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

Post by ByEqualMeasure »

The last part of The Sermon on the Mount by Emmet Fox called, "The Lord's Prayer" is my favorite section in the entire book!

I understand the guidelines, they are clear to me.
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Post by DorcasToo »

Great information thanks
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Post by Okafor Prosper »

Can anyone here help me with instructions on how to italize the title of my review, the command doesn't seem to be working
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

prospero360 wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 04:07 Can anyone here help me with instructions on how to italize the title of my review, the command doesn't seem to be working
You don't italicize in the subject bar. Just in the actual review.
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Post by Mary WhiteFace »

As I am understanding you; when posting a review the book title must be in italics in the body of the review, but not in the title of the forum post itself. Also, when writing about a published work that was published within another published work; the main published work is in italics, the secondary published work is in quotes.

My question:
When mentioning the title of a book in a comment on another person's official review, should I be using italics, or is it ok to use quotations?

I've been using quotations simply out of habit, as I am new here. Just moments away from posting my first review. 😌

Which is what led me here. Reading this forum topic got me thinking that it might be a good idea to use italics when commenting on other reviews, as well as in the body of my own reviews. It could help to create consistency throughout the forums. Especially if my aspirations are to be an Online Book Club Official Book Reviewer.

Maybe I just answered my own question as I asked it, but it wouldn't hurt to hear the official answer..... 🤔
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Post by Mary WhiteFace »

moderntimes wrote: 26 Nov 2015, 10:43 I had a recent "event" in my publishing journey. My 1st novel was published with no hassle. Then I approved the galleys for book 2 and it went into final setup. When my editor sent me the approved galleys just prior to printing, I quickly noticed that ALL the italics had been deleted! All of them.

As you know, for standard typography (mostly for fiction) italics denote a sound, a movie or TV show title, book titles, sub rosa comments made in the narrator's mind, and foreign phrases.

I immediately contacted my editor and she realized that there'd been a glitch. Apparently this new revision of print setup software had a bug and if you didn't set the options just exactly right, it would remove all special emphasis fonts, like italics. I'm guessing it would to the same for underlining or bold but neither of these are used in standard book print fonts, only italics.

Thankfully the glitch was fixed and my 2nd novel was published with the original italics in the proper place. Whew!
I really happy for you that your glitch got fixed. It just goes to show that we may not realize how much we depend on our italics, until they're taken away. When we can't use body language, punctuation is the a major tool an author uses to convey their message. Congratulations on becoming published.
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Post by Okafor Prosper »

CatInTheHat wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 06:12
prospero360 wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 04:07 Can anyone here help me with instructions on how to italize the title of my review, the command doesn't seem to be working
You don't italicize in the subject bar. Just in the actual review.
So, does that mean that I can put my title in the space for the actual review?
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

prospero360 wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 10:50
CatInTheHat wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 06:12
prospero360 wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 04:07 Can anyone here help me with instructions on how to italize the title of my review, the command doesn't seem to be working
You don't italicize in the subject bar. Just in the actual review.
So, does that mean that I can put my title in the space for the actual review?
The title of the book should be in the post's subject line and in the actual review.
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Post by Okafor Prosper »

CatInTheHat wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 18:06
prospero360 wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 10:50
CatInTheHat wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 06:12

You don't italicize in the subject bar. Just in the actual review.
So, does that mean that I can put my title in the space for the actual review?
The title of the book should be in the post's subject line and in the actual review.
Okay, thank you
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Post by Dael Reader »

zeldas_lullaby wrote: 29 Jun 2015, 19:16 I have a problem that I'm not sure Scott's rules addressed: basic Christmas songs. Silent Night, White Christmas, etc. Italics, quotes, or neither??
Any song is place in quotation marks. "Silent Night," "White Christmas."
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Post by Jmar_la »

I'm from the old school and have always known the rules of underlining, quotes, etc. Now with the computer age some rules have changed, but it is still important to know when to underline/italicize and when to use quotes in titles, chapters of books, music, etc.
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Post by Jafe »

I find the guideline informative. Some websites do require the use of bold text to indicate titles; I am glad that the instruction is specific and a form of standard that all writers can use.
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Post by Sushan Ekanayake »

Thanks for the clear explanation. But I have some more questions.

1-If I am reviewing a book of a series, and mentioning the name of the series as well in my review, do I have to make both of them italic or only the particular book title?

Example:

Heartaches 2 of Bad boy Vibes series

or

Heartaches 2 of Bad boy Vibes series

2-Can I mention about some other books that came into my mind while reviewing a particular book. If so, do I have to make both of them italic?

Example:

The Crystilleries of Echoland reminds me of the Harry Potter

Or

The Crystilleries of Echoland reminds me of the Harry Potter
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Post by Manang Muyang »

All book titles, series titles, movies, TV shows, and the like should be in italics.

When you fail to italicize the title of the book you are reviewing every time it is mentioned in the review, you are violating a review team guideline. That means you lose 30 points in your editorial score.

When you fail to italicize the title of the series, other books, movies, etc. which you mention in the review, you lose ten points.

In your examples, all those titles need to be in italics. Thus, you should see Heartaches 2, Bad Boy Vibes, The Crystilleries of Echoland, and Harry Potter in the body of the review.

And remember not to write the author's name in italics.
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Post by Sushan Ekanayake »

Miriam Molina wrote: 13 Nov 2018, 16:35 All book titles, series titles, movies, TV shows, and the like should be in italics.

When you fail to italicize the title of the book you are reviewing every time it is mentioned in the review, you are violating a review team guideline. That means you lose 30 points in your editorial score.

When you fail to italicize the title of the series, other books, movies, etc. which you mention in the review, you lose ten points.

In your examples, all those titles need to be in italics. Thus, you should see Heartaches 2, Bad Boy Vibes, The Crystilleries of Echoland, and Harry Potter in the body of the review.

And remember not to write the author's name in italics.
Thank you for answering 👍👍
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