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MLA Titles | How to Format & Capitalize Source Titles

Published on April 2, 2019 by Courtney Gahan . Revised on October 24, 2022.

In MLA style , source titles appear either in italics or in quotation marks:

  • Italicize the title of a self-contained whole (e.g. a book, film, journal, or website).
  • Use  quotation marks around the title if it is part of a larger work (e.g. a chapter of a book, an article in a journal, or a page on a website).

All major words in a title are capitalized . The same format is used in the Works Cited list and in the text itself.

When you use the Scribbr MLA Citation Generator, the correct formatting and capitalization are automatically applied to titles.

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Table of contents

Capitalization in mla titles, punctuation in mla titles, titles within titles, exceptions to mla title formatting, sources with no title, abbreviating titles, titles in foreign languages, frequently asked questions about mla titles.

In all titles and subtitles, capitalize the first and last words, as well as any other principal words.

What to capitalize

What not to capitalize, receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting.

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

  • Academic style
  • Vague sentences
  • Style consistency

See an example

do you italicize movie titles in the title of an essay

Use the same punctuation as appears in the source title. However, if there is a subtitle, separate it from the main title with a colon and a space, even if different (or no) punctuation is used in the source.

Example of a work with a subtitle

The exception is when the title ends in a question mark, exclamation point or dash, in which case you keep the original punctuation:

Sometimes a title contains another title—for example, the title of an article about a novel might contain that novel’s title.

For titles within titles, in general, maintain the same formatting as you would if the title stood on its own.

Titles and names that fall into the following categories are not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks:

  • Scripture (e.g. the Bible, the Koran, the Gospel)
  • Laws, acts and related documents (e.g. the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution , the Paris Agreement)
  • Musical compositions identified by form, number and key (e.g. Beethoven’s Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67)
  • Conferences, seminars, workshops and courses (e.g. MLA Annual Convention)

Sections of a work

Words that indicate a particular section of a work are not italicized or placed within quotation marks. They are also not capitalized when mentioned in the text.

Examples of such sections include:

  • introduction
  • list of works cited
  • bibliography

Introductions, prefaces, forewords and afterwords

Descriptive terms such as “introduction”, “preface”, “foreword” and “afterword” are capitalized if mentioned in an MLA in-text citation or in the Works Cited list, but not when mentioned in the text itself.

Example of descriptive term capitalization

In-text citation: (Brontë, Preface )

In text: In her preface to the work, added in a later edition, Brontë debates the morality of creating characters such as those featured in Wuthering Heights .

If there is a unique title for the introduction, preface, foreword or afterword, include that title in quotation marks instead of the generic section name when referencing the source in the Works Cited list or an in-text citation.

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For sources with no title, a brief description of the source acts as the title.

Example of a source reference with no title

Follow these rules for capitalization:

  • Capitalize the first word
  • Capitalize proper nouns
  • Ignore other MLA rules for capitalization

There are some exceptions to this general format: descriptions including titles of other works, such as comments on articles or reviews of movies; untitled short messages, like tweets; email messages; and untitled poems.

Exceptions to general format for sources with no title

If you need to mention the name of a work in the text itself, state the full title, but omit the subtitle.

If you need to refer to the work multiple times, you may shorten the title to something familiar or obvious to the reader. For example, Huckleberry Finn for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn . If in doubt, prefer the noun phrase.

If the standalone abbreviation may not be clear, you can introduce it in parentheses, following the standard guidelines for abbreviations. For example, The Merchant of Venice ( MV ) . For Shakespeare and the Bible , there are well-established abbreviations you can use.

When you abbreviate a title, make sure you keep the formatting consistent. Even if the abbreviation consists only of letters, as in the MV example, it must be italicized or placed within quotation marks in the same way as it would be when written in full.

Abbreviating very long titles in the Works Cited list

Titles should normally be given in full in the Works Cited list, but if any of your sources has a particularly long title (often the case with older works), you can use an ellipsis to shorten it here. This is only necessary with extremely long titles such as the example below.

In the Works Cited list, if you are listing a work with a title in a language other than English, you can add the translated title in square brackets.

Example of a reference with a translated title

If you are using the foreign-language title in the text itself, you can also include the translation in parenthesis. For example, O Alquimista ( The Alchemist ) .

You don’t need to include a translation in your reference list or in the text if you expect your readers to be familiar with the original language. For example, you wouldn’t translate the title of a  French novel you were writing about in the context of a French degree.

Non-Latin script languages

For works in a language that does not use the Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, or Russian, be consistent with how you mention the source titles and also quotations from within them.

For example, if you choose to write a Russian title in the Cyrillic form, do that throughout the document. If you choose to use the Romanized form, stick with that. Do not alternate between the two.

Yes. MLA style uses title case, which means that all principal words (nouns, pronouns , verbs, adjectives , adverbs , and some conjunctions ) are capitalized.

This applies to titles of sources as well as the title of, and subheadings in, your paper. Use MLA capitalization style even when the original source title uses different capitalization .

In MLA style , book titles appear in italics, with all major words capitalized. If there is a subtitle, separate it from the main title with a colon and a space (even if no colon appears in the source). For example:

The format is the same in the Works Cited list and in the text itself. However, when you mention the book title in the text, you don’t have to include the subtitle.

The title of a part of a book—such as a chapter, or a short story or poem in a collection—is not italicized, but instead placed in quotation marks.

When a book’s chapters are written by different authors, you should cite the specific chapter you are referring to.

When all the chapters are written by the same author (or group of authors), you should usually cite the entire book, but some styles include exceptions to this.

  • In APA Style , single-author books should always be cited as a whole, even if you only quote or paraphrase from one chapter.
  • In MLA Style , if a single-author book is a collection of stand-alone works (e.g. short stories ), you should cite the individual work.
  • In Chicago Style , you may choose to cite a single chapter of a single-author book if you feel it is more appropriate than citing the whole book.

The title of an article is not italicized in MLA style , but placed in quotation marks. This applies to articles from journals , newspapers , websites , or any other publication. Use italics for the title of the source where the article was published. For example:

Use the same formatting in the Works Cited entry and when referring to the article in the text itself.

The MLA Handbook is currently in its 9th edition , published in 2021.

This quick guide to MLA style  explains the latest guidelines for citing sources and formatting papers according to MLA.

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Do You Italicize Movie Titles? Become An Essay Pro

Do-You-Italicize-Movie-Titles-Become-An-Essay-Pro

Do you italicize movie titles? How many times have you been writing an essay, and suddenly you can’t remember whether to use italics, quotation marks, or other formats?

The short answer is that movie titles are always italicized. Read on to find out more about italics, and other important formatting tools in order to become an essay pro.

By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly when to use italics and quotations whenever you’re writing about movies and TV shows.

What Is Considered A Movie?

First, let’s get our definitions straightened up. What’s the difference between a movie, and let’s say, a clip on YouTube or a short film?

In general, most of us know what a movie is when we see it, but for the sake of clarification, movies do not include YouTube clips, short movies (such as Pixar’s shorts), or TV show episodes.

Movie Titles: Formatting In The Past

Before computers became commonplace, italicizing, underlining, and putting titles in “quotations” were considered to be equal and interchangeable, as long as you were consistent throughout your paper. This is because these tools were used for emphasis, as opposed to specific grammar rules. Typewriters, for example, did not have the ability to italicize or underline, and so there weren’t any strict rules.

Movie Titles Now

With the invention and increased use of computers, you’ll find that the rules concerning emphasis are much stricter, and it will be very important to know the difference if you’re writing a paper in college.

Now with the computer’s ability to format with the click of a button, movie titles are always italicized.

The only exception is when you are writing by hand, in which case the movie title would be underlined.

Below are some example sentences to demonstrate the different emphasis put on movie and TV show titles.

  • Matilda was an all-time favorite movie in my home.
  • Disney’s Alice in Wonderland is based on the books, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, by Lewis Carroll.
  • The Netflix series, Workin’ Moms, is based on Catherine Reitman’s experiences as a working mother of two children.
  • The TV show, Young Sheldon, centers around the early life of Sheldon Cooper, an eccentric character in The Big Bang Theory.
  • Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published in June of 1997.

