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Knowing When To Underline Or Italicize: Your Go-To Guide

Updated: July 11, 2022

Published: May 27, 2021

Knowing-When-To-Underline-Or-Italicize-Your-Go-To-Guide

Knowing when to underline or italicize can be confusing. But it doesn’t have to be! In this article, we’ll lay out all the basics, plus a few common difficulties that confuse many writers, so you’ll be an expert in no time.

At the end of the article, you’ll get the chance to practice your hand at some sample sentences, so you’ll be sure that you know the ins and outs of using italics and underlines.

Italics Vs Underline: Clarifying The Confusion

In the past (before computers and MLA handbooks), italics and underlines were used to emphasize certain words or titles within the text. It let the reader know what was important, or what was separate from the rest of the sentence. They were both used interchangeably, as long as they were consistent.

Now, with the ability to change formatting with the click of a button, italics are generally used to indicate titles, and only sometimes for emphasis. Meanwhile, underlining is mostly reserved to replace italics in handwritten papers. Manuals and guidebooks, such as the MLA handbook, are now widely used in large institutions or according to the country’s standards, so that specific writing conventions, grammar rules, and formatting styles have become uniform.

With that said, the general rule is that italics are used for titles of books, movies, TV and radio shows, magazines, works of art, and long poems. As mentioned before, underlining is a substitute for italics when writing titles by hand.

Proper formatting in an essay can be confusing for many students: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-blue-blazer-holding-white-paper-3727468/

Titles of long works.

Titles that should be italicized are longer works. These include titles of books, movies, TV and radio shows, journals and magazines, and long poems. In the next section, we’ll see how these works differ from titles of shorter works which are put in quotations instead.

The novel Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, was published in 1847 under the pen name of Currer Bell.
The movie Home Alone , released in 1990, made a worldwide total of $476,684,675 in box office revenue.

Titles Of Smaller Works

The titles of smaller works are put in “quotations” in order to differentiate them from longer works. These smaller works include titles of chapters, short stories, TV or radio show episodes, articles, and short poems.

In the examples below, note how you can recognize the difference between the shorter works and larger works just by seeing how they are emphasized in the sentence. This makes it impossible to confuse the title of a chapter with the book that it belongs to, or the episode from its TV show.

The chapter entitled “The Castaway” in Moby Dick describes the near-death experience of a character named Pip.
Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, “The Fall of the House of Usher,” was originally published in a Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine.
The pilot episode of Friends , which was released on September 22, 1994, is called “The One Where Monica Gets A Roommate.”

Punctuation In Titles: Common Confusions

Question marks.

Confusion can come up when a title includes a question mark or an exclamation mark in the title itself. For example, the book Who Has Seen the Wind? includes a question mark in it.

The way to deal with these titles is to italicize the question mark as well, just as it is above. By doing so, you can differentiate this title from an actual question, such as writing: Have you read Gone With the Wind ?

The same idea applies to exclamation marks — for example, the movie Mamma Mia! , which includes an exclamation mark in the title. Note the italicization, and the difference between writing Mamma Mia! , the movie, and writing: I can’t believe that you never watched The Parent Trap !

Commas and periods

The confusion of commas and periods when it comes to quotations is a debate between different handbooks and countries. According to the MLA (Modern Language Association) handbook, commas and periods are placed inside of quotation marks.

“The Seinfeld Chronicles , ” the first episode of Seinfeld , had 15.4 million viewers in America.
Among the short stories of James Joyce included in the collection Dubliners are “Araby , ” “The Sisters , ” and “The Encounter.”

Solidify your new skills by completing practice sentences: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-wearing-black-and-white-stripe-shirt-looking-at-white-printer-papers-on-the-wall-212286/

Let’s practice.

Try your hand at your new skills! Below are five sentences without any italics or quotations. Italicize the longer works and put the shorter works in quotations. If you get stuck, check back in the article, and you’ll be an expert in no time. Be sure to pay attention to tricky commas, periods, and question marks.

