Figurative Language: Personification

This can be so much fun when it's done right. 

Personification is giving human traits to something non-human.  Here are a few examples:  "the sky was crying,"  "the trees danced in the wind," "the car groaned in protest," etc. 

Personification is a great way to describe something.  It can make a clearer picture for your reader.  Take a look at this boring description:

• I could hear sound of the water in the brook. 

Adding a little personification can make it much more fun:

• I could hear the giggling sound of the water in the brook. 

Common words used to given personification include: smile, dance, cry, sigh, groan, giggle, laugh, roar, whisper, and run.  

Be careful though, a little personification can go a long way.  You don't want a paragraph to look like this:

• The sun smiled upon the dancing field of grain as the trees stretched and yawned.  The air sighed, greeting the morning, the dawn running across the sky.  The ground laughed as the animals tickled the earth.

It just becomes a little much after a while.  

Also, don't confuse Personification with Anthropomorphism, which is where you make something not human, human-like...such as Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny.   Mice and bunnies aren't really like humans, but it's fun to imagine they are in cartoons and such.  That's anthropomorphism, not personification. 

Until next time, I remain you faithful Online Writing Tutor,

Mrs. B

Inserting a Quote Into Your Writing

Teachers are always harping on evidence: evidence, evidence, evidence.  Why?  Because evidence is important.  It helps to prove, back-up, and justify your point. 

There are many different types of evidence to include in your writing, but the one I'll be focusing on today is arguably the most common:  quotes.   Quotes are excerpts from other people that help fortify your own points and arguments.  They strengthen your argument because they show that other people share your opinion, and you'll often find facts and statistics with results that assist in proving your point. 

But it can be tricky to know how to do quotes right.  Here are some quick tips:

1.  Look for credible sources to pull from

Your quotes won't serve as good evidence if they come from sketchy sources.  Books in your school's library will be credible, and newspapers are good to pull from.  Most of us, however, look for sources online.  Sources that have a .org or .edu are a good indication of credibility.  Online scholarly journals and reputable newspapers are also good.  Try to see if you can identify an author.  If there's no author attached to the article, better to skip it and find one that has an author listed.  Avoid websites with crazy weird colors and trippy fonts.  If it looks unprofessional, it probably is.  Also, websites like Wikipedia are not great because just about anyone can get on there and make edits.

2.  Use quotes that add substance

A quote isn't good evidence if it doesn't actually say anything.  "Smoking is bad" isn't a substantial quote.  It's general and obvious.  "Smoking causes bad breath, yellowing teeth, and leads to lung cancer" is a quote that actually brings up some points worth noting.  It's specific and informative. 

3.  Watch for quote length

Don't use quotes that are too long or too short.  Too long, and we'll wonder why we're reading your essay instead of theirs.  Too short, and it likely won't have any substance.

4. Don't leave the quote alone

Quotes are needy, and can't be left alone.  They like to be introduced, and they really like commentary.  An introduction looks like this:  Dr. Frank Alley of Clock magazine wrote, "Smoking causes bad breath, yellowing teeth, and leads to lung cancer." 

Commentary looks something like this:  Basically, Dr. Alley is saying that smoking causes health and hygiene problems.   Don't let the quote have the last word, add onto it.  Tell us what you wanted us to get out of the quote.  Here are a few sentence frames to help with commentary:

• In other words, ________________________________________________
• What ___________ really means by this is ______________________
• To put it another way, ______________________________________
• In sum, then, ______________________________________________
• In short, ______________________________________________________
• Basically, ________ is saying ___________________________
• In other words, ________ believes _________________________
• In making this comment, ____________ urges us to ____________
• ______’s point is that ________________________________
• The essence of _________’s argument is that __________________

Having good commentary will take your writing to the next level.

5.  Cite your sources

This is the most important because you don't want to accidentally plagiarize.  Make sure that you do the correct in-text citations and a works cited page.   Owl at Purdue is a great resource for the different styles of citations:

MLA

APA

Chicago

6. Quotation marks

Whatever you do, don't forget to put the quotation marks around the quote.  Believe it or not, I had students do this all the time, and it makes it look like you're plagiarizing.


And there you have it.  Easy.  If you follow these 6 steps for inserting quotes as evidence, you will be good to go.

