In legal documents, it seems that italic type is used more frequently than underlining—likely because The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citations has changed the treatment of cases cited from underlining to italics as long as it meets court rule requirements. Well, that, and the fact that computers made the use of italics much easier. I think italics looks better than underlining, but that is personal preference. Here are some rules for italics and underlining.
- Use italics for special emphasis:
- When you are referring to a word by using “the term” or “the word,” that word should be in italics.
- The word secretary originally meant the keeper of secrets.
- Referring to letters as letters should be italicized or underlined if they are not capitalized. In this case, underlining may be preferable since the letter is so short that italics may not be readily apparent. Do not underline or italicize the pluralization of the letters, however.
- He was looking for the value of x when y= 100.
- He was looking for the value of x when y = 100. (This is also correct.)
- She was reviewing the document to make sure she had dotted her i’s and crossed her t’s.
- She was reviewing the document to make sure she had dotted her i’s and crossed her t’s.
- Use all capital letters sparingly for emphasis. As you know, in email, all caps is considered screaming so it is not appropriate in business writing.
- Use italics in formal definitions:
- When you are defining a word in your writing, the word being defined is generally italicized.
- A pilcrow is an alteration of a Middle English word and is a noun describing “a paragraph mark.”
- An informal definition does not require special punctuation (but titles of TV series do).
- I spent the weekend watching one episode after another, or binge-watching, Downton Abbey.
- Use italics with foreign expressions:
- Italicize foreign expressions that are not part of the English language.
- We learned to say Buongiorno (or “good morning”) to the shopkeepers in Italy.
- Once a foreign expression has become established as part of the English language, it is not italicized.
- She ordered her pie à la mode.
We will continue this discussion next week with literary titles and artistic works and some basic guidelines.
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