The Lazy Controller, chapter two of Thinking Fast and Slow, talks about multitasking and its effect on thinking.
The Yellow Wallpaper, a short story by Catherine Perkins Gilman, was originally published in The New England Magazine in January 1892.
John Lennon’s album Imagine included favorites such as Gimme Some Truth, How Do You Sleep?, and, of course, Imagine.
The premiere episode of Family Matters is called The Mama Who Came To Dinner, and relays the drama of Carl’s mother coming to live with him.
The short story Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway was first published in a magazine called Transition, and was only later published in his book Men Without Women.

Why Is Proper Indentation Important?

College essays .

No matter what you study in college, most students write a lot of essays during their school years. While some degrees may put more of an emphasis on writing proper essays , most teachers and professors will expect a certain level of basic grammar and formatting knowledge. Before you even step foot into college, you’ll most likely be expected to write an application essay . It’s important to put your best foot forward, and small formatting rules can go a long way in making a good first impression.

Landing your dream job

In addition to college essays, prospective employers and job positions will require and look for basic (or advanced, depending on the position) writing skills. Whether you think your dream job requires writing skills or not, writing is a part of everyday life and work, from emails and text messages, to presentations and reports. Having good writing skills will help you make a good first impression, land your dream job, and do your best work.

Proper writing is an important skill for any job: https://www.pexels.com/photo/writing-notes-idea-class-7103/

Having a successful career.

Though different students earn a degree for different reasons, many are hoping to work toward a successful career. In order to do this, the right preparation is key. Preparation may be earning a degree, gaining specific skills, or having the right guidance along the way.

University of the People prepares our students for successful careers by providing program advising , mentorship , and an emphasis on career development . We know that these extra details, much like formatting in an essay, make a big difference for the future success of our students. University of the People is a tuition-free online university that offers degree programs in business administration, computer science, health science, and education.

Wrapping Up

Now you know when to underline or italicize, and much more. To wrap up, italics should be used for the titles of longer works such as movies, books, and TV shows, and underlining for handwritten papers.

In addition, we hope you’ve learned the more tricky rules such as question marks and commas, and that you’ve given some thought to the importance of writing for your future education and success.

Do You Underline Titles of Essays in Writing? Master the Rules

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.

Do You Underline Titles of Essays in Writing? Master the Rules

Hey there! Welcome to the world of essay writing where titles play a crucial role in capturing the attention of your readers. If you’ve ever wondered whether to underline the titles of your essays or not, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’re going to dive into the rules and master the art of title formatting, so you can effortlessly navigate the vast sea of academic writing. So, get ready to unravel the mysteries of underlining titles and discover the best practices to make your essays shine. Let’s get started!

1. The importance of correctly formatting essay titles in writing

, ensures that every title in your essay stands out and follows a unified structure. Furthermore, you can enhance clarity by incorporating unnumbered lists for subtitles or subtopics, allowing the reader to navigate through your essay effortlessly. In conclusion, the significance of correctly formatting essay titles cannot be overstated. It not only captures the attention of readers but also establishes a consistent structure throughout the entire essay. By utilizing HTML tags, employing bold formatting, and incorporating unnumbered lists, you can ensure that your essay titles are visually appealing and convey the intended meaning. So, let’s embrace the power of formatting and enjoy the benefits it brings to our writing! 2. Understanding when to underline titles of essays: guidelines and exceptions

3. The evolving rules of title formatting in academic writing

4. effective strategies for italicizing or using quotation marks with essay titles, 5. navigating the use of titles in digital content: blogs, articles, and online platforms, 6. expert tips for properly capitalizing and punctuating titles in essays, 7. ensuring consistency and clarity in your title formatting throughout your writing.

