![]() You could give that sentence it's own paragraph or make that idea the culmination of the scene. If you want a particular point to stand out, arrange the surrounding text to emphasize that point. Don't use italics as an excuse for lazy writing in this instance. However, if the reader can tell which word is emphasized, italics can still be used, but they are not necessary. For example: “But, Mom, I don’t want to!” If a reader can’t tell which word is emphasized through the context and order of the sentence, italics can help clear this up. Often, an author italicizes words they want to stress or make stand out. The most difficult to pin down uses of italics are emphasis and style. Here are some examples of italics used to show a word or phrase is from a foreign language: Depending on the author’s intended audience, they should make sure the gist of the foreign word or phrase can be understood through context or isn’t vital information. Authors often use other languages to add the flavor of a foreign country, show a character’s heritage or multilingual abilities, or express something that doesn’t translate well into English. If an author wants to use a word or phrase from another language that does not appear in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word or phrase should be in italics. ![]() Either way, signaling which phrases are thoughts and which are exposition adds an extra layer of clarity to the story. I have seen symbols like brackets and colons used instead of italics when characters are communicating telepathically because these symbols are easier on a reader’s eyes. I don’t know what to do! or I don’t know what to do!Īs a reader, writer, and editor, I prefer the certainty of italics, but I also acknowledge whether or not italics are used for thoughts is up to the author. I looked back and forth between the mob waiting for the elevator and the stairs leading to the eighth floor. Kevin watched the two old men stand up and punch each other across the chess board. Here are some examples of thoughts in and out of italics: Because the whole story is being told from a specific character’s point of view, readers infer that certain lines are thoughts of the character. First person stories, however, do not always need them. When an author wishes to visually differentiate between thoughts and dialogue, thoughts are often put in italics, especially when the phrase passing through the character’s head is not preceded or followed by the phrase “so-and-so thought.” In second and third person, italics are usually necessary (without the “so-and-so thought”).
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