in an essay do you italicize movie titles

Are Movie Titles Italicized? (APA, AP, MLA, and Chicago)

Many people are unsure of the correct format to follow when it comes to how to quote a movie title in a piece of academic writing. Therefore, this page explains the different ways to correctly cite a movie title in an essay or formal paper and provides examples of citations in context.

Are Movie Titles Italicized?

When including a movie title in an essay or paper that follows APA, MLA, or Chicago, the title should always be in italics because it is a stand-alone piece of work. However, when citing a movie in AP Style, the title should be in quotation marks rather than italics.

When including a movie title as an in-text reference or on the reference list, you should always use italics if you are following APA, MLA, or Chicago styles.

In AP Style, italics are not used for anything; instead, you should place any movie, play, or book titles in quotation marks rather than italics.

Here are some examples of some citations for movies in the four styles:

APA/ Chicago styles

• The movie Fight Club (Fincher, 99) is a critique of the materialistic world in which we currently live.
• The Godfather (Coppola, 74) is the film that put Francis Ford Coppola on the map as a director.
• The closing scenes of the Godfather are praised for the artistic merit of the content. ( Godfather , 2:20:00 – 2:23:45)
• The movie “Fight Club” is regarded as one of Edward Norton`s finest performances.
• Fincher, D, (Director). (1999). Fight Club {Film}, Propaganda Films. “Netflix” App. https://www.netflix.com/mx-en/title/26004747
• Fight Club. Directed by David Fincher, Propaganda Films, 1999. https://www.netflix.com/mx-en/title/26004747
• Fincher, David, Director. 1999. Fight Club . Propaganda Films. 139 minutes. https://www.netflix.com/mx-en/title/26004747

Are Movie Titles Quoted?

In APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, it is not necessary to use quotation marks for movie titles, and they should instead be placed in italics. However, for AP Style, where italics are rare, it is necessary to use quotation marks around the title of the movie.

Are Movie Titles Italicized in APA Style?

When citing a movie or film in APA Style, you should use italics for in-text citations and on the reference list because a movie is a stand-alone work.

Here are some examples of how to include a movie in an APA Style document:

As an in-text citation, you just need to include the director, year, and, if relevant, the part of the movie you are referencing.

For example:

• Forrest Gump highlighted many important events in US history, such as the Vietnam war and the civil rights movement (Zemeckis, 94).

On the reference page, the listing should look like this:

• Zemeckis, R, (Director). (1994). Forrest Gump {Film}. Paramount Pictures.

Also, if you watched the film on a streaming site, you need to add that too:

• Zemeckis, R, (Director). (1994). Forrest Gump {Film}. Paramount Pictures. https://www.netflix.com/mx/title/60000724

Are Movie Titles Italicized in AP Style?

In AP Style, it is not common to use italics for anything, including movie titles. Instead of italics, movie titles should be placed inside quotation marks when citing a movie name in-text. Furthermore, AP Style documents do not usually contain a reference list, so you do not need to list the reference at the end of the paper.

Here are some examples of how a movie title looks in AP Style:

• “Apocolypse Now” is the highest-grossing movie about the Vietnam war.
• Keanu Reeves returns in the 2021 film based on the classic film trilogy “The Matrix.”

Are Movie Titles Italicized in Chicago Style?

When writing an essay in Chicago Style, it is necessary to use italics when quoting films for both in-text citations and on the reference list because films are an example of a stand-alone piece of work, similar to a book, play, or song.

Here are some examples of how to include a movie in Chicago Style formatting:

• The movie Parasite was the first film for which a foreigner won the Oscar for best director (Bong, 19).
• Bong, Joon-ho, director. Parasite . 2019, Curzon Artificial Eye. 2 hrs, 11 mins. Blu-ray Disc, 1080p HD.

(If you watched the film on a streaming site, then you should list that instead of the DVD information).

Are Movie Titles Italicized in MLA Style?

When citing a movie in an MLA piece of writing, you should always use italics for the movie title for both in-text citations and on the reference list.

For an in-text citation, it is common to just use the name of the movie with the time frame of the point you are referring to, if applicable; if not, you can simply use the movie title with no time reference.

Here are some examples of how movie references in MLA Style would look:

• The movie Parasite is Joon-ho Bong`s most successful film to date (Parasite )
• The closing scenes of Parasite left viewers in shock at the brutality portrayed by the characters ( Parasite, 2:00:00 – 2:10:00).

This is how the listing should appear on the reference list:

• Parasite . Directed by Joon-ho Bong, CJ Entertainment, 2019. https://www.netflix.com/mx-en/title/81221938

Final Thoughts

When citing a movie in an essay or piece of formal writing that follows APA, MLA, or Chicago styles, you should always use italics for the title. However, for AP Style, you should use quotation marks rather than italics for the titles of movies.

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

• Are Video Game Titles Italicized? (APA, AP, and Chicago)
• Are Magazine Titles Italicized? (APA, AP, and Chicago)
• Are Podcast Titles Italicized? (APA, AP, MLA, and Chicago)
• Are TV Shows Italicized? (APA, AP, MLA, and Chicago)

• About Our Blog
• Essay Writing Service

How to Format Movie Titles in Academic Writings

• by Lesley V.
• October 26, 2023

How to write a movie title in an essay?

Students, especially those in Arts, often refer to films or movie series in their papers. The formatting rules here are easy to remember. But:

They vary a bit, depending on the citation style you use.

In this post, I’ve gathered the guidelines for citing movie titles in five primary formats. Examples included, for you to compare and remember everything better.

How to Write Movie Titles in Essays

Are movie titles italicized?

It’s the most frequent question students ask when looking for this information online. Indeed, most citation formats prescribe italicizing. Other general rules include:

• Uppercase for subtitles
• Extra short movie names (like “It” ) may also go in quotations
• When using quotation marks (AP style), put punctuation inside them

Below are the details on how to format movie titles in essays and reference lists correctly.

Writing Film Titles in Different Citation Styles

For APA style (1):

• Uppercase all four-letter words and above
• Uppercase the first and the last word of a movie title, even if they are short articles (a, the) or pronouns (in, at, etc.)
• Italicize the entire name

For MLA format (2):

• Uppercase movie titles and subtitles
• Use capital letters for both parts of hyphenated words
• No uppercase for articles (a, the) and short conjunctions within the movie name
• Italicize the entire movie title

For Chicago style:

• Uppercase all main words
• Lowercase short conjunctions (below four letters) within the movie title
• Uppercase prepositions, regardless of their length

For AP citation style:

• Lowercase articles (a, the) and prepositions/conjunctions that are shorter than four letters
• Uppercase articles and prepositions/conjunctions in the beginning/end of the title
• No italics; put movie names in quotation marks

For Harvard style:

• Uppercase all primary words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.)
• Lowercase articles and prepositions/conjunctions (below four letters) within the movie title

How to Capitalize Movies in Papers

When writing a film name in a sentence, capitalize every word except for:

• Articles (a, an, the) within the movie title
• Short (below four letters) prepositions and conjunctions within the title

If a movie name begins with the above, use uppercase. Also, write long prepositions/conjunctions (moreover, although, etc.) with a capital letter. For example:

Italics vs. Quotations vs. Underlines

Most citation styles, except AP, prescribe italicization for movies and film series titles. When writing in AP, use quotation marks.

Quotes are also possible to use if you mention super short movie names like “It” or “M.” You italicize them in APA, MLA, or Chicago.

Underlines are for handwritten essays. When written by hand, you can’t italicize, huh? Use underlining instead to highlight a movie title somehow.

How to Format Punctuation in Movie Titles

If punctuation is a part of a film name, place it inside quotation marks or italicize it.

For example:

Writing Movie Titles in Reference Lists

Do You Italicize Movie Titles?

Here they go, the rules on formatting movie titles in essays. Now that you know how to write a movie title in an essay properly, the only detail remains:

Check the formatting guidelines before writing. What citation style does an educator or editor ask you to follow? If none assigned, choose one and stick to it for consistency.

References:

• https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/index.html  
• https://lib.westfield.ma.edu/c.php?g=354010&p=2388441

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Thursday, February 23: The Clark Library is closed today.

APA Style (7th Edition) Citation Guide: Films/Videos/TV Shows

• Introduction
• Journal Articles
• Magazine/Newspaper Articles
• Books & Ebooks
• Government & Legal Documents
• Biblical Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Films/Videos/TV Shows
• How to Cite: Other
• Additional Help

Table of Contents

Film or Video

Streaming Video From a Website (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.)

Streaming video from a subscription media website (netflix, amazon prime, hulu, etc.), streaming video from a library database, television series episode.

Note: All citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent in a Reference List.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

This Microsoft support page contains instructions about how to format a hanging indent in a paper.

Who to Credit - Film or Video

The director should be credited as the author of a film. If the director is unknown, someone in a similar role, such as a producer and/or writer, can be credited. To clarify what role the person has in the production, their job title such as Director is put after their name in round brackets if the job title is known.

Who to Credit - Streaming Video from a Website

For videos from websites such as YouTube or Vimeo, credit the person who posted the content. If a real name is provided, use that followed by the person's user name in square brackets. If the real name of the person who posted the content is not known, just use their user name without brackets.

Note : It is not necessary to specify how you watched a film or video (e.g. motion picture, DVD, streaming online). 

In the Body of a Paper

Books, Journals, Reports, Webpages, etc.: When you refer to titles of a “stand-alone work,” as the APA calls them on their APA Style website, such as books, journals, reports, and webpages, you should italicize them. Capitalize words as you would for an article title in a reference, e.g., In the book Crying in H Mart: A memoir , author Michelle Zauner (2021) describes her biracial origin and its impact on her identity.

Article or Chapter: When you refer to the title of a part of a work, such as an article or a chapter, put quotation marks around the title and capitalize it as you would for a journal title in a reference, e.g., In the chapter “Where’s the Wine,” Zauner (2021) describes how she decided to become a musician.

The APA Sample Paper below has more information about formatting your paper.

