When writing essays, articles, or social media posts, one question often arises: Do you italicize book titles? Similarly, many writers wonder: Are book titles italicized in every type of writing? The answer varies based on the style of writing you are using and the type of writing you are doing.

In this blog, we’ll review the rules for formatting book titles based on different styles, offer examples, and make things clearer once and for all.

Are Book Titles Italicized?

Yes, in most formal writing, book titles are italicized. Whether you’re writing a research paper or authoring a novel or writing a professional blog, the common convention is to italicize book titles.

For example:

• Correct: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a classic.
• Incorrect: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is a classic.

Using italics for the title of a book signals to the reader that the title is distinct from the rest of the sentence.

Are Book Titles Italicized in All Writing Styles?

Not always. Different styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, and AP) have slightly different rules.

Here is a summary:

Style Guide	Book Titles Rule	Example
APA (American Psychological Association)	Italicize book titles in text and references	The Great Gatsby
MLA (Modern Language Association)	Italicize full-length book titles	Pride and Prejudice
Chicago Manual of Style	Italicize book titles	Moby-Dick
AP (Associated Press)	Do not italicize. Use quotation marks instead.	“War and Peace”

While they are widely considered important formats for written work, academic and publishing formats require italics, while journalism formats (AP style) use quotation marks.

Do You Italicize All Types of Titles?

Not all title types are italicized. Below are a few examples:

• Italics – Books, magazines, movies, TV shows, play, albums
• Quotation Marks – Poems, short stories, songs, essays, and individual chapters

Examples:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (book – italicized)
• “The Tell-Tale Heart” (short story – quotations)
• The New York Times (newspaper – italicized)
• “Bohemian Rhapsody” (song – quotations)

Common Questions Regarding Italicizing Book Titles

1. Do you italicize book titles in essays?

Yes, unless you are following AP Style, that is, for most essays, APA or MLA or Chicago, you need to italicize.

2. Are book titles italicized in quotations?

Yes, book titles stay italicized even in quotations. For example:
She said, “I just finished reading The Catcher in the Rye.”

3. Do you italicize eBooks and audiobooks?

Yes, it does not matter if it is in eBook form, print, or audiobook format, items like Becoming by Michelle Obama should always be italicized.

4. What if you are writing by hand?

If you are writing by hand, and you can’t italicize, you would underline the book titles. For example: I usually underline book titles when I write essays by hand.

Conclusion

In short: Yes, book titles are italicized in most cases. But if you’re writing AP (like newspapers), use quotation marks.

So when you think to yourself, “Are titles italicized?” remember:

• Academic & publishing = italic
• Journalism (AP) = quotes

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