Movie titles are always italicized

Some More Rules You May Want To Know

Although the titles of movies and TV shows are always italicized, it’s important to note that the titles of specific scenes or episodes, as well as short films, are treated as shorter works, and are therefore put in “quotations.”

Though movie scenes rarely have titles, this rule is more relevant to TV show episodes and scenes from plays.

Below are some example sentences to demonstrate the different emphasis put on movie and TV show titles in comparison with specific scenes or episodes.

  • My favorite Friends episode is “The One With the Holiday Armadillo.”
  • The first episode of The Big Bang Theory, entitled “Pilot,” aired on September 24, 2007.
  • The Pixar short, “Bao,” which appeared in the initial release in Incredibles 2, won an Oscar Award for Best Animated Short Film.
  • The jumping desk lamp that became Pixar’s famous icon was originally introduced in a Pixar short called “Luxo Jr.”
  • In the episode, “The Pitch,” Seinfeld and George propose a TV show about nothing, which was the show’s way of poking fun at Seinfeld’s original premise.

TV shows, like movies, are also italicized

Why Is Proper Formatting Important?

College essays.

No matter what you study in college, most students write a lot of essays during their school years. While some degrees may put more of an emphasis on writing proper essays , most teachers and professors will expect a certain level of basic grammar and formatting knowledge.

Before you even step foot into college, you’ll most likely be expected to write an application essay . It’s important to put your best foot forward, and small formatting rules can go a long way in making a good first impression.

Landing Your Dream Job

In addition to college essays, prospective employers and job positions will require and look for basic (or advanced, depending on the position) writing skills. Whether you think your dream job requires writing skills or not, writing is a part of everyday life and work, from emails and text messages, to presentations and reports. Having good writing skills will help you make a good first impression, land your dream job, and do your best work.

Having A Successful Career

Though different students earn a degree for different reasons, many are hoping to work toward a successful career. In order to do this, the right preparation is key. Preparation may be earning a degree, gaining specific skills, or having the right guidance along the way.

University of the People prepares our students for successful careers by providing program advising , mentorship , and an emphasis on career development . We know that these extra details, much like formatting in an essay, make a big difference for the future success of our students. University of the People is a tuition-free online university that offers degree programs in business administration, computer science, health science, and education.

University of the People prepares students for success

Cheat Sheet

Titles in italics.

  • Title of a movie or play
  • Titles of a TV or radio series
  • Title of a book
  • Titles of magazines, journals, or newspapers
  • Title of music album
  • Title of a long poem
  • Title of an opera
  • Titles of paintings or sculptures

Titles In “Quotations”

  • Title of a chapter in a book
  • Title of an TV or radio series episode
  • Name of an act or scene in a movie/play
  • Title of a song
  • Title of a short poem
  • Title of an article or paper

The Bottom Line

So, do you italicize movie titles? In short, yes. Movie titles, as well as TV show titles, are italicized. We hope you learned a little bit about the history of italics, when to use italics and quotations, and the reasons why proper formatting is important for your education and career.

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Grammarhow

Are Movie Titles Italicized? (APA, AP, MLA, and Chicago)

Many people are unsure of the correct format to follow when it comes to how to quote a movie title in a piece of academic writing. Therefore, this page explains the different ways to correctly cite a movie title in an essay or formal paper and provides examples of citations in context.

Are Movie Titles Italicized?

When including a movie title in an essay or paper that follows APA, MLA, or Chicago, the title should always be in italics because it is a stand-alone piece of work. However, when citing a movie in AP Style, the title should be in quotation marks rather than italics.

are movie titles italicized

When including a movie title as an in-text reference or on the reference list, you should always use italics if you are following APA, MLA, or Chicago styles.

In AP Style, italics are not used for anything; instead, you should place any movie, play, or book titles in quotation marks rather than italics.

Here are some examples of some citations for movies in the four styles:

APA/ Chicago styles

  • The movie Fight Club (Fincher, 99) is a critique of the materialistic world in which we currently live.
  • The Godfather (Coppola, 74) is the film that put Francis Ford Coppola on the map as a director.
  • The closing scenes of the Godfather are praised for the artistic merit of the content. ( Godfather , 2:20:00 – 2:23:45)
  • The movie “Fight Club” is regarded as one of Edward Norton`s finest performances.
  • Fincher, D, (Director). (1999). Fight Club {Film}, Propaganda Films. “Netflix” App. https://www.netflix.com/mx-en/title/26004747
  • Fight Club. Directed by David Fincher, Propaganda Films, 1999. https://www.netflix.com/mx-en/title/26004747
  • Fincher, David, Director. 1999. Fight Club . Propaganda Films. 139 minutes. https://www.netflix.com/mx-en/title/26004747

Are Movie Titles Quoted?

In APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, it is not necessary to use quotation marks for movie titles, and they should instead be placed in italics. However, for AP Style, where italics are rare, it is necessary to use quotation marks around the title of the movie.

Are Movie Titles Italicized in APA Style?

When citing a movie or film in APA Style, you should use italics for in-text citations and on the reference list because a movie is a stand-alone work.

Here are some examples of how to include a movie in an APA Style document:

As an in-text citation, you just need to include the director, year, and, if relevant, the part of the movie you are referencing.

For example:

  • Forrest Gump highlighted many important events in US history, such as the Vietnam war and the civil rights movement (Zemeckis, 94).

On the reference page, the listing should look like this:

  • Zemeckis, R, (Director). (1994). Forrest Gump {Film}. Paramount Pictures.

Also, if you watched the film on a streaming site, you need to add that too:

  • Zemeckis, R, (Director). (1994). Forrest Gump {Film}. Paramount Pictures. https://www.netflix.com/mx/title/60000724

Are Movie Titles Italicized in AP Style?

In AP Style, it is not common to use italics for anything, including movie titles. Instead of italics, movie titles should be placed inside quotation marks when citing a movie name in-text. Furthermore, AP Style documents do not usually contain a reference list, so you do not need to list the reference at the end of the paper.

Here are some examples of how a movie title looks in AP Style:

  • “Apocolypse Now” is the highest-grossing movie about the Vietnam war.
  • Keanu Reeves returns in the 2021 film based on the classic film trilogy “The Matrix.”

Are Movie Titles Italicized in Chicago Style?

When writing an essay in Chicago Style, it is necessary to use italics when quoting films for both in-text citations and on the reference list because films are an example of a stand-alone piece of work, similar to a book, play, or song.

Here are some examples of how to include a movie in Chicago Style formatting:

  • The movie Parasite was the first film for which a foreigner won the Oscar for best director (Bong, 19).
  • Bong, Joon-ho, director. Parasite . 2019, Curzon Artificial Eye. 2 hrs, 11 mins. Blu-ray Disc, 1080p HD.

(If you watched the film on a streaming site, then you should list that instead of the DVD information).

Are Movie Titles Italicized in MLA Style?

When citing a movie in an MLA piece of writing, you should always use italics for the movie title for both in-text citations and on the reference list.

For an in-text citation, it is common to just use the name of the movie with the time frame of the point you are referring to, if applicable ; if not, you can simply use the movie title with no time reference.

Here are some examples of how movie references in MLA Style would look:

  • The movie Parasite is Joon-ho Bong`s most successful film to date (Parasite )
  • The closing scenes of Parasite left viewers in shock at the brutality portrayed by the characters ( Parasite, 2:00:00 – 2:10:00).

This is how the listing should appear on the reference list:

  • Parasite . Directed by Joon-ho Bong, CJ Entertainment, 2019. https://www.netflix.com/mx-en/title/81221938

Final Thoughts

When citing a movie in an essay or piece of formal writing that follows APA, MLA, or Chicago styles, you should always use italics for the title. However, for AP Style, you should use quotation marks rather than italics for the titles of movies.

