Difference between revisions of "Titles - italicisation"

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When considering how to mark the title of a source in academic work (or, in any writing, to give the title of a published work), we divide them into two groupsFirst are ‘the heavyweights’, pieces of a certain length and importance
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''This page is one of a group on [[Typography of titles|how to present titles]]You may also want to see [[titles - capitalisation|how to use CAPITAL letters in titles]].''
*books – factual or fiction; plays and films;
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*journals and newspapers;
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*operas;
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*major poems, of a length over, say, 50 pages
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*titles of sequences, e.g. of song-cycles, paintings and  poems
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*etc (other pieces of work with similar characteristics)
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Second are smaller pieces, often component parts of members of the first groupThese include:
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When considering how to mark the title of a source in academic work (or, in any writing, to give the title of a published work), we divide them into two groupsYou can find our grouping at [[Title - taxonomy]].  The two groups are marked as titles in different ways.
*chapters of books, short stories, and articles in Journals;
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*The 'heavyweights' are ''italicised'', in our current conventions.  (For an older convention, see [[Title - italic or underlined]].)  Examples: ''Romeo & Juliet'', ''Das Kapital'' and ''The Origin of Species''.
*short poems, songs and 'pieces', for example in operas;
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*The 'lightweights' are enclosed within single [[inverted comma]]s ('  ') in AWE.  This allows the distinction to be clear even inside a quotation.  Examples: "The chapter 'Airs and Graces' in Lynne Truss's book on punctuation, ''[[Eats, Shoots and Leaves]]''"¦ or "The song 'Voi che sapete' [the Italian song 'You who Know'] in Mozart's ''Figaro''"¦ or "Meron's article, 'The Geneva Conventions as Customary Law' in ''The American Journal of International Law''".
*individual pictures
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*etc (other less ‘weighty’ pieces).
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As the precise memberships of the two groups is largely a matter of judgement and taste, this Guide can only be that - a guide, whose advice you must take or leave.  In general, try to adapt your practice to a consistent view of what constitutes a long and what a short piece of work.  Over time, it will change; and there will always be borderline cases which will be disputed by [[pedant]]s.
The precise memberships of these groups is largely a matter of judgement and taste.  In general, try to adapt your practice to a consistent view of what constitutes a long and what a short piece of work.  Over time, it will change; and there will always be borderline cases which will be disputed by pedants.
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''You may also want to see [[Titles - capitalisation]].''
  
 
'''<big>Be aware that different publishers and different academic departments and subjects have different rules for how to mark titles.  Follow the appropriate guidelines for your current purposes.'''</big>
 
'''<big>Be aware that different publishers and different academic departments and subjects have different rules for how to mark titles.  Follow the appropriate guidelines for your current purposes.'''</big>
[[category:punctuation]] [[category:typographical layout]] [[category:academic culture]] [[Category:Academic English]]  
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[[category:titles]]
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[[category:punctuation]]  
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[[category:typographical layout]]  
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[[category:academic culture]]  
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[[Category:Academic English]]  
 
[[Category:Usage]]
 
[[Category:Usage]]
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[[Category:house styles]]

Latest revision as of 13:29, 4 December 2017

This page is one of a group on how to present titles. You may also want to see how to use CAPITAL letters in titles.

When considering how to mark the title of a source in academic work (or, in any writing, to give the title of a published work), we divide them into two groups. You can find our grouping at Title - taxonomy. The two groups are marked as titles in different ways.

  • The 'heavyweights' are italicised, in our current conventions. (For an older convention, see Title - italic or underlined.) Examples: Romeo & Juliet, Das Kapital and The Origin of Species.
  • The 'lightweights' are enclosed within single inverted commas (' ') in AWE. This allows the distinction to be clear even inside a quotation. Examples: "The chapter 'Airs and Graces' in Lynne Truss's book on punctuation, Eats, Shoots and Leaves"¦ or "The song 'Voi che sapete' [the Italian song 'You who Know'] in Mozart's Figaro"¦ or "Meron's article, 'The Geneva Conventions as Customary Law' in The American Journal of International Law".

As the precise memberships of the two groups is largely a matter of judgement and taste, this Guide can only be that - a guide, whose advice you must take or leave. In general, try to adapt your practice to a consistent view of what constitutes a long and what a short piece of work. Over time, it will change; and there will always be borderline cases which will be disputed by pedants.

You may also want to see Titles - capitalisation.

Be aware that different publishers and different academic departments and subjects have different rules for how to mark titles. Follow the appropriate guidelines for your current purposes.