• APA 7th ed. Sample Paper

Film or Video

When the Director, Producer and/or Writer is known:

Director/Producer/Writer's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Job Title). (Year film was produced).  Title of film: Subtitle if any  [Film]. Production Company.

Note: If not produced in the United States, list the city name and the country.

Hallam, J. (Producer, Writer), & Lam, K. (Producer, Director). (2010).  Staff relations in healthcare: Working as a team  [Film]. Insight Media.

• When you have more than one producer, writer and/or writer to credit, separate the names with a comma and put an ampersand (&) before the last person's last name.
• Serling, R. (Executive Producer). (1959–1964). The twilight zone [TV series]. Cayuga Productions; CBS Productions.

In-Text Paraphrase:

(Producer/Director/Writer's Last Name, Year)

Example: (Hallam & Lam, 2010)

Note: This example has two people to credit, so both last names are given)

In-Text Quote:

(Producer/Director/Writer's Last Name, Year, Timestamp)

Example: (Hallam & Lam, 2010, 2:30)

Note: Because the timestamp serves the same purpose in a video as page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, you include it in the in-text citation. Include only the beginning timestamp.

When the Director, Producer and/or Writer is not known:  Start the citation with the film title.

Title of film: Subtitle if any  [Film]. (Year film was produced). Production Company if Known.

Era of viruses  [Film]. (2006). Films for the Humanities and Sciences.

( Title of Film , Year)

Example: ( Era of Viruses , 2006)

Note: Italicize the title of the film and capitalize the words for the in-text citation.

( Title of Film , Year, Timestamp)

Example: ( Era of Viruses , 2006, 40:00)

When the Poster's Name is known: 

Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. of person who posted the video if known. [User name that posted the video]. (Year video was posted, Month Day).  Title of video  [Video]. Website Name. URL

Note: According to APA, for citing purposes the person who posted the video is credited as the author.

Nye, B. [TheRealBillNye]. (2009, April 8).  Bill Nye the science guy on energy  [Video]. YouTube. http://youtu.be/0ASLLiuejAo

(Creator's Last Name, Year)

Example: (Nye, 2009)

(Creator's Last Name, Year, timestamp)

Example: (Nye, 2009, 0:55)

When the Poster's Name is not known: 

User name that posted the video. (Year video was posted, Month Day).  Title of video  [Video]. Website Name. URL

All Aces Media. (2012, January 19).  Often awesome the series  [Video]. Vimeo. http://vimeo.com/35311255

(User name, Year)

Example: (All Aces Media, 2012)

Example: (All Aces Media, 2012, timestamp)

Producer's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Producer). (Year of Publication).  Title of Video  [Video]. Website Name. URL

Note:  When you have one producer (Producer) is used after the producer's name. If you have more than one producer use (Producers) instead.

Allen, T., et. al. (Producers). (2017). The story of Diana  [Video]. Netflix. http://www.netflix.com

(Producer Last name, Year)

Example: (Allen, et. al., 2017)

(Producer Last name, Year, Timestamp)

Example: (Allen, et. al., 2017, 6:45)

Name of Company/Organization that Provided Content or Creator's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. if known. (Year video was created, Month Day if known).  Title of video  [Video]. Database Name.

National Film Board of Canada. (2014).  Making movie history: The women  [Video]. NFB Campus. 

(Name of Company/Organization, Year)

Example: (National Film Board of Canada, 2014)

(Name of Company/Organization, Year, Timestamp)

Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Job Title) if known. (Year the episode was originally aired). Title of episode (Season No., Episode No.) [TV series episode]. In Executive Producer's First Initial. Last Name (Executive producer) if known,  Television series name . Production Company.

Note: For other countries, list the city name and the country.

Young, R. (Writer, Producer, Director). (2010). Flying cheap (Season 2010, Episode 2) [TV series episode]. In  Frontline . American University School of Communication's Investigative Reporting Workshop.

(Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, Year)

Example: (Young, 2010)

(Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, Year, Timestamp)

Example: (Young, 2010, 15:38)

Television Series Episode Viewed on a Subscription Media Website 

Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Job Title) if known. (Year the episode was originally aired). Title of episode (Season No., Episode No.) [TV series episode]. In Executive Producer's First Initial. Last Name (Executive producer) if known,  Television series name . Streaming Video Site. URL

Attenborough, D. (Writer). (2001). Ocean world (Season 1, Episode 1) [TV series episode]. In A. Fothergill (Executive producer),  Blue planet: A natural history of the oceans . Netflix. http://www.netflix.com

Example: (Attenborough, 2001)

 (Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, Year, Timestamp)

Example: (Attenborough, 2001, 10:12)

• << Previous: Secondary Sources
• Next: How to Cite: Other >>
• Last Updated: Sep 20, 2024 5:06 PM
• URL: https://libguides.up.edu/apa

Movie Title in Essays: How to Write Them in Text

Do you italicize movie titles?

Students ask this question for essay writing and referring to cinematography works. Formatting rules are more or less universal here, so they’ll be easy to remember.

In this blog post, you’ll learn how to write movie titles for various citation styles.

Are Movies Italicized?

Yes, please use italics for a movie title in essays (1) of all citation formats except for AP. When writing in AP, use quotations.

Another exception is the movie series. When writing the name of the series episode, put it in quotation marks.

 Example: 

•  In “The One with the Fake Monica” of  Friends , Ross tries to get his monkey Marcel into the zoo. 

“The One with the Fake Monica” is the episode’s name, so we put it in quotation marks. Friends is the name of the whole series, so we italicize it. If we wrote this sentence in AP style, “Friends” would be in double quotations, too.

Keep reading for more details.

How to Write a Movie Title in an Essay

Let’s find out how to put a movie title in an essay. To do that properly, consider the citation style you’ll use for the paper.

Differences are minor but still worthy to know and follow. Here they go:

Capitalization

All main parts of speech start with a capital letter in movie names. Exceptions:

• Determiners like definite and indefinite articles (the, a, an)
• Short prepositions and conjunctions (those shorter than four letters): of, on, in, and, etc.

Use uppercase for the above only if a movie title begins or ends with the article or short prepositions. Subtitles start with a capital letter, too.

• The First Slam Dunk; A Thousand and One; The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
• Huesera: The Bone Woman; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem; John Wick: Chapter 4

APA, MLA, and Chicago Styles for Movie Titles

Need more? Check:

How to Write Book Titles in Essays How to Cite a Movie in APA Format

Italics vs. Double Quotations

The AP style is the one prescribing quotation marks, not italics for movie names. When writing in AP, format films like this:

• “Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend”
• “On the Line”
• “The School for Good and Evil”

Underlining?

Underline movie titles in papers only when writing them by hand. Since you can’t italicize your handwriting, it will help you highlight film names. Like this:

Punctuation

If a movie name includes punctuation, italicize or put it inside quotation marks.

• Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
• “Wham!” (AP style)
• Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret
• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Citing Movie Titles in References

How Do You Write a Movie Title in an Essay?

Now you know how to write a title of a movie in an essay. Why not take your favorite film and craft a story about it? The best way to remember rules is to practice them, agree?

Follow the guidelines, stick to the citation style — and you’ll write titles correctly.

References:

• https://nau.edu/writing-style-guide/treatment-of-titles/  
• Essay samples
• Essay writing
• Writing tips

Recent Posts

• Writing the “Why Should Abortion Be Made Legal” Essay: Sample and Tips
• 3 Examples of Enduring Issue Essays to Write Yours Like a Pro
• Writing Essay on Friendship: 3 Samples to Get Inspired
• How to Structure a Leadership Essay (Samples to Consider)
• What Is Nursing Essay, and How to Write It Like a Pro

How to Write a Movie Title in an Essay or Article

When you're writing a paper or article in school or at work, you may be in a situation where you need to write a movie title in your writing. But how should you format them? Should you use italics? Or quotation marks? Or maybe both? Or neither…

The first thing to note is that the rules will be different depending on whether you’re writing an article or an essay. In this guide, we'll explain how to write one in an essay or article so that your writing looks professional and polished. Refer to the relevant section, depending on the piece you are creating. 

The main things to know are:

• If you are writing a movie title in an article, the format you use is up to you (or the company you work for). Pick a format and stick to it.
• If you are writing a movie title in an essay, then you should follow your university's or employer's referencing style guidelines. 

Read on for suggestions of different formats for articles, and more in-depth guidance around different university referencing styles.

How to Write a Movie Title in an Article 

Let's begin by exploring why you need a specific format, and examining some key principles and rules around writing a movie title in an article.

Why You Need a Specific Format 

So picture this. You’re writing an article and want to refer to a particular movie - perhaps to illustrate a point, or maybe you’re critiquing it. But you’re unsure how to format it. You don’t want to be marked down for formatting it incorrectly, so you consider leaving it out to avoid the trouble. Not on our watch!

But hold on a sec! Why should you even worry about this? Why do movie titles need to be formatted correctly anyway? Well, it’s simple really. If you don’t differentiate the title from the rest of the text, your readers might not understand you’re referring to a movie title. Imagine, for instance, that you wrote:

I finally got around to watching three billboards outside ebbing missouri.

Can we agree this sentence doesn’t make any sense? With this punctuation (i.e. none) your reader may well believe that you headed out into the night and found a couple of billboards to look at for some time. 

So do you see why it’s important to have some kind of format for writing movie titles? 

Key Principles and Rules

Now here’s the tricky bit: with articles, there’s no hard and fast rule on how to format a movie title in your writing. There are many different options and any of them would be acceptable to use in an article you’re going to publish online or physically. 

So what to do?

Our first advice is to check in with your editor/head of copywriting / your point of reference at the company you work at. They will most likely have a specific format they like to use and will be able to share that with you.

That’s if you are writing for a company.

If you’re self-publishing, say, for example, on your website or Medium.com, then you’re the boss, friend. The conventions you use are completely up to you. 

