When to use italics
Italic font was first used in presses in Italy the 1500s and was designed to replicate the handwritten manuscripts of the time. Italic font was used differentiate informal manuscripts created for leisure reading from formal manuscripts, which used Roman font. It wasn’t until the sixteenth century that italic font was used for emphasis.
It's tempting to use italic font to differentiate notes, long quotes or dialogue from the main text to help that text stand out but not be as in-your-face as bold font. But this can make the text harder to read than Roman (normal) font, which is especially important when taking into account accessibility.
There are specific times when it is useful, but it’s important to not overuse it.
As always, first check if your organisation has a style guide, and follow that. If there is no style guide, then the guidelines below will help you decide when to use italics in New Zealand English.
As an aside, the first letter of italics is pronounced like the i in sit – not as eye-talics.
When to use italics
Emphasis or highlighting
Italic font can be used to emphasise or highlight a particular word or words from the surrounding text.
To refer to a specific word. Quotation marks can be used here instead – just remember to pick one style and be consistent.
When is it spelled Alleluia, and when should it be Hallelujah?
To give a warning
Do not open the door in high wind.
To highlight a word that may be missed
You should always check your writing before you hit send.
To emphasise a word that is contrary to what might be expected. However, be aware not to overuse italics for emphasis, as it is better done through word choice
He did not want to go to the fair, even though he loved rollercoasters.
As a heading in run-on text.
Subheadings in run-on text can be shown using italics.
Non-English words
In the past it was common practice to use italics for all non-English words at their first mention in the text. Now it is more common to only use italics for non-English words that do not appear in an English dictionary or would be unfamiliar to the target audience. It is also becoming common to not use italics at all for any non-English words.
If using italics for a non-English word, use italics for the first mention of the word and then Roman font throughout the rest of the text.
However, if a non-English word has the same spelling but a different meaning as an English word, then italics should be used for the non-English word.
I stayed in a pension in France.
As the Māori language, te reo Māori, is an official language of New Zealand, italics should not be used for Māori words within English text, even if the word may be unfamiliar to the target audience.
Diacritics should be checked in the English dictionary. If the word has been assimilated into English and no longer has the diacritics in the dictionary entry, for example cafe (though the New Zealand Oxford dictionary gives a choice for cafe or café), then no diacritics are needed. However, if the word is not in the English dictionary, then diacritics should be used when the word has them in the non-English language.
Always use tohutō/macrons for te reo Māori words, even if they are listed in the dictionary without.
Specialised meaning
If new words are coined or words are used in ways that is not their usual sense, then you can use italics to identify the word at the first mention. Quotation marks can also be used for this purpose.
He was wearing a mask to prevent getting the rona.
Scientific names
Italics are used for genera, species, subspecies and varieties of animals, plants and microorganisms. However, the popular names for plants and animals are not italicised.
Metrosideros excelsa is the scientific name for the pōhutukawa tree.
The abbreviations sp. and spp. are not italicised.
Canis spp. means all species of Canis.
Works of art
Works of art are defined with italics:
Books, including collections of works. However, chapters titles or individual poems or essays when part of a collective work take quotation marks or simply a capital letter.
I was reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Plays, poems and scores if published as an individual work.
We went to see Macbeth.
Newspapers, magazines, journals. Use italics and a capital letter for the the when it is part of the proper name. However, the the is not italicised when it doesn’t properly modify the title or the title is more than two words.
He got a copy of The Herald.
He got a copy of the New Zealand Herald.
In the next day’s Herald.
Films, videos, CDs or other music album titles, opera, symphonies, and television or radio series. However, titles of episodes from TV series, or songs from a CD or opera, take quotation marks or simply a capital letter.
We listened to ‘Epiphany’ from Taylor Swift’s new album Folklore.
Stand-alone paintings, photos, drawings, prints, sculptures and other works of art.
Vehicles and ships
The proper names of ships, boats, trains, aircraft and spacecraft are set in italic. However, the class of vessel or the make and model of vehicles do not take italics.
The HMNZS Te Kaha is currently at sea.
Other uses
Stage directions in plays
Parts of dictionary entries
Cross-referencing, e.g. see also page two.
When not to use italics
Punctuation
Punctuation marks surrounding the words in italics should not be in italics.
Have you read Pride and Prejudice? [the question mark is not in italics.]
I watched Masterchef, and then went to bed. [the comma is not in italics.]
The words boss, spooky and cookie originated from Dutch. [the comma is not in italics.]
However, if the punctuation is part of the phrase in italics, then use italics.
I’ve just read the book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. [The comma is in italics, but the final full stop is not.]
Quotations
Quotations within the text are not set off by using italics. However, epigraphs may be in italics if that is the style chosen.
Letters or flashbacks in fiction or call-outs in non-fiction
It’s tempting to put whole sections into italics, such as a letter, flashback or dream in fiction, or call-outs in non-fiction. However, italic font is more difficult to read than Roman font and may distract the reader or cause issues for accessibility. It is better to use other techniques such as setting the text off from the main text with a different size font, with a line space before and after and indents on the left and right.
Thoughts
There are differing opinions on whether a character’s thoughts should be in italics. Today it is becoming more common not to use italics or quotation marks for a character’s thought. For more detail, see my article on How to punctuate dialogue in New Zealand English.
Other times when italic font is not used
Titles within titles. Either quotation marks or Roman type is used.
I am reading the book Roger Rabbit reads Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
I am reading the book Roger Rabbit reads ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’.
Instances which are usually in italics, but take the opposite when written within a title.
The Adventures of the HNZMS Te Kaha.
The name of the Bible and books within it, and other sacred texts.
The Acts of the Apostles is a book in the Bible.
What next?
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Sources:
Hughes, J., & Wallace, D. (2010). Fit to Print : The Writing & Editing Style Guide for Aotearoa New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: Dunmore Publishing.
Oxford University Press, (2016). New Oxford Style Manual (3rd ed.). United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.