Is it ever OK to use italics?

Use italics for the names of legal cases, some vehicles, and certain titles in art and writing. The italic font is also used to emphasize particular words or phrases, including foreign words and scientific names.

1. Is it okay to use italics in an essay?
2. Should I use italics?
3. Is it okay to italicize words in a research paper?
4. What should not be italicized?

Is it okay to use italics in an essay?

Italics for emphasis

For example, place important words or phrases at the beginning or end of a sentence instead of in the middle, or break long sentences into several shorter sentences. However, do use italics if emphasis might otherwise be lost or the material might be misread, as in the following example.

Should I use italics?

What is the purpose of italics? Italics are used primarily to denote titles and names of particular works or objects in order to allow that title or name to stand out from the surrounding sentence. Italics may also be used for emphasis in writing, but only rarely.

Is it okay to italicize words in a research paper?

Introducing a term

When a new term is introduced in a scientific essay, it is common practice to write the word in italics upon first use.

What should not be italicized?

Don't italicize the titles of songs, chapters in books, or poems. Instead, use quotations. For example, you could write: On the Drake album Views, I really like the song “Fire & Desire.” Don't italicize religious texts – i.e., the Torah or the Koran.