LESSON FIVE: QUOTATION MARKS, ITALICS, AND UNDERLINING
Punctuating Titles: When to Use Italics, Underlining, and "Quotation Marks."
It's easy for students to forget that different types of titles require different typographical features. It is even harder
to remember which type of title requires which type of punctuation. Despair not! If you remember these two handy
rules, you can keep the difference straight:
1) Short works and parts of long works are usually in quotation marks.
2) Long works and collections of short works are usually put in italics (or underlined when submitting publication
work to editors).
Other information to note:
Italics and Underlining are generally used interchangeably. When you write, you can choose to either italicize or underline, but make sure you are consistent in which you use throughout the essay. When handwriting an essay, obviously, you’ll have to use underlining. There is a movement away from using underlining in word processed work because of the popularity of underlining for hyperlinks.
Italicize the titles of magazines, books, newspapers, academic journals, films, television shows, long poems, plays, operas, musical albums, works of art, websites.
Examples:
- I read a really interesting article in Newsweek while I was waiting at the doctor’s office.
- My cousin is reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer for two different classes.
- I have every album from Dave Matthews Band, except for Crash.
Quotation Marks and Italics/Underlining Exercise
In the following sentences put in quotation marks wherever they are needed, and underline words where italics are needed.
1. Mary is trying hard in school this semester, her father said.
2. No, the taxi driver said curtly, I cannot get you to the airport in fifteen minutes.
3. I believe, Jack remarked, that the best time of year to visit Europe is in the spring. At least that's what I read in a book entitled Guide to Europe.
4. My French professor told me that my accent is abominable.
5. She asked, Is Time a magazine you read regularly?
6. Flannery O'Connor probably got the title of one of her stories from the words of the old popular song, A Good Man Is Hard to Find.
7. When did Roosevelt say, We have nothing to fear but fear itself?
8. It seems to me that hip and cool are words that are going out of style.
9. Yesterday, John said, This afternoon I'll bring back your book Conflict in the Middle East; however, he did not return it.
10. Can you believe, Dot asked me, that it has been almost five years since we've seen each other?
11. A Perfect Day for Bananafish is, I believe, J. D. Salinger's best short story.
12. Certainly, Mr. Martin said, I shall explain the whole situation to him. I know that he will understand.
Click here for exercise answers.
Punctuation Exercise
Sources: 1.4: Italics and UnderliningThis resource was written by Jaclyn M. Wells.
Last edited by Elizabeth Angeli, Allen Brizee on September 30, 2010 .