Until next time, I remain your tired (my baby woke up early today) Online Writing Tutor,
Mrs. B

8 Ways to Get Motivated

Sometimes the hardest thing about writing is getting motivated.  I get it...and I've totally been there.  All the anxiety that swims inside of you threatens to burst out at the mere thought of starting to write.  What if you can't think of anything?  What if it sucks?  What if you can't finish?  Might as well not even try, right?

WRONG!  Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Here are some strategies to get yourself motivated to tackle your project.  These not only go for writing, but anything you're a little apprehensive to start.

1. Take a walk

When I've been struggling to know where to begin or how to proceed on a project or assignment,  I go for a walk.  It allows you to think while moving, which I believe helps your brain work better.  Even if I don't start out thinking about the assignment, my mind will eventually go there and I begin to work out the problems I've encountered.

Even if you don't actually think about your project, the fresh air and exercise will do you good.  It can be a short walk or a long walk, whatever you need.

2. Prepare a reward

Plan for something really awesome once you finish your project...a prize of some sort.  It could be watching an episode of your favorite show, or eating a treat.  Maybe you'll go buy yourself something.  It's an incentive to get it done. 

3. Give yourself a deadline

Teacher deadlines feel oppressive, but personal deadlines are empowering.  Give yourself a reasonable deadline before the teacher's and meet it.  You'll be amazed at how good you feel.

4. Take it a little at a time

This one only works if you have some time to work with, but it can be really helpful.  Start working on it early, but don't plan on finishing the whole thing.  Set a timer for 20 minutes and work on it for that amount of time.  The next day, set another timer for 20 minutes, and so on and so forth.  This can break a large project into small manageable chunks...and if you find yourself hitting your stride, you can go as long as you want. 

5. Work with a group

A study group can make the process fun, and gives you people to bounce ideas off of.  You can also proof-read and double check for each other.  But pick your group members carefully--you want to make sure you won't distract each other too much.

6. Do the header

This may sound silly, but I'm serious.  Just getting your header on there--name, date, period, title, etc.--can feel like a huge boost.  It's a start, and can help you get underway.  (To read the first page of Katniss's essay, click here.)

7. Eat a snack

Bring some chips, a bowl of popcorn, a banana, or a candy bar to your desk or work area.  Allow yourself to munch while you work.  No one likes to work on an empty stomach. (Just don't make a mess.)

8. Remember that the sooner you do it, the sooner it's done. 

The longer you put if off, the more stressful it'll become.  Just bite the bullet and get to work.  You'll thank yourself later. 


Until next time, I remain your motivating Online Writing Tutor,
Mrs. B

Figurative Language: Imagery and the 5 Senses

One of the most important types of figurative language is imagery.  To use imagery is to be descriptive.  Very descriptive.  It's like painting a picture with your words. 

An easy way to approach this is to use the five senses.

Let's start with a basic sentence with no imagery:

• I walked in and mom was making cookies.

There's not a whole lot going on here and it's boring.  Let's start adding to it slowly using the five senses.  I'll start with sight:

• I slumped into the bright kitchen where mom hovered over the granite countertops, rolling a second batch of cookies into balls. 

Can you picture some of the things described?  Now let's add a little more using smell:

• I slumped into the bright kitchen, where I was greeted by the wafting smell of chocolate chip cookies drifting towards me.  My mom hovered over the granite countertops, rolling a second batch of cookies into balls. 

Smell is a powerful sense and makes for powerful imagery...or should I say "smellery."  Let's add some sound and touch now:

• I slumped into the bright kitchen, where I was greeted by the wafting smell of chocolate chip cookies drifting towards me.  The air was warm and wrapped itself around me like a blanket. Mom hovered over the granite countertops, humming to herself as she rolled a second batch of cookies into balls. 

To add taste, I'd throw a sentence like this on the end:

• I could almost taste the melting chocolate on my tongue already. 

Not every scene can incorporate all five senses, but you can always incorporate at least four of them.  You should always try for five.  Imagery peps up any kind of writing, making it more tangible, interesting, and relatable.  

Feel free to comment below with a scenario that you'd like me to write with imagery, or share one you did yourself.  

