Use underlining, italics, or quotation marks for titles?

Some grammar rules (and embarrassing mistakes!) transcend the uniqueness of different regions and style guides. This new International Grammar section by OnlineBookClub.org ultimately identifies those rules thus providing a simple, flexible rule-set, respecting the differences between regions and style guides. You can feel free to ask general questions about spelling and grammar. You can also provide example sentences for other members to proofread and inform you of any grammar mistakes.

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Charlize Venter
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Re: Use underlining, italics, or quotation marks for titles?

Post by Charlize Venter »

Thank you for clarifying. It helps to have reasoning behind the rules!
Ruth Frances A
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Post by Ruth Frances A »

This is useful but takes a while. Ironically, it is a topic we discussed several times at school. I have had a problem with it. I hope to make fewer mistakes and eventually none after this. Thank you.
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Viochuulu
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Post by Viochuulu »

Interesting. Basic English writing rules
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POETIC PACIFIC
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Post by POETIC PACIFIC »

That's good to know...new to writing and much to be learned. Thank you
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Post by Ayomikun Babalola »

Other than the book's title, should you place the book series name in italics?
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Uwe Neufeld
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Post by Uwe Neufeld »

My humble opinion is that, if we have rules, clear rules, by the way, lets stick to them.
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Post by CharlesC+Esq »

Writing or typing a title in italics is new and I certainly didn't use it in writing my thesis and essays in Marine Biology.
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Post by HisPumpkin »

The rules as stated are clear.
I appreciate the connection to the modern world of computers. Underlined, handwritten, titles in my notes is great. Italicized titles when writing a review makes sense.
I also appreciate one of the questions about titles of pieces within a whole. I can imagine only a few areas where quotations might apply.
Thank you for your efforts and my first reason for making a post.
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Post by Laventah Nyawira »

Hi 👋 am new to the review team so thanks for the info atleast I understood that :) :)

But I have a question I wrote my first review it was rejected but am good with that and the response I got was useful but one editor said that my whole review was in italics is that possible? just asking.
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Post by Kofi Browne »

Hello all :tiphat: I am new, so please forgive me if the answer to my question can be found elsewhere. For the final reviews, the title of the book that is being reviewed must be in italics; however, if we must refer to another title when writing that review, such as The Bible for instance, should we use quotation marks for the title "The Bible" or leave it be?
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Diana Lowery
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Post by Diana Lowery »

Kofi Browne wrote: 19 Feb 2023, 22:03 Hello all :tiphat: I am new, so please forgive me if the answer to my question can be found elsewhere. For the final reviews, the title of the book that is being reviewed must be in italics; however, if we must refer to another title when writing that review, such as The Bible for instance, should we use quotation marks for the title "The Bible" or leave it be?
Good Question.
All titles of all books in the review must be in italics. Poems, short stories, and chapter titles should be in quotation marks.
Good Luck!
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Post by Kofi Browne »

Thank you!
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Post by Donna Walker »

Scott wrote: 29 Jun 2015, 11:41 When it comes to the titles of musical pieces and written works such as books, stories, poems, essays and so on, a common question in international grammar is whether to underline the titles, italicize the titles or wrap the titles in quotation marks.

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.
What do you think? Are these rules correct? Are they clear?
Thank you for taking the time to clarify these rules.
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Post by joury alghamdi »

Does that mean that the name of the book will have quotation marks while the name of the author will be italic ?
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Christopher Sublett
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Post by Christopher Sublett »

This post is very helpful and informative to a newbie like myself. I did not know the standard rules and how to apply that rule for titles, songs, poems, tv episodes, short stories, plays, and written works of articles included inside a body of work for another article. Thanks, Scott!
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