But here are a few key principles and rules:

• Common conventions are to use italics or quotations marks
• Choose one format and stick with it - not only throughout the article but in everything you write
• Keep an eye out for the correct spelling of the movie. For example, don’t forget the comma in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. 
• Title case is a great way to further demarcate the movie title from the rest of the text to make it abundantly clear that it’s a movie title.

How to Write a Movie Title in an Essay 

Now let's turn our attention towards writing a movie title in an essay.

New scenario. You’re writing an essay for your college or university course. Perhaps you’re using the movie as an example, or maybe you’re critiquing it.

But you don’t want to be marked down for getting it wrong, so you consider avoiding mentioning it altogether. But that would be a shame! Let us help you. 

Here are some general rules to get you started:

• Follow the rules of your school’s academic writing style (APA, MLA, AP, or Chicago.)
• Use title case
• Use italics or quotation marks (depending on the writing style)

Academic Referencing Styles

There are different academic referencing/writing styles in the English language, and these vary depending on the education establishment. Different styles have different rules that govern the way that you might write, punctuate and cite within your essay.

The four most common styles are Associated Press (AP), Chicago, American Psychological Association (APA), and Modern Language Association (MLA).

Of course, there are many more than just four in existence, but these are the prevalent ones. 

But why are there so many different writing styles, we hear you ask? Quite simply, this is to cater to different fields. For instance, the scientific sector places a lot of importance on using recent research, hence the APA style places the date before anything. Humanities tend to use the MLA style which places the author's name first. 

Write a Movie Title in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles

Luckily, the APA, MLA, and Chicago styles all use the same format for movie titles, so it’ll be easy to remember.

These styles all require that you place the movie title in italics. Here are some examples:

• Saving Private Ryan
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 

Do not use any quotation marks! This is not necessary and will be considered incorrect.

You’ll also notice that the title is written in the title case. This means you capitalize certain words in the title. More on that in the next section.

Write a Movie Title in AP style

The AP style is the exception here since it does not use italics to format movie titles. Instead, you’re required to use quotation marks. Let’s use the same examples as above, to make the difference clear:

• “Kill Bill”
• “Saving Private Ryan”
• “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”

Again, here, remember to use title case. 

Write a Movie Title in Title Case

Using title case means that you capitalize certain words in the title. But depending on the writing style you’re using, there are different rules on which words need capitalizing and which ones don't. Mostly, they disagree on whether or not to capitalize minor words.

Read on to find out the rules for each style, to ensure you’re writing it correctly. 

Note that if you’re writing an article, this will again depend on the rules that the company you work for is using, or if you’re writing for your own business, then you can make your own rules. Remember to pick a structure and stick to it. Consistency is key!

• Capitalize the major words.
• Lowercase the articles the, a, and an.
• Capitalize the ‘to’ in an infinitive (e.g., I Want To Eat Cake)
• Capitalize the first and last words (overrides other rules)
• Capitalize all words of four letters or more (overrides other rules)
• Lowercase the second word after a hyphenated prefix

Chicago Style

• Lowercase articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions
• Lowercase the second part of Latin species names.
• Lowercase articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions.
• Do NOT capitalize ‘to’ in infinitives (e.g., I Want to Eat Cake).

As you can see, all four styles share some common rules but are different in certain small details. 

Incorrect ways to write a movie title

Here are some examples of incorrect ways to write a movie title:

• Saving private ryan
• Eternal SUNSHINE of a Spotless Mind
• “Shawshank Redemption”
• One Flew Over the cuckoo’s Nest

Can you figure out what is wrong with each of these examples? We’ll give you a clue! It has to do with incorrect usage of title cases, block capitals and quotation marks.

A note on reference lists

We just wanted to include a little note here to remind you that when citing a movie in your essay, you should include it in your reference list, or bibliography, depending on the academic writing style you are using. 

Again, the structure of your reference list will vary depending on whether you’re writing in APA, AP, MLA or Chicago, and you can find guidance on this in an official manual for the style (or online).

Other Points of Interest

There are some other things you might be interested in knowing that are related to the topic of how to write a movie title in an essay or article, so we’re detailing those below.

How to write a quote from a movie

So you’ve successfully referenced a movie using the rules outlined above. Now you’d like to quote a line from the movie. Which conventions should you use for this? 

For this, you would use quotation marks. For instance, if you want to quote this famous line from the movie Star Wars , you would write: “May the force be with you.”

Remember that if you’re writing an essay, you might need to also include the reference in your in-text citation. Let us show you a full example of what this would look like:

History was made when General Dodonna said “May the force be with you.” in the iconic movie Star Wars (Lucas, 1977).

How to write the name of an episode of a TV show 

If you wanted to cite a TV series, you would follow the same rules as those for citing a movie - as outlined above. But what if you also wanted to include the name of the episode you’re referring to? 

Similarly to inserting a direct quote from a movie, in this case, we recommend using quotation marks. For example:

Friends , “The One Where Everybody Finds Out.”

If writing an essay, please refer to your academic writing style’s guide to learn about conventions around formatting and using title case.

Where does the word ‘movie’ come from?

Dating back as far as the early 1900s, the word ‘movie’ stems from the term ‘moving picture’.

Before they could be projected onto a screen for wider viewing, the first movies could only be seen by one person at a time, using an Electrotachyscope, Kinetoscope, or Mutoscope.

And there we have it! We hope that this article has helped you better understand the conventions around writing a movie title in your essay or article, so you can feel confident about handing in your essay or turning in your article to your line manager.

To summarize, when you’re writing an article, the rules are pretty much up to you if writing for your own business, or your manager if writing for another company. Check-in with them to find out which conventions are already in place.

If writing an essay, then you should always use the structure set out in the academic writing style’s manual. Find out first of all which style you are expected to use. 

Now that that's done, it's time to get writing! 

Learn More:

• 'Dos and Don'ts': How to Write Them With Proper Grammar
• How to Write a List Correctly: Colons, Commas, and Semicolons
• ‘Right’ vs ‘Write’ vs ‘Rite’ vs ‘Wright’: What’s the Difference?
• How to Write Height Correctly - Writing Feet and Inches
• How to Write a Postcard (Tips and Examples)
• How to Write Comedy: Tips and Examples to Make People Laugh
• How to Write an Inequality: From Number Lines or Word Problems
• How to Write a Monologue: Tips and Examples
• How to Write a Letter to the President (With Example)
• How to Write Like Ernest Hemingway
• How to Write a Follow-Up Email After an Interview
• How to Write a Formal Email
• How to Write a 2-Week Notice Email
• How to Write an Out-of-Office (OOO) Email
• How to Write a Professional ‘Thank You’ Email

We encourage you to share this article on Twitter and Facebook . Just click those two links - you'll see why.

It's important to share the news to spread the truth. Most people won't.

Add new comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Post Comment

Use of Italics

This page addresses when to use italics, when to avoid italics, how to use italics for emphasis, and when to use reverse italics. Additional cases and examples are provided in the Publication Manual ; users’ most common questions are addressed here.

When to use italics

In APA Style papers, use italics for the following cases:

When not to use italics

Do not use italics for the following cases in APA Style papers:

Italics for emphasis

In general, avoid using italics for emphasis. Instead, rewrite your sentence to provide 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.

Whereas creative self-efficacy typically focuses on confidence beliefs prior to engaging in creative endeavors, perceived creative credit focuses on the beliefs developed after engaging in creative tasks (Ng & Yam, 2019, p. 1146).

If you add emphasis to a direct quotation, place the words “[emphasis added]” in square brackets after the words you have italicized.

Research on creativity indicates that “promoting creativity without attending to the subsequent psychological and behavioral changes decreases rather than increases [emphasis added] organizational performance over the long run” (Ng & Yam, 2019, p. 1157).

Reverse italics

When words that would normally be italicized appear within text that is already italicized, those words should be set in standard (nonitalic) type, referred to as reverse italicization . For example, if an italic symbol appears in a table title (which is also italicized), use standard type for the symbol.

Demographic Characteristics of Study Participants ( N = 250)

Italics and reverse italics are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Sections 6.22 and 6.23 and the Concise Guide Sections 4.15 and 4.16

From the APA Style blog

Navigating the not-so-hidden treasures of the APA Style website

This post links directly to APA Style topics of interest that users may not even know exist on the website.

When to Use Italics, With Examples

Italic font, or italics, is a style of typeface in which the text appears slanted, like this . While italics are mainly used to draw attention to certain words or passages, the font also plays an important role in differentiating the titles and names of things—such as novels, movies, and even spaceships—from other text. 

There is a lot of confusion about which types of titles use italics and which use quotation marks. So below, we explain everything you need to know about italics, including when to use them and when not to. 

Give your writing extra polish Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly

What are italics?

In typography, italics are a typeface, along with bold, and the standard roman. The original intent of the design was to recreate calligraphy and handwriting in print. The original designers, Aldus Manutius and Ludovico Arrighi, were both from Italy, which the style is named after.  Italic, like boldface, visually contrasts with the companion roman style, and that contrast lets it perform various jobs.

What is the purpose of italic font? 

In writing , italics are used to set apart certain words, like the bold and underline typefaces. However, italics have taken on a more serious role in academic writing as a way to distinguish the titles and names of certain works, such as books and plays, from other types of works, such as articles and poems (which use quotation marks instead). 

Italics are especially important for the works cited page , where they indicate certain types of sources. Often, we italicize the titles of content collections, including periodicals and websites, while the shorter works within, such as articles, instead use quotation marks. 

Are movie titles in quotes or italics?

Movie titles, along with play and TV show titles, are written in italics. In general, the titles of longer works are italicized, while those of shorter works use quotations. So the name of a TV show is written in italics, but the title of a TV episode is written in quotes. 

Are poem titles in quotes or italics? 

Most poem titles are written in quotes. While we use italics for the titles of epic poems, which are book-length poetry, the titles of short poems always use quotation marks. 

When to use italics?

1 long written works .

Italics are used for the titles of longer written works, including books, volumes, dissertations , reports, and epic poems. 

Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time talks about astrophysics in a way anyone can understand. 