Until then, I remain your humble Online Writing Tutor,

Mrs. B

Paragraphs: Put on Your Pants

Writing a good paragraph is pretty simple. Think of it as putting on your pants:

1. Topic sentence (putting your feet in the pants)

This is the first thing you have to do.  It's hard to put on your pants if you skip this first step. Likewise, it's hard to write a good paragraph without a topic sentence. This is your paragraph opener.  It introduces the topic of the paragraph and acts as an opener for the rest of it.  Basically, it presents a point, which you then spend the rest of the paragraph proving.  Here's an example:

• Cream puffs are an essential dessert to include in any party spread. 

2. Supporting sentences (pulling up the pants)

The pants are around your ankles, the next step is to move them up your legs. There should be at least three supporting sentences to give your topic sentence the support it needs. Without this support, your paragraph won't have legs to stand on (see what I did there?).  Depending on the kind of assignment you're writing for, these sentences should include evidence and quotes from outside sources. These sentences answer "because" for your topic sentence.  I'll continue my example:

• Cream puffs are an essential dessert to include in any party spread.  They are a finger food, which makes them easy to eat.  Additionally, they are easy to serve and clean up after.  It also helps that they are delicious and satisfying.

3. Support for your support (zipping the pants)

While three supporting sentences cover the minimum, throw in some more support with examples and further clarification.  This tightens up your points, like a zipper, and holds them in place:

• Cream puffs are an essential dessert to include in any party spread.  At a party, people often move around to visit with all the different guests while they eat.  Because of that, foods that require a knife and fork become cumbersome.  Cream puffs, however, are a finger food, making them easy to eat in a party situation.  Another common occurrence at parties are messes: setting up the food, cleaning up plates and serving dishes, etc.  Unlike many desserts, cream puffs are easy to serve--all that's needed is a cute bowl--and they're easy to clean up because the pastry confines the messy cream.  But the biggest advantage to cream puffs is the fact that they are delicious and satisfying.  The flaky pastry exterior and sweet cream filling please even the pickiest palates.  

(Some people hate it when you start a sentence with "but."  Check with your teacher on that point.  I never minded it.)

4. Conclusion (the button)

You need a button to finish it all up.  If you leave a paragraph without a conclusion, it's like walking around with your pants un-buttoned, which is only acceptable right after Thanksgiving.  A conclusion wraps it all up.  Here's a sample conclusion to the cream puff example:

• The guests will eat them up...literally.

or

• Cream puffs will never let a party host down. 

There are your basic components for writing a good paragraph...and for putting on your pants.  I hope this was helpful for one, or both, of those things.

Until next time, I remain your humble Online Writing Tutor,

Mrs. B

How to Write a Love Poem

It's Valentine's Day!  The day when people rush out to buy chocolates, cards, and roses for their sweethearts.  But do you know which of these above items is shockingly overpriced?  CARDS!  Every year they seem to get more expensive.  But you don't have to submit to the man and pay those unreasonable prices. No, you can buck the system. 

Make your own.

All you really need for a homemade card is a nice message to your love, but if you really want to go the extra mile, write a poem.

I'm serious, poetry is not dead, and you'd be amazed at the effect it can have.  A blank verse poem can seem daunting, with its "freedom."  No worries, though.  There are different kinds of poetry formats to give you a template to work from.  If you're a newbie poet, give one of these a try for your Valentine's love poem.

1. Roses are Red...

If all you want is a simple, silly poem that doesn't take much effort, you can go with the old standby.  They typically go something like this:

Roses are red, (A)
Violets are blue, (B)
Candy is sweet, (C)
and you are too. (B)

Four lines.  Lines 2 and 4 need to end with a rhyme, and that's it. 

2. Villanelle

This is a beautiful poetry type.  Although it can seem daunting with it's 19 lines, it has 2 repeating rhymes and 2 refrains. An excellent example is Dylan Thomas's "Do not go gentle into that good night."   A typical villanelle looks like this:

You made me who I am today(Aa)
I was broken, but you gave me glue(1b)
You picked me up and showed me the way.(Ba)

When I cry, you tell me it'll be okay (2a)
There's nothing I wouldn't do for you (3b)
You made me who I am today (Aa)

When the sky was clouded and gray (4a)
When there wasn't an inch of blue (5b)
You picked me up and showed me the way (Ba)

I say the things you say (6a)
You do the things I do (7b)
You made me who I am today. (Aa)

You never need to worry if I will stay(8a)
To you my heart will always be true (9b)
You picked me up and showed me the way (Ba)

We are each others' molding clay (10a)
You fix me and I fix you too (11b)
You made me who I am today (Aa)
You picked me up and showed me the way (Ba)

Pretty simple, yeah? Maybe not? I promise once you start in, it'll go pretty fast.  You have the alternating repeating lines from the first stanza, and you have two rhymes throughout.  Make sure to pick words that have a lot of rhymes.  This website will help: RhymeZone. 

