When should terms be italicized versus put in quotes?
up vote
1
down vote
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When a new term is introduced in a book I am writing or an unusual word or phrase is described I either italicize it, or put it in quotes. However, this has led to an inconsistency in which some terms are quoted and others are italicized.
What are the conditions under which I should use italics versus quotation marks for novel words or terminology?
punctuation typography
edited Dec 16 at 8:51
Andrew Leach♦
79.4k8150256
asked Dec 16 at 2:45
Emma Dash
1,1281118
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
When a new term is introduced in a book I am writing or an unusual word or phrase is described I either italicize it, or put it in quotes. However, this has led to an inconsistency in which some terms are quoted and others are italicized.
What are the conditions under which I should use italics versus quotation marks for novel words or terminology?
punctuation typography
edited Dec 16 at 8:51
Andrew Leach♦
79.4k8150256
asked Dec 16 at 2:45
Emma Dash
1,1281118
Very good question--too good, in fact--it stimulates the mind like a triple espresso. Oh, where to begin on everything about italics vs. quotes? But that's not your question, is it? So, I would say... 1. If applicable, go with what your publisher requires. 2. If you're self-publishing, thoroughly research the topic, determine what your style is, and be consistent with it. 3. Meanwhile, italicize key terms when first introduced (or boldface if defined in a glossary), but put emphasized words in quotes if they are conveyed speech (e.g. What did she mean by "conveyed speech"?).
– KannE
Dec 16 at 7:28
APA style reference regarding technical or key terms: blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2015/04/….
– KannE
Dec 16 at 7:39
This is purely a matter of choice. All questions of style might be your own personal choice, or your editor's or your work group's but that simply means either you follow existing rules, or you make your own choices. In your own work group, what rules are supposed to be followed by everyone?
– Robbie Goodwin
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
When a new term is introduced in a book I am writing or an unusual word or phrase is described I either italicize it, or put it in quotes. However, this has led to an inconsistency in which some terms are quoted and others are italicized.
What are the conditions under which I should use italics versus quotation marks for novel words or terminology?
punctuation typography
edited Dec 16 at 8:51
Andrew Leach♦
79.4k8150256
asked Dec 16 at 2:45
Emma Dash
1,1281118
When a new term is introduced in a book I am writing or an unusual word or phrase is described I either italicize it, or put it in quotes. However, this has led to an inconsistency in which some terms are quoted and others are italicized.
What are the conditions under which I should use italics versus quotation marks for novel words or terminology?
punctuation typography
punctuation typography
edited Dec 16 at 8:51
Andrew Leach♦
79.4k8150256
asked Dec 16 at 2:45
Emma Dash
1,1281118
edited Dec 16 at 8:51
Andrew Leach♦
79.4k8150256
asked Dec 16 at 2:45
Emma Dash
1,1281118
edited Dec 16 at 8:51
Andrew Leach♦
79.4k8150256
edited Dec 16 at 8:51
Andrew Leach♦
79.4k8150256
edited Dec 16 at 8:51
Andrew Leach♦
79.4k8150256
79.4k8150256
asked Dec 16 at 2:45
Emma Dash
1,1281118
asked Dec 16 at 2:45
Emma Dash
1,1281118
asked Dec 16 at 2:45
Emma Dash
1,1281118
1,1281118
Very good question--too good, in fact--it stimulates the mind like a triple espresso. Oh, where to begin on everything about italics vs. quotes? But that's not your question, is it? So, I would say... 1. If applicable, go with what your publisher requires. 2. If you're self-publishing, thoroughly research the topic, determine what your style is, and be consistent with it. 3. Meanwhile, italicize key terms when first introduced (or boldface if defined in a glossary), but put emphasized words in quotes if they are conveyed speech (e.g. What did she mean by "conveyed speech"?).
– KannE
Dec 16 at 7:28
APA style reference regarding technical or key terms: blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2015/04/….
– KannE
Dec 16 at 7:39
This is purely a matter of choice. All questions of style might be your own personal choice, or your editor's or your work group's but that simply means either you follow existing rules, or you make your own choices. In your own work group, what rules are supposed to be followed by everyone?
– Robbie Goodwin
yesterday
add a comment |
Very good question--too good, in fact--it stimulates the mind like a triple espresso. Oh, where to begin on everything about italics vs. quotes? But that's not your question, is it? So, I would say... 1. If applicable, go with what your publisher requires. 2. If you're self-publishing, thoroughly research the topic, determine what your style is, and be consistent with it. 3. Meanwhile, italicize key terms when first introduced (or boldface if defined in a glossary), but put emphasized words in quotes if they are conveyed speech (e.g. What did she mean by "conveyed speech"?).
