Independent Clause | Definition, Examples & Use

An independent clause (also known as a main clause) is a group of words with a main subject and verb. Independent clauses are complete thoughts and full sentences that can stand by themselves.

Independent clauses can occur on their own or be combined with a variety of dependent clauses to express more complex ideas.

Independent clause examples
She loves chocolate cake.

The party lasted all night.

It will rain tomorrow.

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What Are Base Words? | Examples & Definition

A base word is the smallest part of a word that has meaning and can be used on its own. Base words can be expanded by adding affixes (i.e., prefixes and suffixes) to the beginning and/or end of the word, but they are also complete words that can stand alone.

For example, “misguided” can be broken down into three parts:

prefix base word suffix
mis guide ed

“Guide” is the base word. It can be used on its own in a sentence and still make sense, and it cannot be broken down further into smaller parts. “Mis,” meaning “wrong,” modifies the base word “guide.” Finally, the “ed” ending is an inflection that indicates that the word is being used in the past tense or as an adjective.

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What Does Ibid. Mean? | Definition & Uses

Ibid.” is a term used in academic writing to cite a source that has already been cited in the text. It’s used to direct the reader to the previous footnote or endnote, where the full citation can be found.

“Ibid.” is the abbreviated form of “ibidem,” a Latin term meaning “in the same place.”

Examples: Ibid. in Chicago-style footnote
1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit (London: HarperCollins, 2009), 15.
2. Ibid.
Tip
Every source you reference in your academic writing should be cited correctly. Our Citation Generator can help you cite sources correctly, and our free Plagiarism Checker can help ensure your writing is free of accidental plagiarism.

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Et Al. | Meaning & Use in MLA, APA & Chicago

Et al.” is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase “et alia,” meaning “and others.” It’s commonly used in academic writing when citing a source with multiple authors.

Examples: Et al. in a sentence
Pirreno et al. (2024) proposed the first framework for…

Past studies have supported the relationship between sugar consumption and cavities (Tsoklat et al., 2024).

How “et al.” is used depends on the style guide you are following. Three of the most common style guides, MLA, APA, and Chicago, each have slightly different rules regarding how to use “et al.”

Tip
Every source you use in your writing should be cited. QuillBot’s Citation Generator can help you cite sources correctly, and our free Plagiarism Checker can help ensure your writing is free of accidental plagiarism.

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Root Words | Definition, List & Examples

A root word is the most basic part of a word and does not have any affixes (i.e., prefixes or suffixes) attached. A root word is the fundamental unit of a word and forms the basis for a word family, or all the words that can be created using the root word.

A root word can be built on using prefixes (e.g., “pre-”, “de-,” “anti-”) and suffixes (e.g., “-able”/“-ible,” “-tion,” “-ly”). Adding prefixes or suffixes to root words creates new words.

For example, the word “proportionate” is made up of these components:

pro portion ate
prefix root word suffix

A root word like “portion” is the basis of a word family that includes many other words, such as “improportion,” “disproportional,” and “proportionality.” Word families contain words that share similar spelling as well as meaning.

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Coordinate Adjectives | Examples & Definition

Coordinate adjectives are two or more adjectives of equal importance that describe the same noun or pronoun. Coordinate adjectives are separated by either commas or the word “and.”

Coordinate adjectives examples
He’s a happy, healthy baby.

Giuditta and Carlos have had a long, challenging, and odd relationship.

The stray dog was asleep in an old and weathered cardboard box.

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What Is a Misplaced Modifier? | Definition & Examples

A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is separated from what it is intended to modify in a sentence. Misplaced modifiers can create ambiguity or change the meaning of the sentence.

Misplaced modifier exampleThe children ran through the streets dressed in costumes.

In the example above, the modifier “dressed in costumes” modifies the noun “the streets.” This implies that the streets are wearing costumes rather than the children.

To fix this mistake, the modifier needs to be moved next to the words it modifies: “the children.”

Corrected modifier examples
Dressed in costumes, the children ran through the streets.

The children, dressed in costumes, ran through the streets.

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Boolean Operators | Examples, Definition & List

Boolean operators are the words and symbols used to narrow or expand a search on a database. Examples of Boolean operators include “AND,” “OR,” and “NOT.” A Boolean search is therefore a search that uses Boolean operators.

Boolean operators are used together with keywords to form a Boolean string that makes your search more precise. This enables the database to identify the most pertinent sources.

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How to Avoid Plagiarism | Tips & Examples

Plagiarism occurs when you use another person’s words, ideas, or information without correctly citing the source. Plagiarism can sometimes be intentional, but usually it is accidental, resulting from incorrect citation practices or forgetfulness.

Academic writing involves using others’ work to support your claims or provide background information. Any time you refer to another author’s work, you must cite the source.

Strategies to avoid plagiarism include:

  1. Making a list of all the sources you use in your research (a citation generator can make this task easier)
  2. Paraphrasing or quoting sources (a paraphrasing tool can help, and you can elaborate with your own ideas)
  3. Giving credit to the original author both with an in-text citation and in the reference list
  4. Running your text through a plagiarism checker
  5. Being responsible with the use of generative AI tools (AI-produced texts may be recognized by an AI Detector)

Plagiarism, whether accidental or otherwise, can have serious consequences. As such, it is vital to be careful with how you cite borrowed material in your text.

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