3. Limerick

This poem type is famous for being dirty or rude, but yours doesn't have to be.  This form is good for silly, funny love poems.  The rhyme scheme of a limerick is AABBA.  The "A" lines typically have around 7-9 syllables and the "B" lines have about 5.  Here's an example:

I love you so much my dear Jim, (A)
I'll kiss you when the lights are dim, (A)
Then you'll kiss me too (B)
Like you always do, (B)
And I'll say, "Your beard needs a trim!" (A)

The last line of a limerick is often a punch line, so you'll have to gauge whether this is the type of poem your Valentine would appreciate.

4. The Shakespearian Sonnet

Good ol' Billy Shakes coming to save us.  The Shakespearian Sonnet consists of 14 lines in Iambic Pentameter.  What that means, is that you have 5 "I ams" in a line.  "I am I am I am I am I am"

"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks...."
   I      am    I       am    I          am  I     am  I      am 

The rhyme scheme goes like this:  ABABCDCDEFEFGG

I'd write my own, but the Bard's are better than anything I'd come up with for an example:

Sonnet 130

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; (A)
Coral is far more red than her lips' red; (B)
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; (A)
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. (B)
I have seen roses damasked, red and white, (C)
But no such roses see I in her cheeks; (D)
And in some perfumes is there more delight (C)
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. (D)
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know (E)
That music hath a far more pleasing sound; (F)
I grant I never saw a goddess go; (E)
My mistress when she walks treads on the ground. (F)
        And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare (G)
        As any she belied with false compare. (G)

6. The Haiku 

This one is abstract and easy.  Three lines: 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables.  No rhymes.

You're my Valentine.
You are my heart and my home.
Will you please get milk?


And there you have it: a poetry starter kit for you.  There are plenty of other poetry forms out there if you're interested in taking a look, but any of these 6 will be sure to win your Valentine's heart just as effectively...if not more so...than one of those cash-grabbing cards. 

Happy Valentine's Day from your faithful Online Writing Tutor,
Mrs. B

Figurative Language: Metaphors

Alright...time for a little walk down figurative language lane.

Figurative language, in case you need a refresher, is where you use figures of speech to be more descriptive, memorable, and impactful. It's the opposite of literal language, which is exactly what it sounds like--language that is literal.  Example:

Literal:  The big red ball flew through the air

Figurative: The ball soared through the air like the planet mars

Which one is more interesting to read?

Figurative language adds spice and interest to your writing.  Most teachers push for figurative language in narrative writing, but it works well in any genre.  Essays especially need that little touch of flavor to liven them up.

Today, I'll be focusing on a specific kind of figurative language:  Metaphors

Metaphors are comparisons.  They compare one thing to another--like so:

• Baby you're a firework  (comparing "baby and "firework")

Here's another example:

• Life is a highway (comparing "life" and "highway")

Here's an example from good ol' Billy Shakes (Shakespeare):

• Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate (comparing "you" and "summer's day")

A specific kind of metaphor is a simile.  A simile is a comparison using "like" or "as."  Take a look at these examples:

• The floor was as hot as lava (comparing "floor" and "lava")

• Her smile was bright like the sun (comparing "smile" and "sun")

• The gum was stuck like glue (comparing "gum" and "glue")

Similes and metaphors can spice up your writing, creating vivid and creative descriptions to enhance your text.  Some applications in a essay-like format might look like these:

• Hours of video games can leave the brain feeling like mush.  
• Politics is a battleground with no real victors. 
• Education today is like a sieve, with too much falling through the holes. 

Try out some metaphors in your next piece of writing.  You'll find that it's a nice way to improve the flavor and tone of your piece. 

