Italics: The Unsung Heroes of Your Paper
Let's talk about italics. No, not those sexy, slanted letters that make your writing look all fancy and mysterious. I'm talking about the actual rules for italicizing stuff in Chicago style. Because let's face it, nobody actually wants to talk about this, but it's important. So buckle up, grammar gurus, and let's dive in.
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| What Should Be Italicized In Chicago Style |
When to Unleash the Italics
Titles, Titles Everywhere
Think of italics as the VIP treatment for titles. If it's a standalone work of art, like a book, movie, TV show, or album, it gets the italic treatment. So, The Lord of the Rings is italicized, but "The Fellowship of the Ring" is not. Got it? Good.
Foreign Words and Phrases
QuickTip: Read a little, pause, then continue.
If you're dropping foreign words or phrases like it's hot, go ahead and italicize them. Unless, of course, they're so common that they've become part of the English language. Like, you don't need to italicize deja vu. But schadenfreude is fair game.
Emphasis, Emphasis, Emphasis
Italics can also be used for emphasis, but use it sparingly. It's like salt: a little goes a long way. Overuse it, and your writing will taste like a salty dog.
QuickTip: Highlight useful points as you read.
When to Keep Those Italics in Check
Short Works
Short stories, poems, articles, and song titles get quotation marks, not italics. So, "The Raven" is correct, not The Raven.
Words as Words
Tip: Each paragraph has one main idea — find it.
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If you're talking about a word as a word, use quotation marks. For example, "The word literally is often misused."
Numbers and Letters as Symbols
Numbers and letters used as symbols, like "the letter X" or "the number 7," don't need italics. Unless, of course, you're talking about a specific font or style.
Tip: Reread key phrases to strengthen memory.
FAQ: The Italic Inquisition
How to italicize a title within a title? This can get tricky. Generally, the larger title is italicized, and the smaller title is in quotation marks. For example, The New Yorker article "The Rise of the Anti-Hero."
How to italicize foreign words that become common? As mentioned, you only need to italicize foreign words on their first appearance. After that, they can be written in regular type.
How to italicize emphasis effectively? Use italics for emphasis sparingly and strategically. Too many italics can weaken your writing.
How to italicize a word within a quotation? Italicize the word as usual, even within quotation marks.
How to italicize a title that includes a subtitle? Italicize the main title and follow it with a colon, then the subtitle in regular type.
So there you have it, a crash course in Chicago style italics. Remember, rules are made to be broken, but sometimes it's good to know the rules before you break them. Happy writing!
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