb, if the phrase is longer than about four words, use a comma. You can also use a comma after a shorter phrase when you want to emphasize it or add a pause for literary effect.

Before eating the family said grace.

Before eating, the family said grace.

But if there is a chance of misreading the sentence, use the comma:

Commas with dates
July 4, 1776, was an important day in American history. I was born on Sunday, May 12, 1968.
When writing a date in month-day-year format, set off the year with commas.
Applications are due by 31 December 2024.
If you are using the day-month-year format, however, commas are unnecessary.
On Tuesday, April 13, at three o'clock, there will be a meeting for all staff. Please join us on Saturday, June 10, 2023, for the marriage of Annie and Michael.
Use a comma between a day of the week and a date:
The region experienced record rainfall in March 1999.
When you are referencing only a month and year, you don't need a comma.

Commas with coordinate adjectives
That man is a pompous, self-righteous, annoying idiot. That man is a self-righteous, annoying, pompous idiot. The sweet, scintillating aroma of cinnamon buns filled the kitchen. The scintillating, sweet aroma of cinnamon buns filled the kitchen.
When multiple adjectives modify a noun to an equal degree, they are said to be coordinate and should be separated by commas. One way to tell whether the adjectives are coordinate is to try switching the order of them. If the sentence still sounds natural, the adjectives are coordinate.

The adorable, little boy was eating ice cream.

The little, adorable boy was eating ice cream.

The adorable little boy was eating ice cream.

If multiple adjectives are used but are not coordinate-that is, if one of them is more closely related to the noun being modified than the other(s), and thus they sound unnatural if the order is changed-don't separate them with a comma.

Commas with interrupters or parenthetical elements

Interrupters are little thoughts that pop up in the middle of a sentence to show emotion, tone, or emphasis. A parenthetical element is a phrase that adds extra information to the sentence but could be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. Both interrupters and parenthetical elements should be set off with commas.

Commas between direct quotes and attributive tags
The professor remarked, "How attentive you have been today!" "Once you know the solution," Tiffany said, "the whole problem seems very simple." "You have ice cream on your nose," my friend giggled. "When you leave the house," my mother yelled, "don't slam the door!"
An attributive tag is a phrase, like "they said" or "she claimed," that identifies the speaker or writer of a quote or piece of dialogue. Attributive tags can come before, after, or even in the middle of a quote. Use commas to separate attributive tags from quotations.

If a quotation before an attributive tag ends in a question mark or exclamation point, however, there's no need for a comma.

Commas with quotation marks
"Pass me that thesaurus," said Matthew. "If you knew what was good for you, you'd finish that essay right now," my roommate said. "We're going down to the soup kitchen to help serve dinner," her mother called.
In American English, commas always go before closing quotation marks.

In British English, however, unquoted punctuation typically follows the quotation marks. If you are writing for a British audience, put the comma after the closing quotation mark. (Furthermore, British English tends to use single quotes rather than double quotation marks.)

Commas with parentheses

Parentheses are used to give additional information to the reader-information that might disrupt the flow of the sentence if written as a nonrestrictive clause. Commas may be placed after the closing parenthesis but not before either the opening or the closing parenthesis. If the sentence would not require any commas without the parenthetical material, it should not have any commas with it.

Commas with question tags
These willow trees are beautiful, aren't they? You didn't actually write a 600-page vampire romance novel, did you? I know, right?
A question tag is a word or short phrase that is added to the end of a statement to turn it into a question. Writers often use question tags to encourage readers to agree with them. A question tag should be preceded by a comma.

Commas with direct address
Mom, I can't find my shoes! Cleo, there's someone on the phone for you. Hello, Chester.
When addressing another person by name, set off the name with commas.

Commas with as well as
Please proofread for grammatical mistakes as well as spelling. Spelling mistakes, as well as grammatical errors, are distracting to readers.
You generally don't need a comma before the connective phrase as well as. However, if you want the element of a sentence introduced by as well as to be read as an interrupter or a parenthetical, setting it off with a comma or pair of commas can communicate that.

Commas with such as
Coniferous trees, such as pine and spruce, do not drop their needles in the winter.
The phrase such as requires commas if it introduces a nonrestrictive clause.
Trees such as pine and spruce do not drop their needles in the winter.
If such as introduces a restrictive clause, omit the commas.

Commas with too
I like bananas too. I too like bananas.
Using a comma before the adverb too is generally unnecessary but not incorrect.
I like bananas, too. I, too, like bananas.
Setting too off with commas can add emphasis or make the sentence easier to parse.

Comma mistakes to avoid

There are a few places in a sentence where a comma should (almost) never appear.

Between subjects and verbs

With few exceptions, a comma should not separate a subject from its verb.

Writers are often tempted to insert a comma between a subject and verb this way because speakers sometimes pause at that point in a sentence. But in writing, the comma only makes the sentence seem stilted.

Be especially careful with long or complex subjects:

In compound subjects or objects

In general, don't put a comma between two nouns that appear together as a compound subject or compound object.
She, and her cat, live there. The irritating behavior of certain other members of the food coop, and the recent steep increase in prices of much of the produce there, inevitably dominated the conversation.
Occasionally, when a subject or object is made up of two items and the second item is parenthetical, or both items are long, the second item can be set off between two commas.

In these cases, the writer is using commas to let the reader know where in a sentence emphasis and pauses should fall. They are not grammatically necessary, so the compound subjects still take plural verbs.

In compound predicates

A compound predicate is what you have when the subject of a sentence is shared by more than one verb without being repeated. In a compound predicate that contains two verbs joined by a coordinating conjunction, a comma should rarely be used between the verbs

It's easiest to make this mistake when the predicate is made up of long verb phrases.