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Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

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Quotation Marks or Italics In Titles?

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You’ve probably asked yourself while writing an essay: Should I italicize a play title or enclose it in quotation marks? What about a song title?

Don’t feel guilty for not knowing the rules for quotation marks or italics in titles . Even the most experienced writers have the same problem.

I’ll show you the basic rules for choosing between quotation marks and italics in titles. This guide features the guidelines of Chicago, MLA, and APA.

Using Italics or Quotation Marks in Titles

Using italics vs. quotation marks in titles depends on your style guide. But the general rule is to italicize long titles, such as titles of books, movie titles, or album titles.

Meanwhile, you must write titles in quotation marks for shorter pieces like musical titles, magazines, TV series, and articles. Note that the AP style does not put magazines, newspaper style, or journals in quotation marks.

Grammarist Article Graphic V2 2022 08 14T201339.353

  • “How You Feel About Gender Roles Will Tell Us How You’ll Vote” is an article worth the read.
  • My favorite song is “If I could Fly.”
  • My Year of Rest and Relaxation is for readers who want to escape their stressful lives.

Works That Require Italics

Use Italics for titles such as the following:

  • Pieces with sections, such as a collection or anthology.
  • Some scientific names.
  • Computers and video games.
  • Titles of newspapers and titles of articles from newspapers.
  • Play titles.
  • Works of art.
  • Court cases.
  • Television and radio shows.
  • Episode titles.
  • Book titles.
  • Magazine articles.
  • Album titles.
  • Names of Ships.
  • Operas, musical titles, and other musical works.

Here are some examples of italicized works:

do you italicize movie titles in the title of an essay

  • The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
  • Michelangelo’s David.
  • When Harry Met Sally.
  • Do you have a copy of Wag the Dog by award-winning author Larry Beinhart?
  • My favorite mystery book is In the Woods by the bestselling author Tana French .

The source’s title is usually italicized in a bibliography or reference list entries. But it can also depend on the source type. If you’re citing a journal article, every citation style italicizes the journal title instead of the article.

  • Asher, J. (2017). Thirteen reasons why . Penguin Books.
  • (2011). When Harry met Sally . Santa Monica, Calif: MGM Studio distributed by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Works That Require Quotation Marks

Use double quotes for the following types of work.

  • Comic strips.
  • Article title.
  • Generic titles.
  • Short works like essays
  • Short story titles.
  • Song titles.

Remember that quotation marks come in pairs, so add both opening and closing quotation marks. Here are some examples where we use friendly quotation marks in titles:

  • “Cul de Sac” is a darkly humorous comic.
  • “Cinderella” is my favorite chapter title from the Big Blue Book .

Big Things vs. Little Things

“Big things” include a collection of novels or book series, movies, cartoon series, and other works that can stand independently. We can also consider them as complete bodies of work.

Meanwhile, the “little things” depend on other groups, so we put them in quotes.

Think of a “single” in an album title or a “book chapter” in a book title. Another good example includes “manuscripts” in collections.

Remember that this isn’t a perfect rule. But it helps writers determine whether they should quote or italicize the title of a work.

Italics vs. Quotation Marks in Style Guides

The grammar rules on italicizing or quoting titles are usually a matter of style. Take a look at the title formats’ differences among style guides.

In the Modern Language Association style guide, a quick rule is to italicize titles that are longer. Experienced writers state that these “longer works” include books, journals, court cases, etc. Ship names and other notable names are also in italics.

But for shorter works like articles and poems, MLA Style Guide recommends you format titles with double quotation marks.

Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style goes by the same basic rules as MLA. Titles of major works, such as books, and special names like a ship should be in italics. But place the item in quotation marks for subsections of larger bodies like journal articles, blogs, and book chapters.

According to the APA Style 7th edition , you should use italics for titles like journals, magazines, and newspapers. Books, artworks, webpages, and any other larger body of work also use italics.

However, writers who follow APA use the regular type of format for shorter works. These include essays or works in journal articles and lectures.

When to Not Use Italics or Quotation Marks

There’s a specific type of title that all major style guides have no recommendations for. The following do not use italics or quotation marks for titles:

  • Commercial products.
  • Political documents.
  • Legal documents.
  • Major religious books or scriptures.
  • Name of artifacts.
  • Names of buildings.
  • Constitutional documents.
  • Traditional game.

If you are formatting titles on a website, there’s no need to follow the rules on italics vs. quotation marks. You can go with any more visually appealing style since online web pages are less formal than print materials.

Prioritize the font type, size, and headings when formatting websites and web pages. Make decisions based on what will attract visitors.

When to Underline Instead of Quote or Italicize

If you write using pen and paper, italicizing works can be challenging. Many style manuals recommend underlining the source instead. It’s easier, more practical, and keeps your handwriting legible.

Final Word on Italics vs. Quotes in Titles

An easy way to remember is that most types of titles are almost always in italics. APA, MLA, and Chicago manuals of style recommend italics for longer works.

I hope this guide on using quotation marks and italics in titles helps you become a better writer. 

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  • Writing Tips

Titles in Essays (Italics or Quote Marks?)

Titles in Essays (Italics or Quote Marks?)

4-minute read

  • 26th February 2018

Formatting your own essay title is easy (just bung a Heading style on it). Unfortunately, the rules about formatting the titles of existing published works (e.g. a textbook or an article from a journal) are more complicated. Usually, though, it comes down to one question: italics or quote marks?

do you italicize movie titles in the title of an essay

But most students will need to name a book, journal or website in an essay at some point, so it’s important to know how this works. To help you out, we’ve prepared this guide on when to use italics and when to use quote marks for titles.

When to Use Italics

Titles of longer works are usually italicised. A ‘longer work’ in this case is something presented as a standalone publication. Charles Dickens’ famous novel, for example, would be written as Great Expectations if it were named in an essay.

Other examples of longer works that should be italicised include:

  • Books and book-length poems (e.g. ‘An analysis of The Wasteland shows…’)
  • Journals, newspapers and magazines (e.g. ‘According to The Guardian …’)
  • Websites and blogs (e.g. ‘The project was funded via Unbound …’)
  • Films (e.g. ‘ Jaws broke several box-office records…’)
  • TV series (e.g. ‘Many fans of The X-Files claim…’)
  • Plays and other stage shows (e.g. ‘This production of Swan Lake is…’)
  • Paintings and works of art (e.g. ‘The Mona Lisa is currently housed…’)
  • Music albums (e.g. ‘The album Sticky Fingers was released in…’)

The key factor is that all of these are standalone products, not part of a greater whole. The main exceptions to this rule are holy texts, such as the Bible, which are not typically italicised.

Italics are also used for the names of particular vehicles in some cases, especially ships and spacecraft. For example, we might write about the space shuttle Enterprise or the HMS Beagle (note that the ‘HMS’ is not italicised, since this is an abbreviation).

do you italicize movie titles in the title of an essay

When to Use Quote Marks

Quote marks , meanwhile, are usually saved for shorter works. These are often part of a larger publication, such as an article in a newspaper or a chapter in an edited book. For example, if we were to name a book and a chapter in one place we’d write:

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Hugh Wilder’s ‘Interpretive Cognitive Ethology’ was first published in Readings in Animal Cognition , edited by Marc Bekoff and Dale Jamieson.

As indicated by the italics, the book here is called Readings in Animal Cognition . ‘Interpretive Cognitive Ethology’, meanwhile, is an essay from the book, so we use quote marks for this title.

Cases where quotation marks are used for titles include:

  • Chapters from books
  • Articles in newspapers, magazines and journals
  • Particular pages or articles from a website
  • Individual poems and short stories
  • Episodes from a TV show

It is also common to use quote marks for unpublished writing regardless of length. For example, if you were referring to an unfinished manuscript or a PhD dissertation, you would put the title in quote marks; but if these same documents were published, you would use italics.

Look Out for Exceptions!

The guidelines above will apply in most cases, but there are exceptions. The APA style guide, for example, recommends italicising book titles in the main text of an essay, but not in the reference list. As such, it is wise to check your style guide to see if it has specific advice on formatting titles.

