When writing about an article do you underline it?
Whether you are a beginner, an advanced writer, or just learning how to format a paper, it’s important to know when and how to use the most common typographical devices: underlining, italics, quotation marks, and bold text. By observing and following these rules, you can ensure your paper is clear, organized, and error-free.
When to Use Underlining
In the past, underlining was a standard way of emphasizing specific words in a typed document or handwritten manuscript. It was used to indicate foreign words, technical terms, and other information that was unfamiliar to the reader or deemed important. In modern publishing, italics are more frequently used for this purpose. It is also a common formatting convention for books, movies, and other works with titles that require emphasis.
When to Italicize Words
The most important rule when it comes to italicizing is that the italics must match the font. That means you need to make sure the italics are in the same size as the rest of the word, otherwise it will look distorted. If the italics are too large, they will be difficult to read and may even look like they’re erasing the word.
When to Use Italics
Italics are a form of typographical emphasis that slants to the right. They are often used for indicating technical terminology, words that are difficult to understand, or names of ships and planes. They are also useful for highlighting the title of a work such as a book, poem, or song.
When to Put Quotation Marks
It’s also a good idea to always put quotation marks around quotes in a written piece, especially if the quote is lengthy or contains many points. The reason for this is that it makes the quoted material more obvious to readers and less confusing.
When to Italicize Company Names
It is generally acceptable to italicize company names, but the rules of style guides differ from one to another. Check with your editor to see if the style guide you are using requires you to do this.
When to Italicize an Individual’s Name
An individual’s name is typically italicized if the name is unusual or unusually long, if it includes a title, or if the individual is part of a well-known organization or group. However, you should not italicize a company’s name unless the corporation is a major or renowned institution, if the word is a foreign word, or if the name is being paraphrased from another source.
When to Underline Words
In the past, underlining was regarded as a more effective and convenient form of emphasis in print publications. It was a good choice because it was easy to add to the final copy of a manuscript. It’s no longer a standard practice, though. In addition, underlining can be a confusing tool for readers who are trying to click on underlined text, assuming that it indicates hyperlinks to other sites.
