Book titles are generally italicized, not enclosed in quotation marks. This formatting convention distinguishes between a “long work” and a “short work” or a “part of a whole.” The use of italics signals that the title refers to a complete, standalone, or freestanding publication. This provides a clear visual hierarchy, helping to organize and identify sources within a text.
The Definitive Rule for Book Titles
Book titles are consistently italicized because a book is considered a complete, self-contained work. This rule applies to all full-length, independently published works, such as novels, anthologies, and non-fiction volumes.
This formatting extends to other major works that are also considered freestanding, including the titles of full-length plays, movies, television series, and music albums. Underlining was historically used to indicate italics before word processors, but it is now obsolete and should be replaced by italics in modern digital text.
When to Use Quotation Marks for Titles
Quotation marks are used to format the titles of works that are considered parts of a larger, complete publication. This signals that the title refers to a component that cannot stand alone, creating a clear contrast with the italicized major works that contain them.
Titles requiring quotation marks include chapters within a book, articles published in a magazine or newspaper, short stories or essays found in an anthology, individual songs on an album, episodes of a television series, and short poems. For instance, the title of a novel, such as The Great Gatsby, is italicized, but the title of a specific chapter within it would be placed in quotation marks.
The Style Guide Factor
While the long work/short work distinction is the general rule, the specific formatting is ultimately determined by the style guide being followed. Major academic and publishing styles, such as the Modern Language Association (MLA), Chicago Manual of Style, and American Psychological Association (APA), largely agree that book titles should be italicized. Adhering to a specific style guide is necessary for maintaining consistency in professional and academic writing.
The most significant exception to the italics rule is the Associated Press (AP) Style, which is primarily used by journalists and news organizations. AP Style often mandates the use of quotation marks for book titles instead of italics, or sometimes no special formatting at all. This practice originated from the historical limitations of early printing where italics were difficult to reproduce consistently. Writers should always confirm the required style guide for their specific audience or publication to ensure correct title formatting.
Punctuation and Formatting Nuances
When a title is enclosed in quotation marks, the placement of surrounding punctuation requires attention. In American English, commas and periods that immediately follow a title are placed inside the closing quotation mark. This mechanical convention applies even if the punctuation mark was not part of the original title.
Question marks and exclamation points follow a different rule based on context. If the punctuation mark is part of the actual title, it remains inside the quotation marks or within the italicized text. If the punctuation mark is part of the surrounding sentence, but not the title itself, it is placed outside the closing quotation mark.