Italic type — as in this line — slants to the right. In handwriting, indicate italics by underlining. Slightly harder to read than perpendicular type, it is usually saved for emphasis or other special uses.
| 31a | Italicize certain titles, names, and words. Use italics for the types of titles, names, and words shown on page 884 |
We read the story “Araby” in James Joyce’s book Dubliners.
The Broadway musical My Fair Lady was based on Shaw’s play Pygmalion.
| 31b | Use italics sparingly for emphasis |
When you absolutely must stress a term, use italics. In most cases, the structure of your sentence should give emphasis where emphasis is due.
He put the package under the mailbox, not into the mailbox.
People living in affluent countries may not be aware that nearly sixteen thousand children per day die of starvation or malnutrition.
Titles
MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, AND SCHOLARLY JOURNALS
| Newsweek | the London Times | Film & History |
LONG LITERARY WORKS
| The Bluest Eye (a novel) | The Less Deceived (a collection of poems) |
FILMS
| Psycho | Casablanca | Avatar |
PAINTINGS AND OTHER WORKS OF ART
| Four Dancers (a painting) | The Thinker (a sculpture) |
LONG MUSICAL WORKS
| Aïda | Handel’s Messiah |
CDS AND RECORD ALBUMS
| Crash | The Chronic |
TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMS
| Heroes | All Things Considered |
Other Words and Phrases
NAMES OF AIRCRAFT, SPACECRAFT, SHIPS, AND TRAINS
| the Orient Express | Challenger |
A WORD OR PHRASE FROM A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IF IT IS NOT IN EVERYDAY USE
Gandhi taught the principles of satya and ahimsa: truth and nonviolence.
EVERYDAY USE
I prefer provolone to mozzarella.
A LETTER, NUMBER, WORD, OR PHRASE WHEN YOU DEFINE IT OR REFER TO IT AS A WORD
The neon 5 on the door identified the club’s address.
The rhythmic motion of the alimentary canal is called peristalsis.
What do you think fiery suggests in the second line?
When you give a synonym or translation — a definition of just a word or so—italicize the word and put its definition in quotation marks.
The word orthodoxy means “conformity.”
Trois, drei, and tres are all words for “three.”
EXCEPTION: The names of the Bible (King James Version, Revised Standard Version), the books of the Bible (Genesis, Matthew), and other sacred books (the Qur’an, the Rig-Veda) are not italicized.