Do You Underline Book Titles in Chicago Style? A Hilariously Over-Explained Guide
Ever found yourself staring at a book title, pen hovering, wondering if you should give it a little underline love? Well, my friend, you've stumbled upon one of life's great mysteries, right up there with "Where do lost socks go?" and "Why do cats love boxes so much?"
But fear not, for I, your friendly neighborhood grammar guru (not really, but let's pretend), am here to shed some light on this perplexing matter.
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| Do You Underline Book Titles In Chicago Style |
The Great Underlining Debate: A Historical Perspective
Once upon a time, in the ancient era of typewriters and carbon paper, underlining was the go-to method for emphasizing text. It was the OG of emphasis, the granddaddy of italics. So, naturally, book titles got the underline treatment. It was a simpler time, a time of rotary phones and dial-up internet. (Okay, maybe not that simple.)
QuickTip: Slow down when you hit numbers or data.
Enter the Italics: A Modern Marvel
Then came along italics, those fancy slanted letters that made everything look so sophisticated. Suddenly, underlining was out, italics were in. It was like the literary world had discovered a new pair of shoes and decided to strut its stuff.
And so, book titles, along with other "major" works like movies, albums, and epic poems, were given the italicized makeover. They were the cool kids on the block, the trendsetters of the written word.
QuickTip: Read step by step, not all at once.
Chicago Manual of Style: The Ultimate Rule-Maker (and Breaker?)
Now, if you're writing in the Chicago style, which is basically the bible for academic writing and publishing, you gotta follow the rules. And the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) says: <u>italicize book titles</u>. No ifs, ands, or buts.
But here's the thing about style guides: they're not always set in stone. Sometimes, they evolve, they adapt, they even...gasp...change their minds!
QuickTip: Skim the intro, then dive deeper.
The Underlining Comeback (Not Really)
So, is underlining completely dead? Well, not entirely. Some people still use it, especially when handwriting or when italics aren't an option (like in a very old-school document). But generally, it's considered a bit outdated. It's like wearing a fedora with a tracksuit – you can do it, but you might get some weird looks.
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In Conclusion: When in Doubt, Italicize!
So, to answer your burning question: no, you generally don't underline book titles in Chicago style. You italicize them. It's the modern, stylish, and grammatically correct way to go.
QuickTip: Don’t rush through examples.
But hey, if you're feeling rebellious, go ahead and underline away! Just don't blame me when the grammar police come knocking.
Frequently Asked Questions: How To...
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How to italicize text in Microsoft Word?
- Select the text you want to italicize, then click the italicize button ( I ) in the toolbar, or press Ctrl + I (Windows) or Command + I (Mac).
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How to italicize text in Google Docs?
- Same as Word! Select the text, then click the italicize button ( I ) in the toolbar, or press Ctrl + I (Windows) or Command + I (Mac).
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How to italicize text on a website?
- Use the
<em>or<i>tags in HTML.<em>is for emphasis,<i>is for stylistic purposes like book titles.
- Use the
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How to remember when to italicize book titles?
- Think of it this way: books are big, important things, so they deserve fancy slanted letters.
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How to deal with a book title that already contains italics?
- If the title itself contains something that should be italicized (like another book title), use regular (roman) type for that part. For example: The <u>_Lord of the Rings</u> Companion_.
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