Back in the typewriter age, you couldn’t italicize anything—you had to underline it instead. So your grandma’s college essay on The Chicago Tribune was actually a messy tangle of squiggly lines. Underlining was the ugly cousin of italics, and we’ve evolved past it. Evolution is beautiful. Except for the platypus.
Also, the word “italicize” comes from Italy, because the first italic typeface was designed by an Italian printer named Aldus Manutius. He probably also invented pasta, espresso, and the gesture for “I have no idea.” Aldus was a multitasker.
A quick cheat sheet for the lost
Let’s test your brain: if I say, “I read a hilarious story in The New Yorker called ‘My Pet Rock’s Psychiatrist,’” did I do it right? Yes. Gold star. The newspaper is italicized, the article is quoted. You’re a grammar ninja now.
PPT - Italics , Underlining, and Quotation Marks Bellwork (Guided notes
But what about a digital newspaper like Politico or BuzzFeed News? Italics for the whole brand. Even if it’s just a website, treat it like a real newspaper, because Jeff Bezos once said so. (He didn’t, but don’t risk it.)
One more curveball: do not italicize the word “the” in a newspaper name unless “The” is actually part of the official title. Most papers include it, like The Boston Globe. But if a paper is just USA Today, leave the “The” in the trash where it belongs. You’re welcome.
And here’s the final rebellious truth: many professional writers break this rule all the time. Stephen King italicizes everything, including his grocery lists. Margaret Atwood probably uses quotation marks just to annoy editors. The world won’t explode if you mess up—but your 10th-grade English teacher will rise from the grave to haunt you.
So go forth, italicize with confidence, and remember: it’s a tuxedo, not a straitjacket. The New York Times won’t send a cease-and-desist if you forget. But your future self, proofreading at 3 a.m., will thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to italicize this coffee cup and go rewrite history.
