Italics, underlines, and quotation marks are used to emphasize certain words and parts of texts. Underlines were originally used in handwritten drafts to indicate where italics should be used in printing. Now, underlines are used for handwritten text and italics or underlines can be used in typed text. Italics and underlines are used for titles of complete works, ships, trains, and planes, while quotation marks are used for short texts in a larger collection. Foreign phrases in common usage are not italicized, while unfamiliar foreign words and phrases are. Words referring to themselves are also italicized.

1. Italics Underlines Quotation Marks

2. History Underlines were used first to emphasize certain words, such as titles. Once the printing press became popular, italics (slanted type) were used instead. In handwritten drafts, writers would use underlines to show what the printer should set in italics—since it is hard to distinguish italicized words in handwriting, which is naturally slanted.

3. Nowadays, whether you use italics or underlines depends on the delivery method of your writing. Handwriting : Underlines Typing : Underlines or Italics

4. Italics or underline ? Titles of texts generally published on their own are underlined in handwriting, and either underlined or italicized in type: Complete books and plays Newspapers and magazines Works of art and long musical compositions Proper names of ships, trains, and airplanes Titles of short texts, usually published as part of a larger collection, are set off with quotation marks The Lost episode “The First 28 Days” is brilliant! The Semiahmoo Anthology printed my poem “Squirrel Legs” on page ten!

5. Foreign Phrases Widely-used foreign words and phrases, such as cul-de-sac, are not italicized. But foreign words and phrases not commonly used in our language are italicized in type. He has a bon vivant approach to life.

6. Self-Referencing Words Words that are referring to themselves are italicized in print. Please answer yes or no .

7. Special Emphasis Give special emphasis to words or phrases by underlining them in handwriting, or underlining or italicizing them in type. I never would have shot him if I had known he was my son! Remember: as with any emphatic mark, it loses impact the more it is used.

8. Practice Fred referred to an article he read in GQ. My sister graduated from Yale summa cum laude. The band will perform Spring from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on Sunday. Harriet is sailing on the Queen Elizabeth II. Rachel consulted the Oxford Dictionary’s definition. Dali painted The Persistence of Memory in 1931. Tom trained two months to be a chauffeur.

9. Answers (Remember, anyting in italics is underlined in handwriting) Fred referred to an article he read in GQ . My sister graduated from Yale summa cum laude . The band will perform “Spring” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on Sunday. Harriet is sailing on the Queen Elizabeth II . Rachel consulted the Oxford Dictionary ’s definition. Dali painted The Persistence of Memory in 1931. Tom trained two months to be a chauffeur.