– KannE
Dec 16 at 7:28
APA style reference regarding technical or key terms: blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2015/04/….
– KannE
Dec 16 at 7:39
This is purely a matter of choice. All questions of style might be your own personal choice, or your editor's or your work group's but that simply means either you follow existing rules, or you make your own choices. In your own work group, what rules are supposed to be followed by everyone?
– Robbie Goodwin
yesterday
Very good question--too good, in fact--it stimulates the mind like a triple espresso. Oh, where to begin on everything about italics vs. quotes? But that's not your question, is it? So, I would say... 1. If applicable, go with what your publisher requires. 2. If you're self-publishing, thoroughly research the topic, determine what your style is, and be consistent with it. 3. Meanwhile, italicize key terms when first introduced (or boldface if defined in a glossary), but put emphasized words in quotes if they are conveyed speech (e.g. What did she mean by "conveyed speech"?).
– KannE
Dec 16 at 7:28
Very good question--too good, in fact--it stimulates the mind like a triple espresso. Oh, where to begin on everything about italics vs. quotes? But that's not your question, is it? So, I would say... 1. If applicable, go with what your publisher requires. 2. If you're self-publishing, thoroughly research the topic, determine what your style is, and be consistent with it. 3. Meanwhile, italicize key terms when first introduced (or boldface if defined in a glossary), but put emphasized words in quotes if they are conveyed speech (e.g. What did she mean by "conveyed speech"?).
– KannE
Dec 16 at 7:28
APA style reference regarding technical or key terms: blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2015/04/….
– KannE
Dec 16 at 7:39
APA style reference regarding technical or key terms: blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2015/04/….
– KannE
Dec 16 at 7:39
This is purely a matter of choice. All questions of style might be your own personal choice, or your editor's or your work group's but that simply means either you follow existing rules, or you make your own choices. In your own work group, what rules are supposed to be followed by everyone?
– Robbie Goodwin
yesterday
This is purely a matter of choice. All questions of style might be your own personal choice, or your editor's or your work group's but that simply means either you follow existing rules, or you make your own choices. In your own work group, what rules are supposed to be followed by everyone?
– Robbie Goodwin
yesterday
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
In many cases, there really are no set rules, which is why you see some writers use italics (or even underlines), and some will use quotation marks for the same purpose. Of course, actual quotations should be enclosed in quotation marks, but for the purpose you've mentioned (introducing new or unusual words), either would be acceptable.
What you really need is a style guide that you're comfortable with. Pick one, and stick to it: the key is to be consistent with whichever style you choose.
answered Dec 16 at 2:56
Mike Harris
640310
A style guide is typically not something one can just 'pick' (unless it is for the purposes of private correspondence or personal notes); the publisher or other institution one writes for determines the style guide that one is expected to follow.
– jsw29
Dec 16 at 3:32
@jsw29 OP says she is writing a book, so I assumed she has some latitude in her choice of style. If the style guide is prescribed by the publisher, then the decision of whether to quote or italicize is that much easier!
– Mike Harris
Dec 16 at 3:36
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
One thing to understand is that the "rules" (such as they are) have been influenced by the typewriter, which was the predominant means for creating text from maybe 1900 until computers became pervasive around 1990.
The thing about the typewriter is that it has only one font, and cannot do italics (and can barely do bold). You either use "quotes" or you underline (alas, SE can't underline). So for nearly 100 years the "standards" for producing one-off documents like academic papers (things that did not undergo regular typesetting) omitted any use of italics.
Of course, nobody uses a typewriter anymore, and any halfway reasonable computerized typing setup can easily handle italics, but the academic guidelines in many cases haven't caught up.
So don't expect anything close to an "iron clad" rule here.
answered Dec 16 at 3:30
Hot Licks
18.9k23677
@jsw29 - But that only really applied to text that was destined to be typeset, a very small fraction of total typescript. Among other things, underlining was a PITA to accomplish.
– Hot Licks
Dec 16 at 4:33
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
In many cases, there really are no set rules, which is why you see some writers use italics (or even underlines), and some will use quotation marks for the same purpose. Of course, actual quotations should be enclosed in quotation marks, but for the purpose you've mentioned (introducing new or unusual words), either would be acceptable.
What you really need is a style guide that you're comfortable with. Pick one, and stick to it: the key is to be consistent with whichever style you choose.
answered Dec 16 at 2:56
Mike Harris
640310
A style guide is typically not something one can just 'pick' (unless it is for the purposes of private correspondence or personal notes); the publisher or other institution one writes for determines the style guide that one is expected to follow.