Swann’s Way , the first volume of Marcel Proust’s masterpiece, In Search of Lost Time , includes the famous anecdote about the madeleine. 

Much of classic literature consists of epic poems like Gilgamesh or The Iliad . 

There is some debate about whether to underline or italicize book titles , but both are generally accepted. Since most writing nowadays is typed, italicizing is more prominent than underlining. 

2 News websites, magazines, and newspapers

The names of periodicals—specifically news websites, magazines, and newspapers—are italicized. However, individual articles use quotation marks for their titles. Websites that do not feature news articles, including social media platforms, use neither italics nor quotes in their titles. 

Ironically, New Yorkers don’t often read The New York Times or The New Yorker . 

I got a link to HuffPost from LinkedIn. 

3 Movies, plays, and TV 

The titles of movies, stage plays, and TV shows are italicized. However, the names of individual TV show episodes use quotes. 

Most fans agree the best episode of Rick and Morty is “Pickle Rick.” 

The Lion King is an animated film loosely based on Shakespeare’s play Hamlet .

4 Podcasts and radio shows

The titles of podcasts and radio shows are italicized, while their individual episode titles use quotes. 

In the radio show This American Life , the episode “Break-Up” features the musician Phil Collins. 

5 Music albums, operas, and long musical compositions

The names of music albums and longer musical compositions are italicized, while individual song names use quotes. 

The first song on Taylor Swift’s self-titled album, Taylor Swift , is “Tim McGraw.” 

Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute often overshadows his lesser-known works, such as the Lodron Concerto. 

6   Apps and video games

Apps and video games are considered long, published works, so their titles are italicized. Board games, card games, and other such games are not italicized. 

I was up all night playing Fortnight . 

She preferred TikTok because it made her laugh more than Instagram . 

However, if you’re referring to the corporation or company—and not the name of the app itself—use neither italics nor quotation marks.  I heard on Twitter that Elon Musk was stepping down as the head of Twitter.

7 Works of art

The titles of classic art works, such as paintings and sculptures, use italics. 

Michelangelo created two of the Renaissance’s most important works: the fresco The Last Judgement and the sculpture David . 

8 Legal cases

The italic font is also used to set apart the names of legal cases. 

The case of Marbury v. Madison gave the court the ability to strike down laws on the grounds that they are unconstitutional.

9 Names of vehicles

The names of large vehicles—including ships, aircraft, spacecraft, and trains—are italicized. The names of smaller vehicles—such as cars, trucks, and bikes—are not. 

The Titanic has been the obsession of marine researchers since it sank. 

The Apollo 11 mission involved two spacecraft, the Eagle and the Columbia . 

10 Foreign words

In English writing, words from other languages are often italicized so the reader doesn’t confuse them for English words. 

It was nearly 8 p.m. by the time we arrived, but I say, mieux vaut tard que jamais !  

However, English tends to “borrow” words—known as loan words—from other languages. So if a foreign phrase is common in English, you do not need to italicize it. 

Karaoke is my raison d’être. 

11  Scientific names

The scientific names for organisms, known formally as binomial nomenclature, are written in italic font. These names use the genus and species names of the creature. 

Felis catus is commonly known as the house cat. 

12   Discussing words and letters

If you want to discuss a word itself, you can put it in italics. This tells the reader you’re talking about the term and not using the word as intended. 

The modern word internet is unrelated to the word internetted , popular in the 1800s. 

Italics also work well if you’re introducing a new word in text and want to explain it. 

Droplets on a glass are a sign of condensation , when vapor in the air turns into water. 

Also use italics to discuss letters of the alphabet. 

In the alphabet song, why are l , m , n , and o sung so quickly? 

13   Unspoken thoughts in creative writing

In creative writing, italics often show a character’s thoughts or inner monologue , while quotation marks show what is spoken out loud. 

“Remain strong, everyone,” said the head cheerleader from the top of the pyramid. Easy for you to say , thought the cheerleaders at the bottom. 

14 Emphasis

Lastly, italics are used to show emphasis in a sentence . You can italicize a word, phrase, or passage to make it stand out. This is often used to add deeper meaning to a word or phrase, such as an insinuation or a double entendre. 

“I hope you don’t have another accident ,” he said with a sly grin. 

The school does not allow swimming after 10 p.m. 

For emphasis, italics are preferable to quotation marks around a single word . When quotes around a word or phrase are used for emphasis, it suggests disbelief or invalidity. 

When should italics not be used?

1 short written works .

While we use italics for the titles of long writing, short writing uses quotation marks. This includes the titles of articles, short stories, most poems, and chapters. 

The line “What happens to a dream deferred?” comes from Langston Hughes’s poem “Harlem.” 

2 Locations, landmarks, and other geographic names

The names of geographic locations—including cities, states, and countries—use neither italics nor quotes, although they are capitalized. 

The Grand Canyon was carved by the Colorado River. 

3 Religious texts 

While the names of religious texts are capitalized, they are neither italicized nor placed in quotes. 

Texts such as the Koran and the Torah are full of wisdom from the ages. 

4 With bold or underline

Try to avoid using italics with other stylized typefaces, such as bold and underline. Since all three are designed to make words stand out, only one at a time is necessary. 

[INCORRECT:] The Great Gatsby or The Great Gatsby

[CORRECT:] The Great Gatsby

With online writing, however, it’s acceptable to underline italicized text if it’s hyperlinked. 

Italics FAQs

Italics are a typeface where printed text looks slanted. 

When should italics be used?

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.  

Italics should not be used for the titles of short works, such as poems, articles, short stories, or song names—all of which use quotation marks instead. The names of geographic locations and religious texts use neither italics nor quotes, but they’re still capitalized. 

What are some italics examples?

The Catcher in the Rye was listed as one of Time ’s greatest novels of all time !

How to Write a Movie Title in an Essay: Examples and Tips

• August 23, 2024
• Freelancing Tips

Table of Contents Hide

Rules on how to write movie titles, do i capitalize movie titles in an essay, how to write movie titles in an essay with mla writing style, how to write movie titles in an essay in apa style, write about the correct movie, check the words of the title, be careful with words like “a” and “the”, use capital letters in the movie’s title, use italics in movie titles, write the movie’s release year, are movie titles italicized, watch it fully a couple of times, share your personal thoughts about the movie, consider it carefully, finish with some lessons learned, we also recommend.

My university professor once gave me an essay to write about a movie. I started with so much enthusiasm until I realized I was making no progress. This brought about many questions from my end. I didn’t even know how to write the movie title in the essay. All I knew was the movie plot.

Google became my friend for the assignment. It was a long shot, but I eventually finished.

Writing essays is hard on its own, now imagine writing an essay on a movie. How you write it will determine if you’ll get an A+ or a D-. We have outlined all you need in this article.

Are movie titles italicized? Do you underline movie titles? Are movie titles placed in quotes? Are film titles italicized? These questions have been answered in this article.

• Discuss the movie background first
• Share your personal experience
• Study the main ideas and topics, and discuss how they were portrayed in the movie
• Describe what lessons it can teach
• Basic grammar rules
• Use the required formatting style
• Write in the active voice
• Structure or organize your work
• Ensure smooth transitions between ideas
• Make sure to use proper punctuation for titles and headings.

See also: How To Write A Song Title in an Essay: 7 Rules to Remember

A movie title must start with a capital letter

Capitalize all nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs.

Articles (the, a, or an), conjunctions, and prepositions must not be capitalized except; If they are long, use phrases such as still, furthermore, and additionally, or if they are the first word in the title

Proper nouns should always be capitalized.

So, now, let’s move to how to write movie titles in an essay written in different styles.

So, how do you write movie titles in an essay in MLA style? All movie names must adhere to the MLA standard for titles in papers. Essentially, there are only two main rules; Capitalize all first letters of significant words, avoiding non-essential phrases like conjunctions, articles, and prepositions (save those used at sentence openings). Secondly, Italicize every title in your essay’s body.

What exactly is MLA format? This style was created by the Modern Language Association and consists mostly of formatting and citation standards for academic writing.

The Great Gatsby

The Lord of the Rings

See also: How to Write in Third Person Point of View: 12 Tips for Writing in Third-Person Point of View

Capitalize the first letter of each essential word, excluding articles, prepositions, and other characters.

Place the entire title in italics.

APA also requires you to capitalize words that include 4 letters or more (even if it’s a preposition, etc.).

Another common format for writing a movie title essay is the APA format. It was designed by the American Psychological Association and is mostly used in academic writing and research in a variety of social science subjects, including sociology, psychology, and anthropology.

Keep in mind that to write all movie titles in an essay, you must use the same title case capitalization as MLA, APA, and Chicago styles. Furthermore, italics are required for all three styles. The formatting for MLA and APA is the same.

Gone With the Wind

How to Write a Movie Title in an Essay with Tips

The titles of some movies are strikingly similar. Some have identical titles. You don’t want to confuse Broken Arrow, a Jimmy Stewart western, with Broken Arrow, a John Travolta thriller, for example, As a result, before using a title in your writing, ensure that you have the correct movie.

Many movies have multiple titles, typically because their original titles were changed to better suit viewers in different countries.

When bringing up a movie, make sure you know the proper wording for the scenario and how your audience wants you to discuss it.

See also: How to Write a Review on Airbnb as a Guest | Step-by-Step Guide, Examples, & Samples

Many movie titles begin with an article that most people do not say, or do not have one at all.

It can be confusing, but before you input the title, double-check that the “a” or “the” at the beginning is truly part of it.

When writing a movie title, you will capitalize. That is, capitalize the title’s first and last words, as well as any proper nouns or key keywords.

In formal academic writing, you will use standard capitalization except in rare cases where another scheme is important for understanding. That means that if a movie uses ALL CAPS, you will not use all caps unless they are an essential part of the title.

Most major writing styles italicized movie titles. This makes the title different from other words in the essay. There are some exceptions to the rule about italicizing movie titles.

Later in the article, we will explain more about italicization.

When citing a film for the first time, it is often best to include the year of release in parenthesis next to the title.

