The Basics
[1] Titles of books, movies, poems, and plays, as well as the names of newspapers and magazines
Have you read Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby?
(Notice: if the title is referred to possessively or has already been mentioned in full, an initial article may be dropped. Great Gatsby instead of The Great Gatsby.)
Beyond the Basics
[2] When a word doesn't represent the thing or idea that it usually represents, but instead, refers to the word itself
Too many people throw the word synergy around in meetings without a clue what it really means.
Young writers tend to use to confuse there, their, and they're.
[3] When individual letters are referred to
p's and q's
[4] To emphasise a word or phrase
I don't know for sure, but neither do you.
Isn't that special.
[5] Sounds
Zoooow
Bam
[6] Thoughts (click for more info)
Will I make it? he wondered. I doubt it.
Syntax
Remember: for manuscripts, indicate italics by underlining.
I can't go on, he thought.
Wooosh
Trailing punctuation generally should be in italics as well.
Will I make it?
<questionable> Will I make it?
Usage Key
Misuse
The biggest misuse of italics is overuse (when used for emphasis).
Let's Talk Style
Let's see how the pros use it
[1] Titles of books, movies, poems, and plays, as well as the names of newspapers and magazines
Have you read Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby?
(Notice: if the title is referred to possessively or has already been mentioned in full, an initial article may be dropped. Great Gatsby instead of The Great Gatsby.)
Beyond the Basics
[2] When a word doesn't represent the thing or idea that it usually represents, but instead, refers to the word itself
Too many people throw the word synergy around in meetings without a clue what it really means.
Young writers tend to use to confuse there, their, and they're.
[3] When individual letters are referred to
p's and q's
[4] To emphasise a word or phrase
I don't know for sure, but neither do you.
Isn't that special.
[5] Sounds
Zoooow
Bam
[6] Thoughts (click for more info)
Will I make it? he wondered. I doubt it.
Syntax
Remember: for manuscripts, indicate italics by underlining.
I can't go on, he thought.
Wooosh
Trailing punctuation generally should be in italics as well.
Will I make it?
<questionable> Will I make it?
Usage Key
Misuse
The biggest misuse of italics is overuse (when used for emphasis).
Let's Talk Style
Let's see how the pros use it
| Italics |
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