This rule applies to full-length literary works such as novels, non-fiction books, textbooks, and epic poems. Whether you are underlining manually or using an word processor’s italic function, maintaining uniformity across all book titles in a document prevents distraction and reinforces the structural integrity of your composition.
Italicize Book Titles MLA Handbook Rules
Exceptions to the Italic Rule Not every title adheres to the strict rule of italics. However, the Associated Press (AP) style, often used in journalism, typically opts for quotation marks instead of italics.
Handwritten documents present a challenge since underlining is the standard alternative when italics are not available. If you are referencing a specific story contained within an anthology, the title of the story would be in quotes, while the title of the anthology—the book—would be italicized.
Italicize Book Titles MLA Handbook Rules
Furthermore, specific style guides may dictate variations; for instance, some guides suggest using quotation marks for certain types of works that are considered components of a larger whole. Navigating Style Guides The most common answer to the question is that the titles of books should indeed be italicized in typed text.
More About Should titles of books be italicized
Looking at Should titles of books be italicized from another angle can help expand the discussion and give readers a second clear paragraph under the same section.
More perspective on Should titles of books be italicized can make the topic easier to follow by connecting earlier points with a few simple takeaways.