See also: How to Write a Love Song | Step-by-Step Guide, Examples, & Free Templates

The APA, MLA, and Chicago Style guides require that movie names be italicized while following the case capitalization format. Television and radio show titles should be italicized, just like movie titles.

Not all movies use italicized titles. Short film titles are frequently displayed in quotation marks rather than italics. This usually applies to segments of longer films as well as short subject films that are less than 30 minutes long.

This guideline is not rigid, therefore you should consult the style guide for your preferred writing style to see whether you need to use a different punctuation mark.

News writing is another exception. When using the APA style, movie names are written in quotation marks, with italicization reserved for highly special circumstances.

Tips on How to write about a movie in an essay

Write about the background.

Tell us what you took away from the movie, how it affected you, and how you felt. Do not repeat the background and plot, instead, reflect on the people and things that most impacted you.

Evaluate the plot and themes, as well as how the filmmakers used special effects and music to leave a lasting impression, and the acting skills of the main characters, among other things.

Describe for the readers what the movie has taught you and other young people.

For instance, this movie teaches us significant life lessons such as the fact that parents are usually quite insightful, that appearances can be deceiving, that we are capable of dealing with any situation, and many more.

See also: How to Write a Grievance Letter | Step-by-Step Guide, Examples, & Free

This article has tried to be extensive in its descriptions We hope that it has answered all he questions you have as regards how to write a movie or film title in an essay.

• Study.com – how to write a movie title in an essay mla
• Domyessay – how to write a movie title in an essay apa
• How to Write a Prologue That Hooks Your Readers: Essential Tips and Examples for Every Genre
• How to Write in First Person Point of View (POV): Dos and Don’ts, Tips and Examples
• How to Write Powerful Manifestations: Techniques, Tips, and Real-Life Examples for Success

Related Posts

How to write a cover letter for electrical engineer with examples & expert tips.

• September 30, 2024

How To Write an Application Letter for Truck Driver in Nigeria (With no Experience)

How to write an application letter sample to nafdac in nigeria (with no experience).

Quotation Marks or Italics In Titles?

| Candace Osmond

| Punctuation

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

You’ve probably asked yourself while writing an essay: Should I italicize a play title or enclose it in quotation marks? What about a song title?

Don’t feel guilty for not knowing the rules for quotation marks or italics in titles . Even the most experienced writers have the same problem.

I’ll show you the basic rules for choosing between quotation marks and italics in titles. This guide features the guidelines of Chicago, MLA, and APA.

Using Italics or Quotation Marks in Titles

Using italics vs. quotation marks in titles depends on your style guide. But the general rule is to italicize long titles, such as titles of books, movie titles, or album titles.

Meanwhile, you must write titles in quotation marks for shorter pieces like musical titles, magazines, TV series, and articles. Note that the AP style does not put magazines, newspaper style, or journals in quotation marks.

• “How You Feel About Gender Roles Will Tell Us How You’ll Vote” is an article worth the read.
• My favorite song is “If I could Fly.”
• My Year of Rest and Relaxation is for readers who want to escape their stressful lives.

Works That Require Italics

Use Italics for titles such as the following:

• Pieces with sections, such as a collection or anthology.
• Some scientific names.
• Computers and video games.
• Titles of newspapers and titles of articles from newspapers.
• Play titles.
• Works of art.
• Court cases.
• Television and radio shows.
• Episode titles.
• Book titles.
• Magazine articles.
• Album titles.
• Names of Ships.
• Operas, musical titles, and other musical works.

Here are some examples of italicized works:

• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
• Michelangelo’s David.
• When Harry Met Sally.
• Do you have a copy of Wag the Dog by award-winning author Larry Beinhart?
• My favorite mystery book is In the Woods by the bestselling author Tana French .

The source’s title is usually italicized in a bibliography or reference list entries. But it can also depend on the source type. If you’re citing a journal article, every citation style italicizes the journal title instead of the article.

• Asher, J. (2017). Thirteen reasons why . Penguin Books.
• (2011). When Harry met Sally . Santa Monica, Calif: MGM Studio distributed by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Works That Require Quotation Marks

Use double quotes for the following types of work.

• Comic strips.
• Article title.
• Generic titles.
• Short works like essays
• Short story titles.
• Song titles.

Remember that quotation marks come in pairs, so add both opening and closing quotation marks. Here are some examples where we use friendly quotation marks in titles:

• “Cul de Sac” is a darkly humorous comic.
• “Cinderella” is my favorite chapter title from the Big Blue Book .

Big Things vs. Little Things

“Big things” include a collection of novels or book series, movies, cartoon series, and other works that can stand independently. We can also consider them as complete bodies of work.

Meanwhile, the “little things” depend on other groups, so we put them in quotes.

Think of a “single” in an album title or a “book chapter” in a book title. Another good example includes “manuscripts” in collections.

Remember that this isn’t a perfect rule. But it helps writers determine whether they should quote or italicize the title of a work.

Italics vs. Quotation Marks in Style Guides

The grammar rules on italicizing or quoting titles are usually a matter of style. Take a look at the title formats’ differences among style guides.

In the Modern Language Association style guide, a quick rule is to italicize titles that are longer. Experienced writers state that these “longer works” include books, journals, court cases, etc. Ship names and other notable names are also in italics.

But for shorter works like articles and poems, MLA Style Guide recommends you format titles with double quotation marks.

Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style goes by the same basic rules as MLA. Titles of major works, such as books, and special names like a ship should be in italics. But place the item in quotation marks for subsections of larger bodies like journal articles, blogs, and book chapters.

According to the APA Style 7th edition , you should use italics for titles like journals, magazines, and newspapers. Books, artworks, webpages, and any other larger body of work also use italics.

However, writers who follow APA use the regular type of format for shorter works. These include essays or works in journal articles and lectures.

When to Not Use Italics or Quotation Marks

There’s a specific type of title that all major style guides have no recommendations for. The following do not use italics or quotation marks for titles:

• Commercial products.
• Political documents.
• Legal documents.
• Major religious books or scriptures.
• Name of artifacts.
• Names of buildings.
• Constitutional documents.
• Traditional game.

If you are formatting titles on a website, there’s no need to follow the rules on italics vs. quotation marks. You can go with any more visually appealing style since online web pages are less formal than print materials.

Prioritize the font type, size, and headings when formatting websites and web pages. Make decisions based on what will attract visitors.

When to Underline Instead of Quote or Italicize

If you write using pen and paper, italicizing works can be challenging. Many style manuals recommend underlining the source instead. It’s easier, more practical, and keeps your handwriting legible.

Final Word on Italics vs. Quotes in Titles

An easy way to remember is that most types of titles are almost always in italics. APA, MLA, and Chicago manuals of style recommend italics for longer works.

I hope this guide on using quotation marks and italics in titles helps you become a better writer. 

Grammarist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.

2024 © Grammarist, a Found First Marketing company. All rights reserved.

• Essay Topic Generator
• Essay Grader
• Reference Finder
• AI Outline Generator
• Paragraph Expander
• Essay Expander
• Literature Review Generator
• Thesis Generator
• Text Editing Tools
• AI Rewording Tool
• AI Sentence Rewriter
• AI Article Spinner
• AI Grammar Checker
• Spell Checker
• PDF Spell Check
• Paragraph Checker
• Free AI Essay Writer
• Paraphraser
• Grammar Checker
• Citation Generator
• Plagiarism Checker
• AI Detector
• AI Essay Checker
• Proofreading Service
• Editing Service
• AI Writing Guides
• AI Detection Guides
• Citation Guides
• Grammar Guides
• Paraphrasing Guides
• Plagiarism Guides
• Summary Writing Guides
• STEM Guides
• Humanities Guides
• Language Learning Guides
• Coding Guides
• Top Lists and Recommendations
• AI Detectors
• AI Writing Services
• Coding Homework Help
• Citation Generators
• Editing Websites
• Essay Writing Websites
• Language Learning Websites
• Math Solvers
• Paraphrasers
• Plagiarism Checkers
• Reference Finders
• Spell Checkers
• Summarizers
• Tutoring Websites
• Essay Checkers
• Essay Topic Finders

Most Popular

13 days ago

How To Write a Why Us Essay

Hospital nurse staffing and patient mortality, nurse burnout, and job dissatisfaction, nurse-staffing levels and the quality of care in hospitals, do you italicize movie titles.

Formatting movie titles in writing can be a bit confusing, especially if you’re new to it. Many people wonder whether they should italicize movie titles or use another format like quotation marks. This uncertainty often arises because different sources may offer different advice.

Let’s clear things up: yes, you should italicize movie titles . This rule helps readers easily identify the titles and distinguishes them from other text. Of course, there are some exceptions. For handwritten work or certain style guides, quotation marks might be used instead. However, in most formal writing and digital formats, italics are the way to go. You can also use a grammar checker just to be sure.

Italicized Movie Titles Examples

When you’re writing about movies, it’s important to format their titles correctly. The general rule is that movie titles should be italicized. This helps readers easily recognize the titles and distinguishes them from the rest of the text.

For example, if you’re discussing popular films like The Godfather , Titanic , or Inception , italics make it clear that these are movie titles. This rule applies to all movie titles, whether you’re talking about classics like Star Wars and MIB or more recent hits like Black Panther and The Avengers . Even animated favorites such as Finding Nemo and Toy Story should be italicized.

Using italics for movie titles keeps your writing clear and professional. It avoids confusion about what is a movie title and what isn’t. So, next time you’re writing a paper or review, remember to italicize titles like The Dark Knight and La La Land . This small formatting detail makes a big difference in how polished your writing appears.

Emily exclaimed, “I just watched Dune last night, and it blew my mind!” John mentioned that he had seen The Green Mile over the weekend and found it incredibly thought-provoking. One of the most iconic scenes in film history is from Jurassic Park , where the T-Rex first appears.

In short, italicizing movie titles is a simple rule that helps make your writing more readable. Keep this tip in mind, and you’ll be on your way to writing like a pro.