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Formatting Titles in Essays

Formatting Titles in Essays

  • 2-minute read
  • 8th May 2018

Handling your own headings is one thing, but how should you write the titles of other works? You need to mark them out somehow, and you have two standard options: italics or quote marks.

This is especially important in academic writing , as you’ll often have to discuss books and papers written by other people. Here, then, are some guidelines you should follow when formatting titles.

When to Use Italics

You can often spot a title from the capitalisation , but we still format titles to distinguish between different types of source. Titles of longer sources, for example, typically use italics:

do you italicize movie titles in the title of an essay

Here, Kerrang! is italicised because it is the title of a magazine (i.e. a standalone work that is not one part of a larger whole). Other publications and productions that this applies to include:

  • Academic journals
  • Newspapers and magazines
  • Websites and blogs
  • Films and TV shows
  • Radio programmes
  • Plays and other stage shows
  • Book-length poems
  • Paintings and other works of art
  • Music albums

The key here, then, is that italics are used for longer published works .

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When to Use Quote Marks

We use quote marks for the title of anything that doesn’t fit in the list above. Usually, this will be something that is part of a more substantial publication, such as an article from a magazine:

do you italicize movie titles in the title of an essay

In this case, we see both the magazine title and an article title. Using italics on the former and quote marks on the latter makes it immediately obvious which is which. Other cases where quote marks are required include:

  • Chapters from books
  • Academic papers and journal articles
  • Articles from newspapers and magazines
  • Single pages from a website or posts from a blog
  • Individual poems and short stories
  • Single episodes of a TV series
  • Single poems from a collection
  • Songs and other short recordings

In this case, the key is that quote marks are used for shorter works . However, quote marks are also used for unpublished works regardless of length (e.g. a draft manuscript or a PhD dissertation).

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do you italicize movie titles in the title of an essay

How to Write a Movie Title in an Essay or Article

do you italicize movie titles in the title of an essay

When you're writing a paper or article in school or at work, you may be in a situation where you need to write a movie title in your writing. But how should you format them? Should you use italics? Or quotation marks? Or maybe both? Or neither…

The first thing to note is that the rules will be different depending on whether you’re writing an article or an essay. In this guide, we'll explain how to write one in an essay or article so that your writing looks professional and polished. Refer to the relevant section, depending on the piece you are creating. 

The main things to know are:

  • If you are writing a movie title in an article, the format you use is up to you (or the company you work for). Pick a format and stick to it.
  • If you are writing a movie title in an essay, then you should follow your university's or employer's referencing style guidelines. 

Read on for suggestions of different formats for articles, and more in-depth guidance around different university referencing styles.

How to Write a Movie Title in an Article 

Let's begin by exploring why you need a specific format, and examining some key principles and rules around writing a movie title in an article.

Why You Need a Specific Format 

So picture this. You’re writing an article and want to refer to a particular movie - perhaps to illustrate a point, or maybe you’re critiquing it. But you’re unsure how to format it. You don’t want to be marked down for formatting it incorrectly, so you consider leaving it out to avoid the trouble. Not on our watch!

But hold on a sec! Why should you even worry about this? Why do movie titles need to be formatted correctly anyway? Well, it’s simple really. If you don’t differentiate the title from the rest of the text, your readers might not understand you’re referring to a movie title. Imagine, for instance, that you wrote:

I finally got around to watching three billboards outside ebbing missouri.

Can we agree this sentence doesn’t make any sense? With this punctuation (i.e. none) your reader may well believe that you headed out into the night and found a couple of billboards to look at for some time. 

So do you see why it’s important to have some kind of format for writing movie titles? 

Key Principles and Rules

Now here’s the tricky bit: with articles, there’s no hard and fast rule on how to format a movie title in your writing. There are many different options and any of them would be acceptable to use in an article you’re going to publish online or physically. 

So what to do?

Our first advice is to check in with your editor/head of copywriting / your point of reference at the company you work at. They will most likely have a specific format they like to use and will be able to share that with you.

That’s if you are writing for a company.

If you’re self-publishing, say, for example, on your website or Medium.com, then you’re the boss, friend. The conventions you use are completely up to you. 

But here are a few key principles and rules:

  • Common conventions are to use italics or quotations marks
  • Choose one format and stick with it - not only throughout the article but in everything you write
  • Keep an eye out for the correct spelling of the movie. For example, don’t forget the comma in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. 
  • Title case is a great way to further demarcate the movie title from the rest of the text to make it abundantly clear that it’s a movie title.

How to Write a Movie Title in an Essay 

Now let's turn our attention towards writing a movie title in an essay.

New scenario. You’re writing an essay for your college or university course. Perhaps you’re using the movie as an example, or maybe you’re critiquing it.

But you don’t want to be marked down for getting it wrong, so you consider avoiding mentioning it altogether. But that would be a shame! Let us help you. 

Here are some general rules to get you started:

  • Follow the rules of your school’s academic writing style (APA, MLA, AP, or Chicago.)
  • Use title case
  • Use italics or quotation marks (depending on the writing style)

Academic Referencing Styles

There are different academic referencing/writing styles in the English language, and these vary depending on the education establishment. Different styles have different rules that govern the way that you might write, punctuate and cite within your essay.

The four most common styles are Associated Press (AP), Chicago, American Psychological Association (APA), and Modern Language Association (MLA).

Of course, there are many more than just four in existence, but these are the prevalent ones. 

But why are there so many different writing styles, we hear you ask? Quite simply, this is to cater to different fields. For instance, the scientific sector places a lot of importance on using recent research, hence the APA style places the date before anything. Humanities tend to use the MLA style which places the author's name first. 

Write a Movie Title in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles

Luckily, the APA, MLA, and Chicago styles all use the same format for movie titles, so it’ll be easy to remember.

These styles all require that you place the movie title in italics. Here are some examples:

  • Saving Private Ryan
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 

Do not use any quotation marks! This is not necessary and will be considered incorrect.

You’ll also notice that the title is written in the title case. This means you capitalize certain words in the title. More on that in the next section.

Write a Movie Title in AP style

The AP style is the exception here since it does not use italics to format movie titles. Instead, you’re required to use quotation marks. Let’s use the same examples as above, to make the difference clear:

  • “Kill Bill”
  • “Saving Private Ryan”
  • “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”

Again, here, remember to use title case. 

Write a Movie Title in Title Case

Using title case means that you capitalize certain words in the title. But depending on the writing style you’re using, there are different rules on which words need capitalizing and which ones don't. Mostly, they disagree on whether or not to capitalize minor words.

Read on to find out the rules for each style, to ensure you’re writing it correctly. 

Note that if you’re writing an article, this will again depend on the rules that the company you work for is using, or if you’re writing for your own business, then you can make your own rules. Remember to pick a structure and stick to it. Consistency is key!

  • Capitalize the major words.
  • Lowercase the articles the, a, and an.
  • Capitalize the ‘to’ in an infinitive (e.g., I Want To Eat Cake)
  • Capitalize the first and last words (overrides other rules)
  • Capitalize all words of four letters or more (overrides other rules)
  • Lowercase the second word after a hyphenated prefix

Chicago Style

  • Lowercase articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions
  • Lowercase the second part of Latin species names.
  • Lowercase articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions.
  • Do NOT capitalize ‘to’ in infinitives (e.g., I Want to Eat Cake).

As you can see, all four styles share some common rules but are different in certain small details. 

Incorrect ways to write a movie title

Here are some examples of incorrect ways to write a movie title:

  • Saving private ryan
  • Eternal SUNSHINE of a Spotless Mind
  • “Shawshank Redemption”
  • One Flew Over the cuckoo’s Nest

Can you figure out what is wrong with each of these examples? We’ll give you a clue! It has to do with incorrect usage of title cases, block capitals and quotation marks.

A note on reference lists

We just wanted to include a little note here to remind you that when citing a movie in your essay, you should include it in your reference list, or bibliography, depending on the academic writing style you are using. 

