Use underlining, italics, or quotation marks for titles?
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Use underlining, italics, or quotation marks for titles?
Here are the rules as I understand them.
1. For identifying titles, italics and underlining are equivalent. Underlining is merely used when italic is unavailable, namely when writing by hand instead of on a computer.
2. With the rise of computers, underlining titles is archaic. It is very important not to underline titles or otherwise misuse underlining when writing on computers, especially in text to be displayed over the internet, because the underlined text will be confused with hyperlinks. On the internet, underlining is the default style for identifying a link and thus needs to be avoided otherwise.
3. Italicize names of works published by themselves. Use quotation marks around works that are published within another work. For instance, the following are all correct:
- "Ghostwriter" by Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill is a short story in the anthology Holding Fire.
- Dark Sky Paradise is a great album. "One Man Can Change the World" is one of my favorite tracks on it.
- Did you see my article "Why Scott is Cool" in The Wall Street Journal?
- The episode "Scott Tenorman Must Die" is a very funny episode of the TV show South Park.
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I wanted to add that I always use quotes when identifying titles. Is it fine?
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Thanks!!
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-- 30 Jun 2015, 14:48 --
Oh, this is in the new international grammar forum. I just noticed that. OK... seems like a useful category!!
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-- 06 Jul 2015, 09:51 --
Is it appropriate to just write the title of a book without underlining or italics? I normally write the title of a book without any of the things you mentioned.
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-- 06 Jul 2015, 19:17 --
I already knew about using quotes for short stories, articles, etc. I also knew about underlining book titles and the problems Scott mentioned with doing that on the internet.bluemel4 wrote:No. You should be using italics or underlining for book titles. If it is a short story use quotes.
Using italics is a new one for me. I thought it was acceptable to use nothing for a book title on the internet. I have often seen it that way on the official reviews here. I hope some of the editors weren't taking points away for that. I am an editor and certainly haven't. I would be interested in hearing other's thoughts on this.
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Of course each publisher has their own stylebook (many simply use the Chicago Manual of Style) and so emphasis and punctuation can be slightly different between publishing houses.
You're correct absolutely about underlining. Never underline nowadays.
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Using italics is new for me as well. I don't take points away for it, nor do I think points should be taken for such a petty matter.bookowlie wrote:Thanks for the info!
-- 06 Jul 2015, 19:17 --
I already knew about using quotes for short stories, articles, etc. I also knew about underlining book titles and the problems Scott mentioned with doing that on the internet.bluemel4 wrote:No. You should be using italics or underlining for book titles. If it is a short story use quotes.
Using italics is a new one for me. I thought it was acceptable to use nothing for a book title on the internet. I have often seen it that way on the official reviews here. I hope some of the editors weren't taking points away for that. I am an editor and certainly haven't. I would be interested in hearing other's thoughts on this.
Pronouns: She/Her
"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you." (Mortimer J. Adler)
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The main use of underlining might involve the skeleton of your paper.
Introduction
The case of Roe v. Wade is a powerful one...
Summary of the Case
It's Roe, and it's Wade. Together, they comprise Roe v. Wade.
That seems loopy even to me. I think my Ambien is kicking in. Anyway, there you have it.
- moderntimes
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![Red Police :law-policered:](./images/smilies/law/policered.gif)
![Red Police :law-policered:](./images/smilies/law/policered.gif)
![Red Police :law-policered:](./images/smilies/law/policered.gif)
Grammar police! Grammar police!
-- July 21st, 2015, 4:40 pm --
Other than that, did you like my summary of the case?
- moderntimes
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