Should a Movie Title Be Italicized?

Yes, movie titles should be italicized in most forms of writing. Italicizing movie titles helps distinguish them from other text and makes it clear that you’re referring to a specific film. This rule applies to both formal and informal writing.

Do I Italicize Movie Titles in MLA?

Yes, in the MLA (Modern Language Association) style, movie titles should be italicized. This formatting rule helps clearly identify the titles within your text, making it easier for readers to recognize and understand that you are referring to a specific film. MLA guidelines emphasize clarity and uniformity in academic writing.

Are Movie Titles Italicized in APA?

Yes, in APA (American Psychological Association) style, movie titles are italicized. This rule is part of APA’s guidelines for properly formatting titles of longer works. Italicizing movie titles in your references and in-text citations helps maintain consistency and makes it clear to readers that you are referring to a film.

Are Movie Titles Italicized in Dialogue?

In dialogue, movie titles are typically italicized to maintain consistency with standard formatting rules. Even though the titles appear within spoken text, italicizing them helps readers clearly identify that a movie is being mentioned.

Follow us on Reddit for more insights and updates.

Comments (0)

Welcome to A*Help comments!

We’re all about debate and discussion at A*Help.

We value the diverse opinions of users, so you may find points of view that you don’t agree with. And that’s cool. However, there are certain things we’re not OK with: attempts to manipulate our data in any way, for example, or the posting of discriminative, offensive, hateful, or disparaging material.

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

More from Grammar Guides

Damnit or Dammit: How You Should Be Writing

How to Use Apostrophes

Alot or a Lot

Remember Me

Is English your native language ? Yes No

What is your profession ? Student Teacher Writer Other

Forgotten Password?

Username or Email

Generate accurate MLA citations for free

• Knowledge Base
• How to cite a movie in MLA

How to Cite a Movie in MLA Style | Format & Examples

Published on August 1, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on March 5, 2024.

To cite a film in MLA, include the title, the director, any other relevant contributors, the production or distribution company, and the year of release. If there are multiple versions of a film, you also need to identify the version.

To cite a movie from Netflix (and similar online streaming services), add the name of the website or app (e.g. “Netflix app”). If you watched the movie on an unofficial website or video-sharing platform like YouTube, add the website name, the uploader, the date of upload, and the URL.

In the MLA in-text citation , include the title (or a shortened version of it) and the time range.

Scribbr’s free MLA Citation Generator can help you easily create MLA citations for movies.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Mla movie citation format, citing online movies, mla in-text citations for movies.

You build an MLA Works Cited entry by filling in the relevant elements. An MLA citation usually starts with the author’s name, but because films are created by many different people, you start the citation with the film’s title instead. The director appears after the title as a contributor.

Other contributors

If relevant, you can also add other contributors, as with TV shows . For example, if your paper mentions specific performances, you can include the actors in your citation; if you discuss the film’s visuals, you can include the cinematographer.

Identify the role of each contributor and separate them with commas.

If your discussion of the movie focuses mainly on one contributor (e.g. the director or a performer), you can choose to include that name at the start of the citation instead, where the author would normally go.

In this case, make sure to use the same name in your in-text citation.

If there are different versions of a film, you need to state which one you used so the reader can find the correct source (e.g. extended version, director’s cut).

If this version was released later than the original, you can also add the year of the original release after the title. This is optional, but it is often helpful to give the historical context of the source.

Films are often produced and distributed by several different companies, which can make it difficult to determine the publisher .

Try to identify the organization that had primary responsibility for the movie’s production or distribution. If multiple production companies and/or distributors were equally involved, you can separate them with a forward slash.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

If you stream a film on an official distribution platform like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, you can choose to add information about the platform to the Works Cited entry if you think it’s relevant.

If the film was republished on a website unconnected to the producers or official distributors (such as YouTube, where anyone can upload a copy of a movie), you should generally include this information in the citation.

After giving full details of the movie, add the name of the website , the uploader , the date it was published, and the URL .

Note that this format only applies to full movies uploaded to YouTube. If you are citing a clip or other material on YouTube, follow the format for citing a YouTube video instead.

The in-text citation must always correspond with the first word of the Works Cited entry. For movie citations, this is usually the title in italics. If the title is longer than a few words, shorten it to the first word or phrase.

Instead of a page number, add the time range of the part you are quoting or referring to.

If you have already mentioned the title in the sentence, the parenthetical citation only needs to include the time range.

If you are referring to the movie as a whole, it is acceptable to mention only the title with no time range.

If you start the Works Cited entry with the name of a contributor , make sure to use this name in the in-text citation so that the reader can easily locate it in the alphabetized list.

MLA citation generator

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2024, March 05). How to Cite a Movie in MLA Style | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 27, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/mla/how-to-cite-a-movie/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, how to format your mla works cited page, a complete guide to mla in-text citations, how to cite a youtube video in mla, "i thought ai proofreading was useless but..".

I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes”

How to Punctuate Movie Titles in Writing: Get it Right!

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

Understanding the importance of proper punctuation in movie titles

Why punctuation plays a vital role in movie titles, a guide to punctuating movie titles in writing, differentiating between italicization and quotation marks for movie titles, exceptions to the traditional punctuation rules for movie titles, tips for punctuating movie titles in essays and articles, avoiding common mistakes when punctuating movie titles, a comprehensive list of correctly punctuated movie titles in writing, frequently asked questions, to conclude.

When it comes to movie titles, one might argue that punctuation is just a trivial aspect. However, its importance cannot be underestimated, as it can significantly impact the way a movie is perceived and understood. Proper punctuation in movie titles serves multiple purposes, from clarifying the meaning to enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal. Let’s delve into why mastering the art of punctuation in movie titles is essential for filmmakers and audiences alike.

1. Providing clarity: Punctuation marks such as commas, colons, and question marks help convey the intended message more effectively. They assist in breaking down complex ideas, clarifying relationships between elements, and avoiding ambiguity that might arise in titles.

2. Reflecting artistic choices: The strategic use of punctuation can add depth and intrigue to movie titles, reflecting the tone, mood, or theme of the film. Whether it’s an ellipsis creating anticipation or an exclamation mark eliciting excitement, punctuation styles can convey emotions that words alone may struggle to express.

Movie titles can be a bit tricky to punctuate correctly in writing, but fear not! We’ve got you covered with this handy guide to help you navigate the ins and outs of punctuating movie titles like a pro. Here are a few key tips to keep in mind:

1. Formatting: When writing a movie title in your text, it should be italicized or underlined to indicate that it is a title. For example, you would write “I can’t wait to watch the *Titanic* tonight!” or “I loved the movie *The Lion King*.”

2. Commas: If you are referring to a movie title in a sentence, you should use commas to separate it from the rest of the sentence. For instance, you would write “One of my favorite movies of all time is *Gone with the Wind*, which was released in 1939.” or “The film *Jurassic Park*, directed by Steven Spielberg, became a box office hit.”

When it comes to referencing movie titles, it can be confusing to determine whether to use italicization or quotation marks. Understanding the difference between the two can help you correctly format movie titles in your writing. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

1. **Italicization**: Movie titles are typically italicized when mentioned in text. Here’s how you should format them: – The *Shawshank Redemption* is considered a classic in the film industry. – I watched *The Godfather* last night and was captivated by its storyline. – *Titanic* won numerous awards, including Best Picture.

2. **Quotation Marks**: Quotation marks are used for shorter works within larger works, such as a movie scene or an episode title within a TV series. This distinction is important: – In the movie *Forrest Gump*, the iconic line “Life is like a box of chocolates” is uttered by the protagonist. – The episode “The One with the Prom Video” in the TV show *Friends* is regarded as one of the most memorable. – “I’ll be back,” a famous quote from the movie *The Terminator*, has become a popular catchphrase.

In the vast world of movie titles, we often come across unique expressions that challenge our traditional understanding of punctuation. While most titles follow the standard punctuation rules, there are exceptions that add an extra layer of creativity. These exceptions allow filmmakers to evoke different emotions or add a touch of quirkiness to their works. Here are a few instances where the punctuation rules take a delightful twist:

1. *No Country for Old Men*: This Academy Award-winning film directed by the Coen brothers boldly rejects the use of punctuation in its title. By omitting the apostrophe in “Men,” the title implies a sense of ambiguity, leaving viewers to ponder the deeper meaning behind the absence.

2. *3 Idiots*: This Bollywood blockbuster follows the trend of numerals in its title, but surprises us by excluding the commas, which are usually used to separate the numerals. This choice reflects the youthful and carefree nature of the film, maintaining a casual and playful tone throughout the narrative.

3. *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind*: Here we witness a title adorned with multiple prepositions, connecting words, and even an adjective. This non-conventional approach invites the audience to explore the philosophical and complex themes of memory and love that the movie delves into.

Whether it’s deliberately breaking punctuation rules to catch our attention or adding an unconventional charm, these exceptions remind us of the boundless creativity within the realm of movie titles. So, the next time you come across a film with a uniquely punctuated title, embrace the deviations and enjoy the wonderful journey it promises to deliver.

When including movie titles in your essays or articles, it is important to properly punctuate them to ensure clarity and accuracy. Here are some valuable tips to help you navigate the world of punctuating movie titles:

1. Use quotation marks: When referring to a specific movie title, enclose it in quotation marks. For example, “Inception” is an intricate and mind-boggling film that explores the depths of dreams and reality.

2. Capitalize important words: When writing a movie title, capitalize the first and last words, along with all principal words in between. However, minor words such as articles and prepositions should not be capitalized, unless they are the first word of the title. For instance, “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” is a captivating adventure filled with mythical creatures and epic battles.

3. Italics for emphasis: You can also use italics to emphasize movie titles instead of quotation marks. This is a common practice in academic writing. For example, the movie Matrix provides a unique and thought-provoking exploration of simulated reality.

By following these simple tips, you can effectively punctuate movie titles in your essays and articles, enabling your readers to better comprehend your content while showcasing your attention to detail. Remember to consistently apply these rules throughout your work, ensuring consistency and professionalism. Now go forth and create well-punctuated masterpieces!