Again, the structure of your reference list will vary depending on whether you’re writing in APA, AP, MLA or Chicago, and you can find guidance on this in an official manual for the style (or online).

Other Points of Interest

There are some other things you might be interested in knowing that are related to the topic of how to write a movie title in an essay or article, so we’re detailing those below.

How to write a quote from a movie

So you’ve successfully referenced a movie using the rules outlined above. Now you’d like to quote a line from the movie. Which conventions should you use for this? 

For this, you would use quotation marks. For instance, if you want to quote this famous line from the movie Star Wars , you would write: “May the force be with you.”

Remember that if you’re writing an essay, you might need to also include the reference in your in-text citation. Let us show you a full example of what this would look like:

History was made when General Dodonna said “May the force be with you.” in the iconic movie Star Wars (Lucas, 1977).

How to write the name of an episode of a TV show 

If you wanted to cite a TV series, you would follow the same rules as those for citing a movie - as outlined above. But what if you also wanted to include the name of the episode you’re referring to? 

Similarly to inserting a direct quote from a movie, in this case, we recommend using quotation marks. For example:

Friends , “The One Where Everybody Finds Out.”

If writing an essay, please refer to your academic writing style’s guide to learn about conventions around formatting and using title case.

Where does the word ‘movie’ come from?

Dating back as far as the early 1900s, the word ‘movie’ stems from the term ‘moving picture’.

Before they could be projected onto a screen for wider viewing, the first movies could only be seen by one person at a time, using an Electrotachyscope, Kinetoscope, or Mutoscope.

And there we have it! We hope that this article has helped you better understand the conventions around writing a movie title in your essay or article, so you can feel confident about handing in your essay or turning in your article to your line manager.

To summarize, when you’re writing an article, the rules are pretty much up to you if writing for your own business, or your manager if writing for another company. Check-in with them to find out which conventions are already in place.

If writing an essay, then you should always use the structure set out in the academic writing style’s manual. Find out first of all which style you are expected to use. 

Now that that's done, it's time to get writing! 

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do you italicize movie titles in the title of an essay

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How to Format Movie Titles in Academic Writings

  • by Lesley V.
  • October 26, 2023

How to write a movie title in an essay?

Students, especially those in Arts, often refer to films or movie series in their papers. The formatting rules here are easy to remember. But:

They vary a bit, depending on the citation style you use.

In this post, I’ve gathered the guidelines for citing movie titles in five primary formats. Examples included, for you to compare and remember everything better.

How to Write Movie Titles in Essays

Are movie titles italicized?

It’s the most frequent question students ask when looking for this information online. Indeed, most citation formats prescribe italicizing. Other general rules include:

  • Uppercase for subtitles
  • Extra short movie names (like “It” ) may also go in quotations
  • When using quotation marks (AP style), put punctuation inside them

Below are the details on how to format movie titles in essays and reference lists correctly.

Writing Film Titles in Different Citation Styles

For APA style (1):

  • Uppercase all four-letter words and above
  • Uppercase the first and the last word of a movie title, even if they are short articles (a, the) or pronouns (in, at, etc.)
  • Italicize the entire name

For MLA format (2):

  • Uppercase movie titles and subtitles
  • Use capital letters for both parts of hyphenated words
  • No uppercase for articles (a, the) and short conjunctions within the movie name
  • Italicize the entire movie title

For Chicago style:

  • Uppercase all main words
  • Lowercase short conjunctions (below four letters) within the movie title
  • Uppercase prepositions, regardless of their length

For AP citation style:

  • Lowercase articles (a, the) and prepositions/conjunctions that are shorter than four letters
  • Uppercase articles and prepositions/conjunctions in the beginning/end of the title
  • No italics; put movie names in quotation marks

For Harvard style:

  • Uppercase all primary words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.)
  • Lowercase articles and prepositions/conjunctions (below four letters) within the movie title

How to Capitalize Movies in Papers

When writing a film name in a sentence, capitalize every word except for:

  • Articles (a, an, the) within the movie title
  • Short (below four letters) prepositions and conjunctions within the title

If a movie name begins with the above, use uppercase. Also, write long prepositions/conjunctions (moreover, although, etc.) with a capital letter. For example:

Italics vs. Quotations vs. Underlines

Most citation styles, except AP, prescribe italicization for movies and film series titles. When writing in AP, use quotation marks.

Quotes are also possible to use if you mention super short movie names like “It” or “M.” You italicize them in APA, MLA, or Chicago.

Underlines are for handwritten essays. When written by hand, you can’t italicize, huh? Use underlining instead to highlight a movie title somehow.

How to Format Punctuation in Movie Titles

If punctuation is a part of a film name, place it inside quotation marks or italicize it.

For example:

Writing Movie Titles in Reference Lists

Do you italicize movie titles.

Here they go, the rules on formatting movie titles in essays. Now that you know how to write a movie title in an essay properly, the only detail remains:

Check the formatting guidelines before writing. What citation style does an educator or editor ask you to follow? If none assigned, choose one and stick to it for consistency.

References:

  • https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/index.html  
  • https://lib.westfield.ma.edu/c.php?g=354010&p=2388441

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Are Essay Titles Italicized? A Guide for APA and MLA Titles

  • by Michael Smart
  • January 16, 2024
  • Custom Essay writing

Are Essay Titles Italicized

Have you ever written an essay and then question yourself whether you have used italics appropriately in the titles? Is the use of italics something that worries you to the extent of avoiding them?

Well, you are not alone because many students do not fully understand how to apply them in their essays, particularly in the titles. 

This article will explain when to use italics in your essay and how to appropriately write them. However, before exploring this, it is important to note whether essay titles are italicized or not.

Are Essay Titles Italicized?

The answer to this question depends on the type of words in the title. Essay titles can be italicized. In case you have a title that includes names of vehicles, large works, television series, or movies, you should use italics when mentioning them.

Essay titles can be italicized if the words represent a literary work or are a quote that needs to be represented in italics. Essay titles can also be italicized if all the words or some of them represent certain non-English wordings that are not in the English dictionary.

Literary words are works of literature. Titles of plays, books, and other forms of works of art should also be italicized within the title to set them apart from the surrounding text. 

When writing an essay, you will be required by your instructor to format it academically in either APA or MLA since the two formats are the most commonly used.

Instances When to Italicize Titles in an Essay

1. when words need to be emphasized within the title.

As we have noted, italics are used to set a word or phrase apart from other text within the title.

When the word or phrase is set apart, it means that the reader will easily notice it and even prioritize its meaning compared to the rest of the words.

when to italicize essay titles

Therefore, if you have a word or words that need to be emphasized within the title of your essay, you can italicize them.

There are some words or phrases that you will include in your title and you wish your readers to take note of them.

They can be part of the essay’s keywords that you might explain from a different perspective to that of the readers.

However, it should be noted that emphasizing words using italics within the title is not commonly used in academic writing. 

2. When including Publication Names in your Title

Imagine you are writing an essay in which you are required to conduct an in-depth analysis of an article or case study within a publication.

In this case, you may need to include the name of the publication within your title to instantly communicate to the reader what the paper is all about. Such publication names include:

3. Standalone Works in the Essay Title

When you are including the title of a standalone work like complete plays and books, you should italicize them. Titles of sacred texts should also be italicized when they are included in the title of your essay. This is especially the case when analyzing the complete works in your essay.

For example, if your essay is analyzing a specific Harry Potter book, the title will appear like this: Elements of Style in  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows .

When it comes to places like Romeo and Juliet, your title will look like this: Elements of Style in  Romeo and Juliet .

For sacred or religious texts like the King James Version of the Bible, the title may appear like this: Understanding the Meaning from the Language used in  King James Bible . 

4. When Writing Titles of Creative Works

In case you are required or find yourself in a situation where you need to include the title of creative work in the title of your essay, you should italicize it. This should only include titles of standalone creative works. Such include: 

5. When Using Foreign and Unfamiliar Words

In case you have an essay title that requires you to include a foreign word, you should italicize it. The same case applies to words that you are not familiar with or words that are technical. 

