Using Italics in Writing
Overview
Italicized or underlined words stand out on
pages and computer screens to make
readers take notice.
Italicize or Underline?
Italicize or underline the titles of works:
 books, journals, and magazines
(Highlights for Children, Roald
Dahl's Matilda)
 plays (Wicked on Broadway)
 radio programs (Kids' Time! on 93.3
FM)
 artwork (Mary Cassatt's Children on
the Beach)
 comic strips (Jim Davis' Garfield)
 newspapers (Northwest Florida Daily
News)
 movies (Kung Fu Panda)
 music albums (Elvis Presley's Hit Story)
 TV programs (SpongeBob
SquarePants)
 Web sites (Merriam-Webster Online)
Remember, italicizing and underlining is for big works.
Use quotation marks for short works, like songs, newspaper
articles, chapter titles, short poems, and so forth.
However, do not italicize or underline the Bible, books in
the Bible, or legal works, like the Constitution of the United
States.
Write 3 sentences incorporating a title.
Italicize or underline the names of these vehicles:
ships (USS Ronald Reagan)
aircraft (Air Force One)
trains (Orient Express)
spacecraft (Explorer 1)
Italicize or underline foreign words and phrases:
Manuel said "Adios!" to his teacher as he left the
classroom.
Karen's favorite dessert is apple pie à la mode.
Italicize or underline emphasized words in dialogue:
I really don't want to clean the cat's litter box.
Don't even think about throwing that water
balloon.
Remember to italicize or underline. Do not do both
in the same body of work.
Write 5 sentences using some
type of underlining that is
appropriate.
End Punctuation
Overview
Every sentence you write will have some form of
end punctuation.
End punctuation not only tells the reader where to
stop, but it tells the reader what kind of sentence
he or she is reading.
Question Marks
Question marks are put at the end of a question.
A question is a type of sentence that asks or requests
something.
Examples:
Why do bees buzz?
Will you please close the door?
Exclamation Marks
An exclamation is a sentence that expresses strong feelings or
commands.
Readers can spot exclamations by noting words like "shout,"
"scream," and "yell."
Exclamation sentences are followed by exclamation marks.
Examples:
Call 9-1-1! The house is on fire!
Go get your dog before he runs in the street!
Periods
Periods are used at the end of sentences that are not
exclamations or questions.
They are used at the end of declarative sentences.
Declarative sentences simple statements of fact or truth.
Examples:
It is raining outside.
I like turtles.
Periods
Sometimes, periods may be used at the end of simple commands.
If the command does not express strong emotion, you should place
a period at the end of it.
If the command has strong emotion to it, see "exclamation marks"
above.
Examples:
Please hand me the TV remote.
Get a bandage for your brother.
Colons
Colons are used at the end of sentences that suggest
more information follows.
Example:
The following items are on sale:
cameras
cellphones
computers
Commas & Quotation Marks
Commas
Commas separate two independent clauses joined by a
conjunction.
Example: I like to eat sandwiches, and I also like to drink
juice.
Commas set off introductory subordinate clauses and long
phrases.
Example: When I cross the street, I hold my mother's
hand.
Comma
Commas set off nonessential clauses and phrases following a
specific noun (a proper name of particular person, place, or thing).
Example: Roger Martin, who works at the grocery store, is my
neighbor.
Commas separate consecutive words and separate items in a
series of three or more.
Example: Aunt Suzie sells dolls, toys, and jewelry in the town
square.
Commas separate two adjectives that modify a single noun (not
each other). (If you could place "and" between them, they need a
comma.)
Example: My smart, nice teacher gives my class important information.
Commas separate parts of dates and addresses.
Example: My dad was born on April 15, 1978, in Austin, Texas.
 Commas mark interrupters and enclose parenthetical expressions.
 Example: She told me, however, that my joke was funny.
 Commas mark the omission of words.
 Example: For my mother I bought flowers, and for my father, a tie.
 Commas set off "yes" and "no," tag questions, words of direct address, and mild
interjections.
 Examples: Yes, I will help you clean your house. I am your friend, right? Sir, thank you for your
time. Well, here we go!
Quotation Marks
Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks,
even inside single quotes.
Examples: After Dad said, "I do not drink coffee," he
went to the kitchen to get a soda. My sister told me, "You
said, 'I will be home soon.'"
 The placement of question marks with quotes depends on the sentence. If a
question is in quotation marks, the question mark should be placed inside the
quote.
 examples: He asked, "Why do I have to go to the dentist?“ Should I tell him, "You
look nice today"?
Here the question is outside the quote.
 NOTE: Only one ending punctuation mark is used with quotation marks. Also,
the stronger punctuation mark wins. Therefore, no period after "today" is used.
When you have a question outside AND inside a quote,
use only one question mark and place it inside the
quotation mark.
Example: Did your brother just ask, "When is dinner?"
Use single quotation marks for quotes within quotes. Note
that the period goes inside all quote marks.
Example: Cathy replied, "I think he said, 'We will be at school
tomorrow.'"
Use quotation marks to set off a direct quotation, not an indirect
one.
Example: "Please tell me the truth," Ashton said. He said that he needs me to
tell him the truth.
Use quotation marks around titles of poems, short stories, and songs:
Examples: Dennis read Gil Harper's story "The Minuteman.“ Robert Lowell
wrote the poem "Skunk Hour" for Elizabeth Bishop. Brittany hates the song
"Cry Me a River."