However, it's occasionally helpful to use a comma in a compound predicate to prevent misreading:

In the sentence above, you need the comma to make clear that it was Cleo who waved, not the man.

Between verbs and their objects

Don't separate a transitive verb from its direct object with a comma.

With correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are conjunctions that come in pairs (such as either/ or, neither/ nor, and not only/ but also) and connect words or phrases in a sentence to form a complete thought. Typically, commas are unnecessary with correlative conjunctions.

Between articles and nouns

Don't use a comma between an article and a noun.

When speaking, we often pause while we think of the next word we want to say. In writing, though, there's usually no reason to add this pause. If you're writing dialogue and you specifically want to convey a pause while someone is thinking, use an ellipsis: I'll have an . . . apple.

With than comparisons

Don't use a comma before than when you're making a comparison.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ah, the comma. Of all the punctuation marks in English, this one is perhaps the most misused. And it's no wonder. There are lots...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What's the bias of your favorite media outlet? See over 800 AllSides media bias ratings.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
One of your primary goals as a writer is to present ideas in a clear and understandable way. To help readers move through your complex ideas, you want to be intentional about how you structure your paper as a whole as well as how you form the individual paragraphs that comprise it. In order to think through the challenges of presenting your ideas articulately, logically, and in ways that seem natural to your readers, check out some of these resources: Developing a Thesis Statement, Paragraphing, and Developing Strategic Transitions: Writing that Establishes Relationships and Connections Between Ideas.

While clear writing is mostly achieved through the deliberate sequencing of your ideas across your entire paper, you can guide readers through the connections you're making by using transitional words in individual sentences. Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between your ideas and can help your reader understand your paper's logic.

In what follows, we've included a list of frequently used transitional words and phrases that can help you establish how your various ideas relate to each other. We've divided these words and phrases into categories based on the common kinds of relationships writers establish between ideas.

Two recommendations:
Use these transitions strategically by making sure that the word or phrase you're choosing matches the logic of the relationship you're emphasizing or the connection you're making. All of these words and phrases have different meanings, nuances, and connotations, so before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely, and be sure that it's the right match for your paper's logic.
Use these transitional words and phrases sparingly because if you use too many of them, your readers might feel like you are overexplaining connections that are already clear.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between ideas in your paper and can help your reader understand the logic of your paper. However, these words all have different meanings, nuances, and connotations. Before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely and be sure...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Here Are the 10 Most Overused Words in Your Writing | Grammarly

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Day-to-day communication can get boring. There are only so many "Sounds good" and "Let me know" emails, texts, and Slack messages you can send and read each day without your eyes glazing over.

While there are some communications that have to use plain language to be accurate, there are ways to spice up your texts and emails while keeping them concise. Adjectives are an easy place to start. Vague or repetitive adjectives can turn reading an email into a chore, while strong, specific ones can encourage your recipients to take notice.

We recently examined the most frequent adjectives used in a single day on all Grammarly products. These are the words you use to describe the things you're talking about- other opportunities, many different solutions, good job. Here are the most common ones and some exciting alternatives that will make your writing-and your ideas-stand out.

This word appeared over five million times in a day across Grammarly products. It's understandable why - "other" is applicable to basically any situation where you're trying to figure something out with a person. You can ask for "any other suggestions," solicit "other opinions," or ask someone for "other times" that work for them.

"More" is one of those catchall terms. In some cases, "more" can mean the same thing as "other." Sometimes, this is just the most accurate word to use, so don't worry too much about trying to get this one out of rotation. Check out "other" for some alternatives.

New products, new information, new person. We're encountering new things every day. But "new" could refer to things like time, technology, or an update. Specify what kind of "new" you mean, and use that word instead.

We're lucky to have a community of writers who already know so much about editing!

Do you recognize any of these tips? #cleanwriting https://t.co/o5GjAz5TCy pic.twitter.com/wIq1skHNew

- Grammarly (@Grammarly) April 10, 2018

"Good" is just good enough. Next time you qualify something as "good," think about how good it is. You could be referring to something that's slightly better than something else, something that's suitable, or something that's really good. Chances are, there's a word to suit each situation.

Similar to "good," "best" isn't the only way to provide a superlative. Are you looking for the top-quality pair of socks, or the pair of socks that are perfect for you? Both of these pairs of socks could be the "best."

"Many" may seem like a go-to option when referring to an indeterminate group of things. But if you have an idea of the volume of what you're talking about, it's better to narrow it down. If you don't, there are additional, interesting ways to express a vague number.

Try these alternatives: a multitude of ideas, a handful of times, numerous occasions, thousands of data points

Your #texting fails could cost your business money. ?

Here's how: https://t.co/2xMSYC34eb

- Grammarly (@Grammarly) April 9, 2018

7 Important

We all believe our emails are important. But you can almost guarantee that your readers' eyes will skip right past the word "important," since they see it so often. Distinguish your information by giving it a colorful description-but don't go overboard on it.

"Great" is a stronger word than "good," but not by much. If you're already expressing enthusiasm for something, set it apart.

"First" is the initial (see what we did there?) word most people think of when starting a list. If you really are listing a series of items or steps, don't worry too much about using this one. But similar words can get the job done.

You may not think of "able" as an oft-used adjective, but this word appears whenever you ask someone if they will "be able" to complete a task. Next time you want to ask someone if they'll "be able" to do something, use another phrase.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Here Are the 10 Most Overused Words in Your Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We recently examined the most frequent adjectives used in a single day on all Grammarly products. These are the words you use to describe the things you're talking about.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Introduction to Paragraphs and the MEAL Plan