– jsw29
Dec 16 at 3:32
@jsw29 OP says she is writing a book, so I assumed she has some latitude in her choice of style. If the style guide is prescribed by the publisher, then the decision of whether to quote or italicize is that much easier!
– Mike Harris
Dec 16 at 3:36
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
In many cases, there really are no set rules, which is why you see some writers use italics (or even underlines), and some will use quotation marks for the same purpose. Of course, actual quotations should be enclosed in quotation marks, but for the purpose you've mentioned (introducing new or unusual words), either would be acceptable.
What you really need is a style guide that you're comfortable with. Pick one, and stick to it: the key is to be consistent with whichever style you choose.
answered Dec 16 at 2:56
Mike Harris
640310
A style guide is typically not something one can just 'pick' (unless it is for the purposes of private correspondence or personal notes); the publisher or other institution one writes for determines the style guide that one is expected to follow.
– jsw29
Dec 16 at 3:32
@jsw29 OP says she is writing a book, so I assumed she has some latitude in her choice of style. If the style guide is prescribed by the publisher, then the decision of whether to quote or italicize is that much easier!
– Mike Harris
Dec 16 at 3:36
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
In many cases, there really are no set rules, which is why you see some writers use italics (or even underlines), and some will use quotation marks for the same purpose. Of course, actual quotations should be enclosed in quotation marks, but for the purpose you've mentioned (introducing new or unusual words), either would be acceptable.
What you really need is a style guide that you're comfortable with. Pick one, and stick to it: the key is to be consistent with whichever style you choose.
answered Dec 16 at 2:56
Mike Harris
640310
In many cases, there really are no set rules, which is why you see some writers use italics (or even underlines), and some will use quotation marks for the same purpose. Of course, actual quotations should be enclosed in quotation marks, but for the purpose you've mentioned (introducing new or unusual words), either would be acceptable.
What you really need is a style guide that you're comfortable with. Pick one, and stick to it: the key is to be consistent with whichever style you choose.
answered Dec 16 at 2:56
Mike Harris
640310
answered Dec 16 at 2:56
Mike Harris
640310
answered Dec 16 at 2:56
Mike Harris
640310
answered Dec 16 at 2:56
Mike Harris
640310
640310
A style guide is typically not something one can just 'pick' (unless it is for the purposes of private correspondence or personal notes); the publisher or other institution one writes for determines the style guide that one is expected to follow.
– jsw29
Dec 16 at 3:32
@jsw29 OP says she is writing a book, so I assumed she has some latitude in her choice of style. If the style guide is prescribed by the publisher, then the decision of whether to quote or italicize is that much easier!
– Mike Harris
Dec 16 at 3:36
add a comment |
A style guide is typically not something one can just 'pick' (unless it is for the purposes of private correspondence or personal notes); the publisher or other institution one writes for determines the style guide that one is expected to follow.
– jsw29
Dec 16 at 3:32
@jsw29 OP says she is writing a book, so I assumed she has some latitude in her choice of style. If the style guide is prescribed by the publisher, then the decision of whether to quote or italicize is that much easier!
– Mike Harris
Dec 16 at 3:36
A style guide is typically not something one can just 'pick' (unless it is for the purposes of private correspondence or personal notes); the publisher or other institution one writes for determines the style guide that one is expected to follow.
– jsw29
Dec 16 at 3:32
A style guide is typically not something one can just 'pick' (unless it is for the purposes of private correspondence or personal notes); the publisher or other institution one writes for determines the style guide that one is expected to follow.
– jsw29
Dec 16 at 3:32
@jsw29 OP says she is writing a book, so I assumed she has some latitude in her choice of style. If the style guide is prescribed by the publisher, then the decision of whether to quote or italicize is that much easier!
– Mike Harris
Dec 16 at 3:36
@jsw29 OP says she is writing a book, so I assumed she has some latitude in her choice of style. If the style guide is prescribed by the publisher, then the decision of whether to quote or italicize is that much easier!
– Mike Harris
Dec 16 at 3:36
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
One thing to understand is that the "rules" (such as they are) have been influenced by the typewriter, which was the predominant means for creating text from maybe 1900 until computers became pervasive around 1990.
The thing about the typewriter is that it has only one font, and cannot do italics (and can barely do bold). You either use "quotes" or you underline (alas, SE can't underline). So for nearly 100 years the "standards" for producing one-off documents like academic papers (things that did not undergo regular typesetting) omitted any use of italics.
Of course, nobody uses a typewriter anymore, and any halfway reasonable computerized typing setup can easily handle italics, but the academic guidelines in many cases haven't caught up.