6. When Referring to Legal Cases

When you are writing an essay that explores or analyzes a legal case, you should include the name of the case within the title of your essay to separate it from the rest of the text. For example, “Analyzing the Outcomes of the Case of  Brown v. Board of Education ”. 

How to Write Titles in an APA Essay?

Titles in an APA essay will utilize a unique system of headings that help in classifying and separating the different sections in your essay. They take levels. Note that the aforementioned instances of italicization will still apply on the different levels. 

Writing essay Titles in APA

The first level or the main topic of your APA essay will be centered, boldface, and with a title-case heading.

Remember to capitalize the first word, all the principle words, and the last word in the title.

Avoid capitalizing prepositions (“above”, “on”, “to”, “below”, etc.), articles (“an”, “a”, and “the”), and coordinating conjunctions (“for”, “nor”, “and”, “but”, “so”, “or”, and “yet”).

The paragraph will be left justified with the first sentence indented. 

The second level of the title should not be centered on your paper.

It should be flush left or it should begin at the left side of your page with no indentation.

It should also be typed in bold with a title case heading. The paragraph will also start from the left side of your paper with an indentation.

The third level of your titles should also begin at the left side of your page with no indentation. It should be boldface with a title case heading. However, the third level of your title should be italicized. The paragraph begins from the left side of your page with an indentation. 

The fourth level of your titles should be indented, boldface, and with a title-case heading. This level is not italicized. However, it ends with a period because the text of the paragraph that follows should continue on the same line as that of the title level. 

The fifth level of an APA title should also be indented, boldface, and with a title-case heading. However, this level is italicized. It also ends with a period since the next paragraph will start on the same line. 

How to Write Titles for MLA Essay

Titles in an MLA essay have different levels with the first level being centered, boldface, and with a title, case heading. The second level should be written in the same way as the first level with the only difference being that the second level is flushed to the left side of the paper. 

MLA Essay Titles

The third level should begin at the left side of your page with no indentation.

It should be boldface with a title case heading.

The third level of your title should be italicized.

The fourth level should be indented, boldface, and with a title, case heading.

This level is not italicized. However, it ends with a period.

The fifth level should also be indented, boldface, and with a title, case heading. This level is italicized. It also ends with a period. 

In MLA, you should also capitalize the first word, all the principle words, and the last word in the title. Don’t capitalize prepositions, articles, and coordinating conjunctions.

Read our guide on how to write good essay titles to get further insight and tips that will help you sharpen your writing skills.

do you italicize movie titles in the title of an essay

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How to Write Movie Titles in Essays?

Jilian Woods

Table of Contents

Writing a movie title in essay projects may be necessary when handling different academic assignments. Thus, knowing how to write movie captions in the correct format is vital for composing successful papers. While mastering this art is necessary, many students face challenges doing it. 

This subject raises many questions regarding various components. For instance, italicizing, quoting, underlining, and punctuating are some of the challenges some students face. 

Fortunately, relevant guidance exists to address all these challenges and improve your writing skills. This post addresses these difficulties in all the major academic writing styles like APA , Chicago, and MLA. Keep reading to learn more and master this area of academic writing. 

How to Put a Movie Title in an Essay

Writing a movie title in essay has different components that have evolved through the ages. The rise of computer technology has drastically changed how learners handle this subject. It has changed some elements, like underlining movie titles. For instance, before personal computers became common, students used typewriters to write academic papers. This technology required them to underline movie titles. Also, underlining movie headlines was necessary because some scholars hand-wrote their assignments. The reason is that italicizing a title was difficult in a hand-written essay. 

Rules to Follow When Writing a Movie Title in Essay

Here are the main rules to follow to write movie titles correctly in your academic papers. 

Title Sources 

As a rule of thumb, you should list the full title as it appears in the source you are citing. However, few exceptions exist for this rule, particularly when punctuating subtitles and standardizing capitalization. 

  • You must capitalize every principal word, like an adjective, noun, and verb. However, don’t capitalize articles, prepositions, or conjunctions in the title’s middle. However, capitalize them if they are long, such as additionally and furthermore, or if they are a title’s first word. 
  • Always separate subtitles with colons and spaces.

Italicization 

Italicization is another vital component to pay attention to when including a movie title in essay .

You must italicize titles from self-contained and independent sources. Remember to italicize every book, play, film, periodical, database, and website title.

Quotation Marks 

Put a title in quotation marks if its source is a part of a larger work.

Titles with Other Titles  

Titles containing other titles occur commonly in academic writing. Also, if the title usually appears in double quotation marks, enclose the caption in single quotes. For instance, 

“Madness in David’s ‘Make Common Sense Common Again.'”

Capitalization 

Capitalization is another core component when drafting movie captions in essays. You should apply all the established capitalization rules when writing these titles. These laws require you to do the following: 

  • Begin all movie captions start with capital letters. 
  • Always capitalize all proper nouns.

However, you must pay special attention to some exceptions when applying these rules to place a movie title . The final rules will depend on the writing style you use. Please note that different academic formats disagree on minor matters that may complicate matters. So, use these rules, knowing they don’t apply universally across various educational writing styles. 

Movie Title in Writing

You will format your essays using APA, MLA, or Chicago styles. While these disagree on different issues, they agree on a few core components. For instance, these styles need you to capitalize all movie titles. They also require you to capitalize adverbs, nouns, verbs, and pronouns. These formatting styles also agree on capitalizing prepositions, articles, and conjunctions only if they are the first word in titles. 

APA requires capitalizing all words with more than three letters. It also capitalizes a caption’s first word and proper nouns. Here is an excellent example: When the bells ring .

When formatting your essay using AP style, place your movie titles in quotes. You still have to abide by all the rules of writing titles within quotes. For example:

  • “The Passion of the Christ” shuttered records within its first year of release.
  • “We are happy to work on any movie as popular as ‘The Lord of the Ring,'” John exclaimed. 

While you should always italicize all TV shows and movie titles, several exceptions occur; for instance, treat every heading of a specific scene or episode and a short film as a shorter work. Therefore, place such captions in quotations. 

Here are two main questions students ask about placing a movie title in essay s, plus their answers. 

How do you write a movie title in an essay?

Capitalize all the major words in the headline, such as pronouns, verbs, proper nouns, and adverbs. However, don’t capitalize short prepositions articles like a, an , and the . The only exception occurs when these words open movie headlines or are four letters long and more, for instance, beneath or about. However, the three main formatting styles disagree on this last rule. So, consult your essay’s style guide before applying this rule. 

How to draft a movie title in an essay MLA?

The MLA format for writing a movie title requires formatting all headlines uniformly in the entire essay. It has two major principles you must pay attention to.

  • Capitalize all the first letters of the main words except minor ones, such as conjunctions, articles, and prepositions. The only exception here applies when they exist at a headline’s beginning.  
  • Italicize every title in the essay’s body.

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The general rule is to use italics on book titles, album titles and publication names for a web document or when you are using a word processing tool. If it is something handwritten you should underline it instead of using italics.

Longer works are italicized while shorter works like song titles or an article from a magazine are put in quotes and are not italicized.

Here are some italics examples:

NBF Expands National Book Awards Eligibility Criteria

Striking Writers and Actors March Together on Hollywood Streets

Vice Media Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Oprah Selects The Covenant of Water as 101st Book Club Pick

Ed Sheeran Wins Copyright Lawsuit Over Marvin Gaye Song

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do you italicize movie titles in the title of an essay

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Do You Underline Movie Titles in Writing? Clear Rules

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Do You Underline Movie Titles in Writing? Clear Rules

Clear Rules for Underlining Movie Titles in Writing

Importance of properly formatting movie titles, when to underline movie titles in writing, exceptions to underlining movie titles, alternative formatting styles for movie titles, practical recommendations for writing movie titles, frequently asked questions, key takeaways.

