Italics vs. Quotation Marks: The Eternal Struggle of How to Write a Book Title in an Essay

[Denver]

Okay, I need to settle this once and for all, because my anxiety is through the roof! I'm putting the finishing touches on my final literature essay, and I've stared at my screen for so long that words don't even look real anymore. My biggest nemesis? Knowing exactly how to write a book title in an essay correctly.

I know the general rule: long works like novels get italics (Moby Dick), and shorter works like chapters or poems get quotation marks ("The Raven"). But then my professor throws in a curveball! We're analyzing a critical edition that includes the novel Frankenstein but also has a famous introduction by another author. Do I italicize the introduction title? Put it in quotes? What about a series of books, like The Lord of the Rings trilogy? Does the rule change if I'm citing a digital version or an audiobook?

I've already lost 10 points on a previous paper for mixing up my formatting, and I refuse to let that happen again. I've got my MLA handbook open, my APA style guide bookmarked, but I'm still second-guessing myself. Does anyone have a foolproof checklist or a mnemonic device they use? I need to get this right so I can finally hit "submit" and breathe again! Help a stressed perfectionist out!

 

[Jackman]

The basic rule is: big things get italics, small things get quotes. Frankenstein (novel) = italics. "Introduction" (part of a book) = quotes. For The Lord of the Rings trilogy, italicize the whole series title. Digital/audiobook? Same rules apply. You've got this!