When I went to college (back in the Dark Ages), we typed our papers on typewriters. We underlined composition titles because typewriters didn’t come with a separate italic typeface. How times have changed—now we all need to know when to use italics.
Titles of works often appear in italics. A general rule is that longer works (or those made up of smaller parts) take italics. Shorter works, such as poems and songs, go within quotation marks. However, how you designate composition titles really depends on your style guide. For example, in The Chicago Manual of Style, the title of a television show would be in italics, while episode titles would take quotation marks. In contrast, the Associated Press Stylebook calls for both to be in quotation marks.
The names of ships and rockets are italicized, but car makes and models are not. Example: Apollo 7 and USS Zumwalt but Ford Mustang.
When referring to a particular word as itself, use italics. Example: I never remember how to spell eccentricity. Individual letters follow the same rule. Example: When Ella was a toddler, she had trouble pronouncing her l’s. Words that take the place of sounds should appear in italics as well. Example: The dog’s ha-ruff bark was more like a deep cough.
Foreign words , such as abuela or kohlrouladen, are often italicized, but there are exceptions. A general rule is to look up the word in Merriam-Webster. If it has an entry, then you don’t need italics.
Italics also emphasize a word or part of a word in a sentence. Don’t overdo italics for emphasis—too many italicized words can become annoying to the reader. Examples: I don’t care OR Puh-lease, as if I’d ever wear that outfit.
Remembering these simple tips will help you use italics correctly.
Titles of works often appear in italics. A general rule is that longer works (or those made up of smaller parts) take italics. Shorter works, such as poems and songs, go within quotation marks. However, how you designate composition titles really depends on your style guide. For example, in The Chicago Manual of Style, the title of a television show would be in italics, while episode titles would take quotation marks. In contrast, the Associated Press Stylebook calls for both to be in quotation marks.
The names of ships and rockets are italicized, but car makes and models are not. Example: Apollo 7 and USS Zumwalt but Ford Mustang.
When referring to a particular word as itself, use italics. Example: I never remember how to spell eccentricity. Individual letters follow the same rule. Example: When Ella was a toddler, she had trouble pronouncing her l’s. Words that take the place of sounds should appear in italics as well. Example: The dog’s ha-ruff bark was more like a deep cough.
Foreign words , such as abuela or kohlrouladen, are often italicized, but there are exceptions. A general rule is to look up the word in Merriam-Webster. If it has an entry, then you don’t need italics.
Italics also emphasize a word or part of a word in a sentence. Don’t overdo italics for emphasis—too many italicized words can become annoying to the reader. Examples: I don’t care OR Puh-lease, as if I’d ever wear that outfit.
Remembering these simple tips will help you use italics correctly.
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