When it comes to underlining movie titles in writing, it is essential to follow clear guidelines to ensure consistency and readability. Here are some handy rules to remember:

1. Titles of movies should be italicized, not underlined. Italicizing helps distinguish movie titles from regular text and emphasizes their importance.

2. If you are writing by hand or cannot use italics, you may underline movie titles instead. However, this practice is becoming less common in modern writing, as digital platforms and word processors make italics more accessible.

3. Always capitalize the first and last words of movie titles, as well as all important words within the title. Exceptions to this rule include articles, conjunctions, and prepositions unless they are the first or last word in the title.

4. Use quotation marks when referring to a movie within a movie title. For example, if you are discussing the film “The Dark Knight Rises” in your writing, write it within quotation marks to differentiate it from the main title.

Remembering these clear rules will not only elevate the professionalism of your writing but also make it easier for readers to distinguish movie titles and understand your content. So next time you’re writing about movies, keep these guidelines in mind to effectively convey your ideas.

Importance of Properly Formatting Movie Titles

Movie titles serve as a crucial element in the film industry, as they not only capture the essence of the story but also play a significant role in attracting audiences. Understanding the is essential, as it ensures consistency and professionalism throughout the industry.

One key reason for correctly formatting movie titles is to maintain clarity and ease of comprehension for viewers and readers alike. By adhering to proper formatting, it becomes effortless to distinguish a movie title from other elements such as character names, quotes, or citations, enhancing the overall readability of a text. Additionally, correct formatting allows for clear identification of movie titles, improving searchability and accessibility in online databases or search engines.

Properly formatting movie titles also conveys a sense of professionalism and respect to the filmmakers and everyone involved in the production process. When titles are consistently presented in a standardized format, it reflects a high level of attention to detail and quality. This attention to detail can also extend to promotional materials, such as posters or trailers. By ensuring movie titles are correctly and consistently formatted, filmmakers can create a cohesive visual and textual brand identity that resonates with potential viewers.

When to Underline Movie Titles in Writing

Knowing when to underline movie titles can be confusing, especially in a digital world where formatting rules constantly evolve. To ensure your writing is accurate and professional, here are a few guidelines to follow:

  • Underline movie titles in handwritten or typewritten work: In the past, when typewriters ruled, underlining was the standard way to indicate movie titles. If you’re writing something by hand or using a typewriter, continue to underline movie titles.
  • Italicize movie titles in digital and printed work: In today’s digital age, underlining has been largely replaced by italics when writing movie titles. Italicizing is the preferred style for most formal writing, including online articles, essays, and book reports. It helps to differentiate the movie titles and make them stand out.
  • Use quotation marks for movie titles in casual writing: In casual writing, such as text messages, social media posts , or informal emails, quotation marks can be used to enclose movie titles. This is a more relaxed style and can be handy when formatting options are limited.

Remember, consistency is key! Ensure that you use the same formatting style throughout your document, whether that be underlining, italics, or quotation marks. By adhering to these guidelines, you’ll effortlessly underline or italicize movie titles in your writing, showcasing your attention to detail and professionalism.

There are a few instances where underlining movie titles might not be necessary. One of these exceptions is when using italics for film titles in academic papers. In formal writing, italics are typically preferred over underlining for titles of movies, books, and other creative works. Using italics helps to distinguish the title from the rest of the text and maintain a professional appearance.

Another exception is when typing movie titles into social media platforms or online forums. Since the use of HTML formatting is often limited in these spaces, it is common to write movie titles in regular font without any special formatting. However, to help emphasize the title, you can opt for using quotation marks around the movie title. For instance, instead of underlining the movie title, you can write “I just watched ‘Casablanca’ last night and it was absolutely amazing!” This way, the title stands out and grabs the attention of the readers.

Overall, while underlining is a common practice for movie titles, it is important to understand the exceptions and adapt accordingly in different contexts like academic writing or online platforms where HTML formatting options may be limited. Italics or quotation marks can be used as alternatives to underlining, ensuring that movie titles are properly highlighted when needed.

Movie titles can be an artistic representation of the film itself, and alternative formatting styles can add an extra layer of creativity to the overall presentation. By experimenting with various formatting options, movie titles can become visually captivating and unique. Here are some alternative formatting styles that can breathe life into movie titles:

1. **ALL CAPS**: This formatting style, where every letter of the movie title is in uppercase, creates a bold and attention-grabbing effect. It adds a sense of grandeur and intensity to the title, making it perfect for action-packed films that want to make a powerful statement, such as “FURY” or “WAR OF THE WORLDS.”

2. **Typography Play**: Mixing various fonts and sizes within the movie title can create a visually striking impact. For example, using a bold and dramatic font for the main title and a contrasting, serif font for the subtitles can create an interesting composition. This technique allows the title to evoke different emotions and convey the essence of the film, making it suitable for genres like romance or fantasy, where the visuals play a significant role, as seen in movies like “ETERNAL LOVE” or “MAGICAL ENCOUNTERS.

When it comes to creating captivating movie titles that grab the attention of your audience, there are several practical recommendations to consider. These tips will not only help you make your movie titles more engaging but also increase the chances of attracting a wider audience:

  • Be concise: Keep your movie titles short and to the point. Remember, brevity is key! Audiences are more likely to remember and be intrigued by a title that is concise and impactful.
  • Create intrigue: Use words or phrases that pique curiosity and spark interest. Incorporating a sense of mystery or suspense can entice viewers to explore what your movie has to offer.
  • Consider the genre: Tailor your movie title to match the genre and style of your film. A title that accurately represents the tone and theme of your movie will attract the right audience and set proper expectations.
  • Avoid clichés: Stand out from the crowd by steering clear of overused tropes in movie titles. Instead, opt for originality and uniqueness to make your film shine.

Create visual impact: Utilize eye-catching typography, colors, and imagery if you are designing a poster or using the movie title in promotional material. The visual presentation of the title can greatly contribute to capturing attention and leaving a lasting impression.

Test it out: Before finalizing your movie title, seek feedback from others or conduct market research to gauge its effectiveness. Sometimes an outsider’s perspective can provide valuable insights and help refine your title for maximum impact.

Q: Do you underline movie titles when writing?

A: The rules regarding underlining movie titles in writing have evolved over time. Nowadays, it is generally recommended to use italics instead of underlining.

Q: Why is using italics preferred over underlining?

A: Using italics helps to visually emphasize movie titles, making them stand out from the surrounding text. It is a cleaner and more modern approach than underlining, which can appear cluttered and outdated.

Q: Can you provide an example of how to properly format a movie title in writing?

A: Absolutely! Let’s take the movie title “The Shawshank Redemption.” Instead of underlining it, we would simply italicize it, like this: *The Shawshank Redemption*.

Q: Are there any exceptions to this format?

A: Yes, there are a few exceptions. For instance, if you’re writing by hand and can’t use italics, underlining would be an acceptable alternative. Additionally, if you are writing for a publication that follows a specific style guide (such as APA or MLA), it’s important to conform to their guidelines.

Q: Do these rules apply to all types of writing?

A: While it is generally accepted to italicize movie titles in professional and academic writing, there can be some variations. For instance, if you are writing dialogue for a screenplay, it is common to use regular font and quotation marks for movie titles. Always consider the context and purpose of your writing, and adjust accordingly.

Q: What about television show titles or book titles?

A: Just like movie titles, it is recommended to use italics when writing television show titles and book titles as well. The same rules apply. However, keep in mind that different style guides may have specific requirements, so always check the guidelines if you are unsure.

Q: Is there anything else I should keep in mind regarding movie titles in writing?

A: One crucial thing to remember is to be consistent. Once you choose your preferred format (italics or underlining), stick with it throughout your writing. Consistency ensures a polished and professional appearance. Also, if you are referring to multiple movie titles in the same piece of writing, be sure to italicize or underline all of them consistently.

Q: Can I use quotation marks instead of italics or underlining when writing movie titles?