7 Ways to Sound More Professional

When writing an assignment for a class or for work, it's best to sound as professional as possible.  But how do you do that?

Well to start...

1. Read more

The more your read professional work, (articles, biographies, textbooks, novels, etc.) the more you'll get a feel for how professional writing works.  You'll be able to model your work after the thousands of things you've read.

Another thing you can do is...

2. Avoid slang

Slang is fine for personal conversations and fun writing, but in assignments for school and work, you'll want to eliminate it.  It's too casual and can be confusing to readers who aren't hip with the lingo.  Here's an example list of slang to cut out: cool, lit, lol, on point, savage, woke, ride.

Along with this, you can...

3. Use specific words

Big, neat, pretty, great, good, nice, okay--are all general terms that we use in everyday speech.  Because we can put a little more thought to our word choices when we write, these are not the best options.  Instead, try: huge, immaculate, gorgeous, tremendous, satisfactory, charming, decent.  An easy way to do this is to use synonyms--to read more about that, click here.

A simple but effective adjustment you can make is...

4. Avoid exclamation marks

Like the plague.  They make it sound like you're yelling, and it can feel like getting slapped in the face over and over.  They weaken your writing because they give you the voice of a toddler throwing a tantrum. Also, they're distracting because they draw too much attention to themselves.  There are, occasionally, places for exclamation marks, but be sure that they come few and far between.

One of the best things to do is...

5. Cut out personal pronouns

You, I, and me are the biggest offenders. If you're writing something directly to a reader, (such as a blog post like this) then you're fine to address the reader.  Typically, however, you want to avoid that.  Addressing the reader directly can make them feel uncomfortable, like you're poking at their lack of knowledge or deficiencies.  It can also isolate them, or make them feel like what you're writing doesn't apply to them.  For instance, a line like "if you like chocolate like everybody else..." can discriminate against people who happen to not like chocolate.  It would be better to say "many people enjoy chocolate...."   Using "I" and "me" is unnecessary and brings down the tone of your writing.  If you're saying "I think that this is important" or "this is important to me,"  you could easily cut out those personal pronouns to say "this is important" instead.  We know it's important to you, you're the one writing the darn thing.

Another strategy to try is...

6. Avoid questions

When you're writing an essay or an article, you're job is not to ask questions, it's to answer them.  Questions are usually fillers that serve little purpose other than to take up space.  It can be effective to include a "call to action" or thought provoking question if it suits the genre of your piece such as: "what can you do to protect the environment?"  But you have to be careful.  This question could be inspiring depending on the rest of the content in your piece, but it also uses a personal pronoun, so is it worth it?

The last suggestion I have is...

7. Check your sentence structure

Run-on and incomplete sentences will kill your professionalism.  Proofread to make sure your sentences are complete.  A complete sentence contains a subject and a verb and makes sense standing alone: e.g. "Jim ran." You can bend and twist sentence rules for creative writing purposes (like I do), but if you're going for professionalism, stick to the rule book.

Well, there you have it.  7 ways to sound more professional in your writing.  What other suggestions would you make?  Comment below.

Until next time, I remain your hungry (I need lunch) Online Writing Tutor,
Mrs. B

10 Grammar Sins You've Probably Committed

As an English teacher, grammar is important to me.  But sometimes I will catch myself committing "grammar sins."  We all do it.  But must we be content with this incompetence and blatant butchery of the English Language???

No.  We must be better than this.

If you're in a place with other people, look around you.  Not in a creepy way, but in a quiet, discreet kind of way.  Chances are, at least one of those people (it might be you) belong to the secret "Grammar Police."  Members of the grammar police notice when grammar sins are committed and inwardly cringe.  Some of them are brave and will tell offenders of their mistake, but some are too timid to impart their knowledge to their fellow human beings.

I asked some of the grammar police to share what they view as the biggest sins in grammar-dom.  I will present them to you now.

As your online writing tutor, I implore you to take note of these and make the following oath (raise your hand in the air): "I (your name) promise never to commit these grammar sins again, in either written or verbal form, so that our language might survive to live another century." Excellent. (You may put your hand down.)

