Are TV Shows Italicized? Overview
Many of us doubt whether or not we should compose titles using italics or quotation marks and may think, are TV shows italicized? Well, the answer will depend on the context.
For example, titles of movies, radio shows, and television are italicized. On the other hand, a single episode is usually enclosed in quotation marks. Learn about the best tv shows here.
If you’re writing about a particular episode of a TV show, then you would put the title of that episode in quotation marks. If you’re writing about the TV show as a whole, then you would put the show’s title in italics.
When to use Italics in a Title
Book titles are italicized.
Complete productions
In a collection of books
Long poems
Anthologies and collections
Music albums
Court cases
Magazines and newspapers
Radio and TV programs
Films
Artistic creations
Some scientific terms
Air vehicles
Computer and video games
Trains are a common mode of transportation.
Musicals and operas are examples of musical works.
Ships (In ships or other vessels, HMS or USS don’t appear in italics.)
Italics and Quotation Marks in Use
Italics and quotation marks distinguish the title from the rest of the content. These typographical devices mean the same thing; however, they are used in different situations. Quotation marks refer to a short work, such as an article, chapter, or poem. They are also used when referring to episodes of television shows and sections of websites.
Italics are used when referring to a long work, such as a book, album, or movie. They are also used when referring to art pieces, such as paintings and sculptures. In addition, italics are often used to denote titles in other languages.
The following is an example of a sentence with the title in italics.
I’m reading The Catcher in the Rye.
The following is an example of a sentence where the title is in quotation marks.
I’m watching the episode “Dinner Party” of The Office.
Here is a helpful tip: If you’re unsure whether or not to use italics or quotation marks, play it safe and use quotation marks.
When to Use Quotation Marks in a Title?
Quotation marks refer to a short work, such as an article, chapter, or poem.
Some examples of short works that would be in quotation marks are:
Titles of articles
Titles of chapters
Titles of short stories
Titles of poems
Titles of episodes of television shows
Sections of websites
Here is an example of a sentence where the title is in quotation marks:
I’m reading the article “The Benefits of Exercise” in The New York Times.
The following is an example of a sentence where the title is in italics:
I’m watching Dinner Party in my Office.
Are TV Shows in Quotes AP Style?
In AP style, you must put the name of a television show in quotation marks around the title. This applies whether the title refers to the show itself or an episode. You can capitalize the first word of the title of the episode. You should also capitalize conjunctions and prepositions of four or more letters.
You should also put the main title of a TV show in quotation marks, but specific episodes should be listed within quotes. In-text citations may list the show’s entire run, or they may list specific episodes. For example, you may want to cite an episode from a show that highlights the dangers of technology or social media.
The title of a television show, episode, or season should be in quotation marks in AP style. It’s also important to make sure the network’s name is italicized. However, WCBS, a local broadcast station in Los Angeles, is not italicized.
The AP style guide has undergone many revisions and is available in hard copy and digital format. However, some people consider it too detailed. It is also important to remember that the AP style is not the same as the APA style. When writing a paper for a magazine or journal, you should use numerals instead of hyphens when referring to age.
Are Stories Italicized?
It’s a good idea to use italics in your writing. They can visually separate a story from the rest of the text. But you must be careful not to overuse italics – they’re more effective when used sparingly. Italics also work well with foreign words. Only readers who read both languages can follow along with it.
Using italics is not appropriate for every genre of writing, although it’s recommended by the Chicago Manual of Style for books and the Modern Language Association for short works. For example, Stephen King’s “The Shining” would be italicized if it were a novel. Other examples would be Vanity Fair, the Miami Herald, and Appetite for Destruction.
There are some cases when it’s appropriate to use italics, including identifying character internalizations. Italicizing a thought implies that the character is speaking directly to the reader. A writer can also use thought tags for limited third-person POV, which helps add distance to the story.
If a writer is writing a book, they may want to put the title in quotation marks. They’ll want to avoid italicizing the title because this will make the writing unreadable. In addition, they should make sure that their writing is consistent when using emphasis. To help with this style guides are also helpful.
Bottom Line
Knowing when to use italics or quotation marks for titles can be confusing. A good rule of thumb is if something usually appears by itself, you should be italicized: movies, books, TV series, and long poems. However, If it usually appears as part of something else, then you should put it in quotation marks: article titles, individual episodes of TV series, and shorter poems. Read about connecting a switch to a TV without a dock here.
