Language Center Program, Writing Tips

Volunteer State Community College | Division of Humanities

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Underlining and italicizing titles are "equivalent" formatting options. In the past, most writers did not have the ability to create italicized type, so underlining was used as a substitute. Some instructors prefer italics, in part because underlining is used to indicate a hyperlink in Web documents. So be sure to ask your instructor what he/she prefers. Or if that is not possible, choose one formatting option and use it consistently.

FYI: For a list of what titles should be underlined or italicized, be sure and consult a grammar handbook.