Titles of Works, Single Quotes, Italics

Formatting standards for titles, single quotes, and italic text.

Titles of Works, Single Quotes, Italics

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General Rule

Please do not use italics to denote names of films, books, magazines or other media.

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When to Use Italics

We use italics only to denote the names of works within works.

Example: 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' lists Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds among its many classic tracks.

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Music Tracks

Tracks discussed in isolation and not in conjunction with an album should not be in italics but just in quotation marks.

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Formatting Rules

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Main Works (Albums, Books, Films)

Use single quotation marks:

  • 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (album)
  • 'The Great Gatsby' (book)
  • 'Casablanca' (film)

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Works Within Works

Use italics:

  • Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (track on an album)
  • Chapter 5 (chapter in a book)

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Standalone Tracks

Use single quotation marks:

  • 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (when discussed as a single, not as part of an album)

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Examples

Album with track:

"I love the album 'Abbey Road', especially the track Come Together."

Standalone track:

"Have you heard 'Yesterday' by The Beatles?"

Book with chapter:

"In 'To Kill a Mockingbird', the chapter The Trial is particularly powerful."

Other Formatting Guidelines