A: When it comes to movie titles, using quotation marks is generally discouraged. Quotation marks are typically reserved for shorter works like song titles or individual episodes within a television show. To give movie titles the appropriate visual emphasis, it is best to use italics or underlining if necessary.

Remember, rules for writing can vary, so be sure to consult the appropriate style guide or publication guidelines if you have specific requirements to follow.

In conclusion, it is essential to follow the standardized rules regarding underlining movie titles in writing. Consistency is key to ensure clarity in your work.

When Writing an Essay: Underline the Title for Clarity

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How do I style the title of a trilogy or informally titled series?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

When a trilogy is published in one volume with a title of its own, the course of action is clear: italicize the title of the trilogy as if it were a work. Naguib Mahfouz’s The Cairo Trilogy , containing the novels Palace Walk , Palace of Desire , and Sugar Street , is an example. So are Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Earthsea Trilogy and Pat Barker’s The Regeneration Trilogy . Margaret Atwood’s The MaddAddam Trilogy is another but different example: its three novels— Oryx and Crake , The Year of the Flood , and MaddAddam —are published not in one volume but as a boxed set (Anchor, 2014).

The question of how to style a trilogy or series of books or movies that has no official title is less clear. For example, would it be the Star Wars movies or the  Star Wars movies? Your decision will depend on what makes sense for the particular body of work.  Star Wars is the name of the first movie released in the series. Since the title is foundational, italicize the series name:  Star Wars movies. If you are writing about the Nancy Drew books, style the series name roman, since “Nancy Drew” does not appear in the titles of the individual books. If you are discussing the Harry Potter books, you could style the series name either way—Harry Potter books or Harry Potter  books—since the series is associated with the first title in the series ( Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone )   and also with the character’s name.

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  1. Are Movies Italicized?

    When it comes to movie titles in essays, the general rule is to italicize them. This will help to differentiate them from the rest of the text, making your paper more organized and readable. For example: "The themes of hope and redemption are central to The Shawshank Redemption ." But the final answer, of course, will depend on your style guide.

  2. MLA Titles

    Revised on October 24, 2022. In MLA style, source titles appear either in italics or in quotation marks: Italicize the title of a self-contained whole (e.g. a book, film, journal, or website). Use quotation marks around the title if it is part of a larger work (e.g. a chapter of a book, an article in a journal, or a page on a website).

  3. When to Use Quotation Marks for Titles

    The general rule is to use quotation marks for titles of short works such as articles, poems, songs, essays, or short stories. By contrast, use italics for larger works such as books, movies, and the names of periodicals. We provide a complete list below. When to use italics or quotation marks for titles

  4. Do You Italicize Movie Titles? Become An Essay Pro

    The short answer is that movie titles are always italicized. Read on to find out more about italics, and other important formatting tools in order to become an essay pro. By the end of this article, you'll know exactly when to use italics and quotations whenever you're writing about movies and TV shows. What Is Considered A Movie?

  5. Are Movie Titles Italicized? (APA, AP, MLA, and Chicago)

    When including a movie title in an essay or paper that follows APA, MLA, or Chicago, the title should always be in italics because it is a stand-alone piece of work. However, when citing a movie in AP Style, the title should be in quotation marks rather than italics.

  6. Quotation Marks or Italics In Titles?

    | Candace Osmond | Punctuation You've probably asked yourself while writing an essay: Should I italicize a play title or enclose it in quotation marks? What about a song title? Don't feel guilty for not knowing the rules for quotation marks or italics in titles. Even the most experienced writers have the same problem.

  7. How to Format Movie Titles in Writing: A Comprehensive Guide

    1. Capitalization and punctuation: - In general, capitalize the principal words of the movie title. - Use italics to format movie titles, unless you're writing by hand or on a platform without italics capability. - Don't place a period at the end of a movie title, even when the title itself is a complete sentence. 2. Styling specific movie types:

  8. Movie Titles Examples & Style Guide

    According to most style guides, a movie title must be italicized. If the essay is written by hand, the title must be underlined. Are movie titles capitalized? Movie titles, as well as...

  9. Titles in Essays (Italics or Quote Marks?)

    26th February 2018 Titles in Essays (Italics or Quote Marks?) Formatting your own essay title is easy (just bung a Heading style on it). Unfortunately, the rules about formatting the titles of existing published works (e.g. a textbook or an article from a journal) are more complicated.

  10. Formatting Titles in Essays (Italics or Quote Marks ...

    8th May 2018 Formatting Titles in Essays Handling your own headings is one thing, but how should you write the titles of other works? You need to mark them out somehow, and you have two standard options: italics or quote marks.

  11. When to Use Italics, With Examples

    In writing, italics are used to set apart certain words, like the bold and underline typefaces. However, italics have taken on a more serious role in academic writing as a way to distinguish the titles and names of certain works, such as books and plays, from other types of works, such as articles and poems (which use quotation marks instead).

  12. How to Write a Movie Title in an Essay or Article

    Should you use italics? Or quotation marks? Or maybe both? Or neither… The first thing to note is that the rules will be different depending on whether you're writing an article or an essay. In this guide, we'll explain how to write one in an essay or article so that your writing looks professional and polished.

  13. Use of italics

    For example, if an italic symbol appears in a table title (which is also italicized), use standard type for the symbol. Demographic Characteristics of Study Participants (N = 250) From the APA Style blog Last updated: July 2022 Date created: September 2019

  14. How to Write a Movie Title in an Essay

    For APA style (1): Uppercase all four-letter words and above Uppercase the first and the last word of a movie title, even if they are short articles (a, the) or pronouns (in, at, etc.) Italicize the entire name Bonus: APA Citation for the Bible For MLA format (2): Uppercase movie titles and subtitles

  15. Are Essay Titles Italicized? A Guide for APA and MLA Titles

    1. When Words Need to Be Emphasized Within the Title As we have noted, italics are used to set a word or phrase apart from other text within the title. When the word or phrase is set apart, it means that the reader will easily notice it and even prioritize its meaning compared to the rest of the words.

  16. Your Guide to Writing a Movie Title in Essay

    Italicization is another vital component to pay attention to when including a movie title in essay. You must italicize titles from self-contained and independent sources. Remember to italicize every book, play, film, periodical, database, and website title. Quotation Marks Put a title in quotation marks if its source is a part of a larger work.

  17. What Titles Get Italicized When Writing? The Full Guide

    Shorter Works Formatting Guidelines: Style Manuals to the Rescue for subheadings, and for further subdivisions help you achieve this effortlessly. 3. Emphasize important details: Utilize the power of bold to emphasize key terms or phrases. This will catch your reader's attention and help them focus on crucial information within your text. 4.

  18. When Writing a Movie Title: To Underline or Not? Know the Rules

    Here are some expert tips and recommendations to help you ace the formatting of movie titles: 1. Use italics for movie titles: When mentioning the title of a movie, it is customary to use italics to set it apart from the rest of your text. This not only helps in creating visual emphasis but also follows the standard convention in professional ...

  19. Italics and Titles: When to Italicize

    The general rule is to use italics on book titles, album titles and publication names for a web document or when you are using a word processing tool. If it is something handwritten you should underline it instead of using italics.

  20. Italics and Underlining: Titles of Works

    Yes, book titles are italicized. Longer works like books, movies, and music albums use italics in their titles, but shorter works like articles, poems, and songs use quotation marks. Different style guides have different standards for italics and quotation marks, so you'll need to learn which to use.

  21. Do You Underline Movie Titles in Writing? Clear Rules

    1. Titles of movies should be italicized, not underlined. Italicizing helps distinguish movie titles from regular text and emphasizes their importance. 2. If you are writing by hand or cannot use italics, you may underline movie titles instead. However, this practice is becoming less common in modern writing, as digital platforms and word ...

  22. How do I style the title of a trilogy or informally titled series?

    Since the title is foundational, italicize the series name: Star Wars movies. If you are writing about the Nancy Drew books, style the series name roman, since "Nancy Drew" does not appear in the titles of the individual books. If you are discussing the Harry Potter books, you could style the series name either way—Harry Potter books or ...