So don't expect anything close to an "iron clad" rule here.
answered Dec 16 at 3:30
Hot Licks
18.9k23677
@jsw29 - But that only really applied to text that was destined to be typeset, a very small fraction of total typescript. Among other things, underlining was a PITA to accomplish.
– Hot Licks
Dec 16 at 4:33
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
One thing to understand is that the "rules" (such as they are) have been influenced by the typewriter, which was the predominant means for creating text from maybe 1900 until computers became pervasive around 1990.
The thing about the typewriter is that it has only one font, and cannot do italics (and can barely do bold). You either use "quotes" or you underline (alas, SE can't underline). So for nearly 100 years the "standards" for producing one-off documents like academic papers (things that did not undergo regular typesetting) omitted any use of italics.
Of course, nobody uses a typewriter anymore, and any halfway reasonable computerized typing setup can easily handle italics, but the academic guidelines in many cases haven't caught up.
So don't expect anything close to an "iron clad" rule here.
answered Dec 16 at 3:30
Hot Licks
18.9k23677
@jsw29 - But that only really applied to text that was destined to be typeset, a very small fraction of total typescript. Among other things, underlining was a PITA to accomplish.
– Hot Licks
Dec 16 at 4:33
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
One thing to understand is that the "rules" (such as they are) have been influenced by the typewriter, which was the predominant means for creating text from maybe 1900 until computers became pervasive around 1990.
The thing about the typewriter is that it has only one font, and cannot do italics (and can barely do bold). You either use "quotes" or you underline (alas, SE can't underline). So for nearly 100 years the "standards" for producing one-off documents like academic papers (things that did not undergo regular typesetting) omitted any use of italics.
Of course, nobody uses a typewriter anymore, and any halfway reasonable computerized typing setup can easily handle italics, but the academic guidelines in many cases haven't caught up.
So don't expect anything close to an "iron clad" rule here.
answered Dec 16 at 3:30
Hot Licks
18.9k23677
One thing to understand is that the "rules" (such as they are) have been influenced by the typewriter, which was the predominant means for creating text from maybe 1900 until computers became pervasive around 1990.
The thing about the typewriter is that it has only one font, and cannot do italics (and can barely do bold). You either use "quotes" or you underline (alas, SE can't underline). So for nearly 100 years the "standards" for producing one-off documents like academic papers (things that did not undergo regular typesetting) omitted any use of italics.
Of course, nobody uses a typewriter anymore, and any halfway reasonable computerized typing setup can easily handle italics, but the academic guidelines in many cases haven't caught up.
So don't expect anything close to an "iron clad" rule here.
answered Dec 16 at 3:30
Hot Licks
18.9k23677
answered Dec 16 at 3:30
Hot Licks
18.9k23677
answered Dec 16 at 3:30
Hot Licks
18.9k23677
answered Dec 16 at 3:30
Hot Licks
18.9k23677
18.9k23677
@jsw29 - But that only really applied to text that was destined to be typeset, a very small fraction of total typescript. Among other things, underlining was a PITA to accomplish.
– Hot Licks
Dec 16 at 4:33
add a comment |
@jsw29 - But that only really applied to text that was destined to be typeset, a very small fraction of total typescript. Among other things, underlining was a PITA to accomplish.
– Hot Licks
Dec 16 at 4:33
@jsw29 - But that only really applied to text that was destined to be typeset, a very small fraction of total typescript. Among other things, underlining was a PITA to accomplish.
– Hot Licks
Dec 16 at 4:33
@jsw29 - But that only really applied to text that was destined to be typeset, a very small fraction of total typescript. Among other things, underlining was a PITA to accomplish.
– Hot Licks
Dec 16 at 4:33
add a comment |
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Very good question--too good, in fact--it stimulates the mind like a triple espresso. Oh, where to begin on everything about italics vs. quotes? But that's not your question, is it? So, I would say... 1. If applicable, go with what your publisher requires. 2. If you're self-publishing, thoroughly research the topic, determine what your style is, and be consistent with it. 3. Meanwhile, italicize key terms when first introduced (or boldface if defined in a glossary), but put emphasized words in quotes if they are conveyed speech (e.g. What did she mean by "conveyed speech"?).
– KannE
Dec 16 at 7:28
APA style reference regarding technical or key terms: blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2015/04/….
– KannE
Dec 16 at 7:39
This is purely a matter of choice. All questions of style might be your own personal choice, or your editor's or your work group's but that simply means either you follow existing rules, or you make your own choices. In your own work group, what rules are supposed to be followed by everyone?
– Robbie Goodwin
yesterday