Properly punctuating movie titles might seem like a trivial matter, but it can significantly impact the overall presentation and professionalism of your writing. To ensure that you always get it right, here are some common mistakes to avoid:

• Mixing capitalization: It’s essential to use proper capitalization when punctuating movie titles. Unless they are articles, prepositions, or coordinating conjunctions, capitalize all major words. For instance, in the title “Gone with the Wind,” the word “with” should remain lowercase.
• Omitting italics or quotation marks: Movie titles should always be italicized or enclosed in quotation marks to distinguish them from the rest of the text. For example, you should write “Casablanca” or Casablanca instead of just Casablanca.
• Using the wrong punctuation marks: Always be cautious about which punctuation marks to use when punctuating movie titles. Commas and periods go inside quotation marks, while colons and exclamation points go outside. For instance, “The Shawshank Redemption,” not “The Shawshank Redemption”.

By remembering to avoid these common mistakes, you can ensure your writing reflects attention to detail and precision. Properly punctuating movie titles not only enhances readability but also demonstrates a mastery of grammar and style.

Proper punctuation is crucial when writing movie titles as it helps convey the intended meaning and captures the essence of the film. Below, you will find a comprehensive list of correctly punctuated movie titles that will add finesse to your written work:

• The Shawshank Redemption: A gripping tale of hope and friendship set within the confines of Shawshank State Penitentiary.
• Gone with the Wind: A timeless classic showcasing the tumultuous romance between Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler during the Civil War.
• Casablanca: An unforgettable love story set against the backdrop of World War II in the city of Casablanca.
• The Dark Knight: Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece, where Batman takes on the iconic Joker in a battle for Gotham City’s soul.

Remember to italicize the titles of movies when writing them within a text and to place them inside quotation marks when referring to them in an essay or article. These simple yet essential formatting rules can elevate your writing and give your readers a clear indication of the movie titles you are referencing.

Q: Why is it important to punctuate movie titles correctly in writing? A: Correct punctuation of movie titles is essential in writing to ensure clarity, adhere to grammar rules, and give proper credit to the creative work you are referencing.

Q: How do I punctuate a movie title in a sentence? A: When including a movie title in a sentence, you should capitalize all the major words. For example: “I absolutely loved the movie ‘Inception’!”

Q: Which words in a movie title should be capitalized? A: In general, capitalize all significant words in a movie title. This includes nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and subordinate conjunctions. However, prepositions and articles (e.g., “and”, “for”, “the”) should remain lowercase unless they are the first or last word of the movie title.

Q: Are there any exceptions to capitalizing in movie titles? A: Yes, when dealing with short words, you may follow your preferred style guide. Some guides suggest ignoring short words (less than four letters), such as “the”, “and”, “or”, while others advise capitalizing them regardless. Consistency is key, so choose a preferred style and stick to it.

Q: How should I punctuate movie titles that are in italics or underlined? A: If the movie title is printed in italics or underlined, you should still follow the same capitalization rules mentioned earlier. For example: “I can’t wait to see ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ again!”

Q: What if I need to mention multiple movie titles in the same sentence? A: If you discuss multiple movie titles in the same sentence, capitalize the major words in each title, and separate them using commas. For instance: “Several great movies, including ‘Gone with the Wind,’ ‘The Godfather,’ and ‘Casablanca,’ were screened at the film festival.”

Q: How do I punctuate movie titles in headlines or titles of articles? A: In most cases, you should capitalize the first and last words of a movie title and all significant words in between. Prepositions and articles should remain lowercase unless they are the first or last word. For example: “Discover the Secrets Behind ‘The Matrix’ Trilogy.”

Q: Can I use quotation marks to punctuate movie titles? A: Yes, quotation marks are commonly used to indicate movie titles, especially in informal writing or when referring to specific scenes or lines. For example: “Remember when Jack said, ‘I’m the king of the world!’ in ‘Titanic’?”

Q: What if the movie title contains a punctuation mark itself? A: If the movie title includes a punctuation mark, such as an exclamation point or question mark, it should be retained as part of the title and treated like any other word. Capitalize the first and last words as well as any other significant words.

Q: Are there any references or resources available to ensure proper punctuation of movie titles? A: Yes, there are various style guides such as the APA Style Guide, The Chicago Manual of Style, and the Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook that provide detailed rules and examples for punctuating movie titles, among various other writing guidelines.

In conclusion, properly punctuating movie titles in writing is essential for clear and professional communication. Don’t forget those rules!

Dissertation Writing App: Simplify Your Research Writing

Native American Writing Prompts: Explore Indigenous Perspectives

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Reach out to us for sponsorship opportunities.

Welcome to Creative Writing Prompts

At Creative Writing Prompts, we believe in the power of words to shape worlds. Our platform is a sanctuary for aspiring writers, seasoned wordsmiths, and everyone. Here, storytelling finds its home, and your creative journey begins its captivating voyage.

© 2024 Creativewriting-prompts.com

• Link to facebook
• Link to linkedin
• Link to twitter
• Link to youtube
• Writing Tips

Formatting Titles

• 3-minute read
• 23rd April 2018

If you need advice about formatting headings in your work, try this post . But if you want to know about formatting titles of other works in your writing (e.g., books or journal articles), you’re in the right place! Read on to find out when to use italics and quote marks for titles in your work .

First, let’s give an example of what we mean. Take the following sentence:

Here, “Game of Thrones” refers to a popular TV show. If we didn’t know this, we might guess from the capitalization , but most style guides also recommend using distinct formatting for titles. This usually means italicizing the title or placing it in quote marks. But when does each apply?

Longer Works (Italics)

Titles of longer works, such as books or TV shows, are usually italicized:

We use italics for Game of Thrones because it refers to an entire TV series. Works that require italics for titles in this manner include:

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

• Books and book-length poems
• Journals, newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals
• Entire websites and blogs
• Movies, radio programs, and TV shows
• Plays, musicals, and other stage shows
• Paintings, statues, and other works of art
• Music albums and other long recordings

Importantly, all of these are standalone works (i.e., published by themselves rather than as part of a larger whole). So, for example, you would italicize the name of a blog (e.g., Jenny’s Cooking Blog ), but not the name of a post taken from that blog (e.g., “How to Make Beef Stroganoff”).

Shorter Works (Quote Marks)

With shorter works that are part of a larger whole, titles should be given in quotation marks . An episode of Game of Thrones , for instance, would be written as follows:

Here, the formatting lets us instantly distinguish between an episode title and the show title. Quotation marks are also used when referring to titles of:

• Chapters from books or edited volumes
• Articles from newspapers, magazines, journals and other periodicals
• Particular pages from a website or posts from a blog
• Individual poems, short stories, and other short literary works
• Single episodes from a TV series
• Songs and other short recordings
• Unpublished writing (regardless of length)

With most of these, the key is that they’re published as part of a longer work or series. The only exception to this is unpublished writing (e.g., a PhD dissertation or an unpublished manuscript).

Beware Exceptions!

As with most rules in writing, there are exceptions to these guidelines about formatting titles. For example, APA has different rules depending on whether a title appears in the main text or the reference list. It is therefore always worth checking your style guide to see if it has specific requirements.

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

5-minute read

Free Email Newsletter Template

Promoting a brand means sharing valuable insights to connect more deeply with your audience, and...

6-minute read

How to Write a Nonprofit Grant Proposal

If you’re seeking funding to support your charitable endeavors as a nonprofit organization, you’ll need...

9-minute read

How to Use Infographics to Boost Your Presentation

Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...

8-minute read

Why Interactive PDFs Are Better for Engagement

Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...

7-minute read

Seven Key Strategies for Voice Search Optimization

Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...

4-minute read

Five Creative Ways to Showcase Your Digital Portfolio

Are you a creative freelancer looking to make a lasting impression on potential clients or...

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

7 Steps to Write a Movie Title in an Essay

By Film Threat Staff | November 6, 2021

There are indeed many types of essays you have to deal with throughout your studies. And every time you sit to type my essay , you first start looking for sources to use in your paper as examples and references. These sources can range from scholarly articles to movies. So naturally, m any times in your college essays, you’ll be asked to make reference to movies. When you do so, you will be confronted with the question of how to refer to the title of a movie in the text of your paper.

Surely, you can make your life easier and contact experts with a message “I want to pay someone to write my paper cheap ”, so you can continue watching the movies while others do your assignments. While there are some variations in how different writing styles approach movie titles, there is a general way to write the titles of movies that you should follow if you plan to discuss a movie title in your essay. So, what are the steps you need to take to write a movie title in your essay correctly? Here are the seven steps you should follow to make sure you get the title right.

If you are stymied by the right way to write about movies in your paper, you can pay someone to do papers for you. A professional writer can free you from the burden of essay writing by offering help with the correct use of movie titles in your paper and expert discussion of the movies you need to write about for your essay properly formatted in APA or MLA citation style. In order to hire an online writer, all you need to do is to contact a quality academic writing service and say, “I need you to write my essays for me online.” While quality academic writing isn’t always cheap, many services offer great value and affordable assistance to help you achieve your essay goals with some of the best professional writers with exceptional experience and a deep bank of movie knowledge to make every essay excellent. 

Many times in your college essays, you’ll be asked to make reference to movies. When you do so, you will be confronted with the question of how to refer to the title of a movie in the text of your paper. Surely, you can make your life easier and contact experts with a message “I want to pay someone to write my paper cheap ”, so you can continue watching the movies while others do your assignments. While there are some variations in how different writing styles approach movie titles, there is a general way to write the titles of movies that you should follow if you plan to discuss a movie title in your essay. So, what are the steps you need to take to write a movie title in your essay correctly? Here are the seven steps you should follow to make sure you get the title right.