Sin Number 10:   Take it for granite

What?  Granite is a type of igneous rock.  Remember igneous rocks?  7th grade science coming back to save you.  It's often used for kitchen countertops.  The phrase should read as follows:

Take it for granted-- meaning that we don't properly appreciate something that we have.

Sin Number 9:  Leave me be

You can say "let me be" or "leave me alone," but "leave me be" just doesn't make sense.

Sin Number 8. "I need to itch that..."

You mean scratch.   An itch is an unpleasant sensation on the skin or the location of the unpleasant sensation.  Scratching is what alleviates an itch.

Sin Number 7.  There, their, and they're

People seem to use these interchangeably, but their meanings are quite different.

There= indicating that spot or location: "it's over there."  Also, an exclamation to focus on something:  "there, I told you she wouldn't believe it."

Their= indicates possession: "it's their Venus flytrap," "we're going to their haunted crypt."

They're= an abbreviation for "they are":  "they're coming to eat us."

Laziness is usually to blame for this one, but it's no excuse.

Sin Number 6. Your and you're

Same issue.

Your= indicates possession: "it's your Venus flytrap," we're going to your haunted crypt."

You're= an abbreviation for "you are": "you're coming to eat us."

Sin Number 5. Irregardless

This isn't really a word.  Just say "regardless." 

Sin Number 4.  Should of, could of, would of

It's have.  Should have, could have, would have...abbreviated to should've, could've, would've. This one can be hard to catch verbally, but put this error in an essay an your teacher will rip you to shreds.

Sin Number 3.  All of the sudden

It's actually all of "a" sudden.  You can avoid the issue and use "suddenly" instead, if you'd like to make life a little easier.

Sin Number 2. Could care less

This is the one that really gets me.  It's "I COULDN'T care less."  If you could care less, why don't you?  You're telling me that you do care at least a little bit.  EVEN BEYONCE messed this one up in "Single Ladies."  Brings down the quality of the whole song.  Where are Beyonce's proofreaders?

Sin Number 1. Text shorthand

People.  Text shorthand belongs in text messages.  Nowhere else.  b4, gr8, lol, ur, r u--do not belong in emails, memos, essays, letters, reviews, comments, etc.  Using text shorthand in a text makes you look efficient and hip.  Using it anywhere else makes you look uneducated and lazy.  I saw "ur" instead of "your" all the time in student essays and it made me want to curl up in a corner with hot chocolate and a fluffy blanket to mourn the upcoming generation.  Take the extra half second it takes to type the whole thing out.  It's worth it.


Are you a member of the grammar police?  What's a grammar sin that gets under your skin?  Comment below!

Until next time I remain your humble Online Writing Tutor,
Mrs. B

The 5 Stages of Doing Homework

1. Anger/Irritation 

HOW DARE YOUR TEACHER ASSIGN YOU HOMEWORK!!! Don't they know you have a million other things you'd rather be doing?  You give your teacher evil eyes from your desk and sit there smoldering for the rest of class.

2. Denial

You're on the couch, watching Netflix.  There's a voice in the back of your head, telling you there's something you should be doing instead of binging The Office for the fourth time.  "You have homework to do."  What? Homework? Never. You tell that voice to "shove it," and pointedly ignore it for as long as you can.

3. Guilt

Now it's starting to eat at you.  Your distractions are becoming less effective.  The little voice in your head is getting louder and louder and you're starting to feel bad.  This is your education, after all, shouldn't you embrace your homework with the zeal of learning, the ambition of a scholar?  But you don't, and that makes you feel guilty.

4. Panic

YOU'LL NEVER GET IT DONE!!!  You've wasted so much time that you now have little precious time before the deadline.  Scrambling, you try to pull your act together.

5. Acceptance

The homework is real, and you've got to do it.  You buckle down and get to work.  Your brain capacity seems to grow exponentially as you power through your assignment with precision and speed. The longer you spent in the other stages, the less time you have for this stage, and that will likely affect the quality of your work. The best of us reach acceptance early on, thus avoiding the guilt and panic stages.  But some of us will wait as long as possible, finding ourselves completing the work in the hallway, minutes before it's due. 


What stage do you find yourself in the most?  Comment below!

Know your study habits and do what you can to improve them, thus improving your grades and your overall happiness level.

Keep calm and write on!
Your online writing tutor,
Mrs. B