Is The New York Times Underlined Or Italicized

Navigating the world of style guides can feel like traversing a minefield. One common point of confusion centers on newspaper titles: Is The New York Times Underlined Or Italicized? The answer, thankfully, is relatively straightforward, and understanding the reasoning behind it can help you apply similar rules to other publications.

Deciphering the Style Guide Dilemma Is The New York Times Underlined Or Italicized

The consensus among major style guides, including the Associated Press (AP) style, which is widely used in journalism, and the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), favored in book publishing, is that The New York Times should be italicized. This rule stems from the general principle that titles of newspapers, magazines, journals, and other periodicals are italicized. This is the prevailing standard for published works. Think of it this way: you would italicize the title of a book, like *To Kill a Mockingbird*, and the same logic applies to newspapers.

Why italics and not underlining? The answer lies in the history of typesetting. Before computers, typewriters were the primary means of producing written documents. Typewriters typically lacked the ability to produce italicized text. To indicate that a word or phrase should be italicized, it was underlined. With the advent of computers and sophisticated word processing programs, italics became readily available. As a result, underlining has largely been replaced by italics in modern writing for emphasis and for denoting titles of works. Consider these examples:

• The Wall Street Journal
• The Washington Post
• Los Angeles Times

However, it’s important to note that there are exceptions and nuances. In handwritten documents, underlining might still be used to indicate italics, especially if the writer doesn’t have the means to produce italics. Additionally, specific publications or organizations might have their own style guides that deviate from the general rule. In academic writing, always consult the style guide specified by your instructor or the journal to which you are submitting your work. Here’s a quick summary table:

For a more in-depth understanding of style guidelines, it’s always best to consult a reputable source like the Associated Press Stylebook or The Chicago Manual of Style. Check those out to solidify your understanding!