Make sure you have the right movie

Many movies have very similar titles. Some have the exact same title. You don’t want to confuse Broken Arrow , a Jimmy Stewart western, with Broken Arrow , a John Travolta thriller, for example, or The House on Haunted Hill for The Haunting of Hill House . Indeed, many movies called “mockbusters” intentionally use titles to remind you of blockbuster films and you don’t want to confuse them! So, before you use a title in your paper, make sure that you have the right movie in mind.

Check the wording of the title

Many movies are known by multiple titles, often because they have been retitled to appeal to different countries. For example, Mad Max 2 became The Road Warrior in the United States. Others have their titles changed after the fact. Star Wars became Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , while Raiders of the Lost Ark had Indiana Jones and… appended to it decades later. When you refer to a movie, be sure you know the correct title for the context and how your audience will expect to see you discuss the title.

Watch out for “a” and “the”

Many movie titles either have an article before them that most people don’t say, or don’t have an article when people say one anyway. This can be a little confusing, but you’ll want to check whether the “a” or “the” at the beginning is really part of the title before you write the title so you will know whether to include it in the title.

Capitalize the title of the movie

When you write the title of a movie, you will generally follow the conventions of capitalization for titles. That means that you will capitalize the first word and the last word and all proper nouns and important words in the title. Capitalization can be tricky, however, because many movies use stylized capitalization in their advertisements and title cards. However, in formal academic writing, you will use standard capitalization except in rare circumstances where another scheme is essential for understanding. That means that if a movie uses ALL CAPS, you will not use all-caps unless they are an essential part of the title. Similarly, unusual or non-standard capitalization should be retained when it is essential. For example, the unusual capitalization of the movie eXistenZ is generally retained in writing because it is a made-up word whose spelling is correct within the movie.

Italicize movie titles

Movie titles should be italicized in most major writing styles. This sets the text apart from the rest of the sentence and indicates which words belong to the title and which do not. There are some exceptions to the rule about italicizing movie titles. The titles of short films are not typically italicized but are often placed in quotation marks. This generally applies to short subject films under half an hour in length, as well as to segments within a larger movie. This rule, however, is not hard-and-fast, and you should check the style guide for your chosen writing style to see when different punctuation is used. Another exception is newswriting. If you are writing in Associated Press style, all movie titles appear in quotation marks rather than italics because AP style does not use italicization for anything except in very rare circumstances.

Give the year of release on first reference

More often than not, it is beneficial to follow the title of a movie with the year of its release in parentheses on first reference. This will help the audience to place the movie in its correct position in time, and it will also make it easier to distinguish between films with similar or the same title. While this step is not always necessary, particularly for very famous films, it is generally good practice in academic writing.

Consider using an essay writing service

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Is Movie Streaming the Next Step for NFT?

Since a few decades the film and entertainment sector have undergone some drastic transformation. The first ever format to bring movies in the household...

How to Change Netflix Region on a Smart TV

Netflix has a lot of libraries to offer but, there is only one problem - the library varies from country to country. Netflix content differs based on...

8 Steps to Enjoy a Boring Movie

Sometimes, movies can be boring. Maybe your spouse dragged you to the theatres to watch a romantic comedy that made you fall asleep? Or maybe you went on a...

Amazing CBD Movies And TV Shows To Enjoy On Weekends 

Most avid consumers of CBD attribute their love for it to cinemas and movies. The media always adds a touch of pizzazz to all that has to do with various...

What Can We Learn from Netflix’s All-Time Top 10 movies?

Our excitement for the weekend never fades, and we begin making plans from the weekdays. Weekdays are too busy to relax and watch Netflix, so the weekends...

Where to Get Your Fill of Fantasy

Reality can be incredible, but nothing beats the feeling of stepping into a new world filled with magic, mystery, and excitement. We all need a break from...

Join our Film Threat Newsletter

Home > Blog > Tips for Online Students > Tips for Students > When To Italicize – The Rules You Need To Know

Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students

When To Italicize – The Rules You Need To Know

Updated: September 10, 2024

Published: June 30, 2020

Mastering the art of italicizing is more than just a grammatical rule—it’s a skill that enhances clarity and professionalism in writing, whether you’re a student writing academic papers or a professional drafting formal documents. 

English has a lot of grammatical rules to keep in mind. From the usage of commas to capitalization, knowing how to write properly is an important skill to hone for those in school and beyond. Whether you are writing research papers or formal letters, you’ll come across instances of italicization. Knowing when to italicize is an important skill to master.

Let’s take a look at how italics came to exist and when to italicize. With this guide, you’ll soon be an italics pro!

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

The history behind italics.

Italics is when a typeface is slanted to the right, like this!

It serves to distinguish words from the surrounding text and draw attention. Similar to underlining, italics add emphasis, but both should not be used together . Underlining was once the primary method of creating emphasis in typewritten texts. However, with the advancement of word processors and printing technologies, italics have become a more popular and visually appealing alternative.

As writing shifted to digital formats, italics became a visual cue to emphasize important concepts and ensure fluid readability, a function it continues to perform today.

When To Italicize

While italics can add emphasis, their usage is not merely a matter of personal choice. There are rules and guidelines to follow to know when to italicize. Let’s take a look at some of the rules:

Want a word or phrase to stand out in a block of text? Try writing in italics. 

For example: I went to grab pizza with friends today. It was so delicious that I ate an entire pie .  

Notice how the italicized “so” draws your attention and adds more weight to the meaning.

Titles Of Work

Titles of major works, such as books, films, and artwork, are italicized. This helps distinguish them from the surrounding text. 

Examples include:

• Books – The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• Newspapers – The Los Angeles Times
• Movies – The Dark Knight
• Magazines – People
• Plays – A Streetcar Named Desire
• Works of Art – Frida Kahlo’s The Two Fridas
• TV/radio programs – Friends
• CDs/albums – Drake’s Views

Unlike titles of major works, articles are considered shorter works and should be placed in quotation marks, not italicized. 

For example, you could write something like: In his article “A Mystery Explained” for The New York Times , the author exposed the details of the crime.

Foreign Words

If you’re writing in one language but you want to introduce a word in another language, you may consider italicizing it. 

For example, “The word for ‘war’ in Spanish is guerra .”

Names Of Vehicles

The names of transportation vehicles, like ships, trains, and spacecraft (excluding cars and other smaller vehicles like trucks and bikes), should be italicized. 

For example, Challenger , the famous space shuttle, is italicized to set it apart from the surrounding text.

Words As Reproduced Sounds

Italics can be used to emphasize onomatopoeia or words that reproduce sounds. 

For example: “The bees buzzed bzzz in my ear.” 

However, don’t italicize regular verbs that imply sound, like “thud” in “There was a loud thud.”

Words As Words

When using a word to refer to itself rather than its meaning, italicizing it helps clarify its use. 

For example: “He defined the word close in the context of the situation as being within 6 feet of each other.”

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

Other examples for when to use italics.

There are various writing formats that have slightly different rules. When you’re writing a scholarly paper, you may be advised to write in MLA format or APA format.

The MLA format may allow for interchangeability between italics and underlines. In the APA format, these are some examples of when to use and when not to use italics — and they aren’t always in line with the examples above. In APA format, for example, you should not use italics just for emphasis.

So before writing any scholarly paper, it’s useful to double check the rules for italics according to the specific guidelines.

Use Italics

• First introduction to a new term – i.e., “ Communism is defined as, ‘ a form of government…’”
• Titles of book and web pages – i.e., “ Eleven Rings by Phil Jackson”
• English letters used as math symbols – i.e., “Solve for the variable x .”
• Anchors of scale – i.e., “Rate your experience on a scale of 1 ( extremely dissatisfied ) to 10 ( extremely satisfied )”
• First use of words in a different language – i.e., “She was the crème de la crème .”

Do Not Use Italics

• For the title of book series – i.e., “the Dan Brown series”
• Punctuation around italics – i.e., “( extremely dissatisfied )”
• Words from foreign languages that are in the dictionary of the language you are writing – i.e., “per se”

Things To Remember

This list of rules and exceptions can feel overwhelming. And there’s still more to learn and remember on top of the points above! Keep in mind:

• 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. Instead, these are capitalized.
• Don’t underline and italicize together like this . (That sure is painful to read!)

Although there is a lot to remember when it comes to what to italicize, the good news is that you can always research whether or not something should be italicized online or refer back to this list!

Italics Or Not? That Is The Question

As a student, it’s important to fine tune your grammar skills now so that when you graduate and enter the workforce, you can produce exemplary work every time!

As mentioned, when writing research papers or any other academic paper, your professor will share what standards they want you to abide by. Whether it’s MLA or APA formats, you can look up the rules for when to italicize before and during the writing process.

Then, when you edit, be sure to check all your usages of underlines, italics, and quotation marks to ensure they are implemented correctly!

When should italics be used in academic writing?

Italics should be used in academic writing to emphasize specific words or phrases, denote titles of longer works (books, journals, movies), introduce new or unfamiliar terms, and highlight foreign words not commonly used in English. Always check the specific guidelines of the citation style you’re following, such as MLA, APA , or Chicago.

Can I italicize for emphasis in all types of writing?

While italics can be used for emphasis in casual writing, it’s not always recommended for academic or formal writing, especially in APA format. In those cases, it’s best to rely on strong, clear sentence structure to convey emphasis without italics.

Are article titles italicized or placed in quotation marks?

Article titles, along with shorter works like chapters and poems, should be placed in quotation marks rather than italicized. Italics are reserved for longer works such as books, newspapers, and movies.

Should I italicize foreign words in my text?

Yes, foreign words should generally be italicized when they are not commonly used in English. However, if the word has been assimilated into the English language, such as déjà vu or per se , italics are not necessary unless your style guide suggests otherwise.

Can I use both italics and underlining for emphasis?

No, italics and underlining should not be used together for the same word or phrase. They serve similar purposes, so combining them is visually disruptive and unnecessary. Stick to using one or the other, and in modern digital writing, italics are preferred over underlining.

In this article

At UoPeople, our blog writers are thinkers, researchers, and experts dedicated to curating articles relevant to our mission: making higher education accessible to everyone. Read More