, , etc., allows you to organize your titles into a clear hierarchy. This helps readers understand the structure of your content and easily navigate through different sections. 4. Be mindful of punctuation: Consistency in the usage of punctuation in your titles adds to the overall clarity. Decide whether you want to use end punctuation for all your titles or opt for a more minimalist approach by omitting it altogether. Whichever style you choose, ensure that it remains consistent throughout your work. By following these simple guidelines, you can ensure that your title formatting remains consistent and clear throughout your writing, providing an organized and visually appealing experience for your readers. Remember, establishing a cohesive and professional presentation is essential in effectively conveying your ideas and engaging your audience. So, pay attention to even the smallest details in your title formatting to create a professional and polished piece of work. 8. Resources and tools to help you master the rules for underlining titles of essays

Frequently Asked Questions

Future outlook.

The precise formatting of essay titles holds a significant influence on the overall quality of your writing. Properly formatting your titles not only adds a professional touch to your work but also enhances readability and ensures consistency throughout your essay. By following a consistent format for essay titles, you can effectively convey your ideas and intentions to the readers.

First and foremost, correctly formatting essay titles helps set the tone and guide the reader’s expectations. The title acts as a glimpse into the content of your essay. By bolding the title and using a larger font size, you can immediately capture the reader’s attention and make your essay stand out. Additionally, a well-formatted title effectively summarizes the main theme or focus of your piece, providing the audience with a clear understanding of what lies ahead in the text.

Moreover, paying attention to the formatting of your essay titles allows you to maintain consistency and uniformity in your writing. Consistency in formatting not only demonstrates your attention to detail but also adds a sense of professionalism to your work. Using HTML tags to format titles, such as

In the world of writing, it is crucial to understand when to underline titles of essays. This may seem like a small detail, but it can make a significant difference in the presentation and professionalism of your work. To help you navigate this topic, here are some guidelines and exceptions to keep in mind:

Guidelines:
Always underline the title of your essay when writing it by hand.
When typing or using a word processing software , such as Microsoft Word, italicize the title of your essay instead of underlining.
Ensure that the title is centered and properly capitalized, following the appropriate style guide (e.g., MLA, APA).
Underlining or italicizing the title helps distinguish it from the rest of your essay and highlights its importance.
Exceptions:
If you are writing an essay within an essay, such as a quote or a reference to another work, use quotation marks to enclose the title.
When including titles in headings or subheadings within your essay, do not underline or italicize them. Instead, use a bold font to make them stand out.
Remember that different style guides may have specific rules regarding titles, so always consult the appropriate guide for your academic or professional context.

Understanding when to underline titles of essays can enhance the clarity and professionalism of your writing. By following these guidelines and being aware of the exceptions, you can ensure that your essays are presented in a consistent and visually appealing manner. Remember to adapt your approach based on the medium and style guide requirements, and you’ll be well on your way to producing polished pieces of written work!

3. The evolving rules of title formatting in academic writing

In the fast-paced world of academic writing, title formatting guidelines have witnessed a continuous evolution over time. These rules serve as an integral part of presenting research in a clear and professional manner. Embracing the ever-changing landscape of formatting norms not only demonstrates your attention to detail but also enhances the readability and credibility of your work.

To stay at the forefront of this formatting revolution, consider the following key points: – Consistency is key: Ensure that your titles are consistently formatted throughout your academic paper. From font size to capitalization, maintaining a uniform style creates a seamless reading experience for your audience. – Striking a balance: While it’s important to capture the essence of your research in a concise title, striking a balance between brevity and specificity is crucial. Aim for a title that succinctly summarizes your study while also communicating its essence to potential readers. – Capitalization matters: Traditionally, academic titles were fully capitalized. However, recent trends advocate for using sentence case, except for proper nouns and certain abbreviations. This shift allows titles to set a more natural tone and align with modern language usage.

Navigating the evolving rules of academic title formatting may seem daunting at first, but it is an essential skill for any serious researcher. By conducting thorough research on current formatting guidelines and staying abreast of updates, you can ensure that your titles make a lasting impact while adhering to the established norms. Remember, a well-formatted title is the first step towards engaging your readers and showcasing the importance of your research.

When it comes to properly italicizing or using quotation marks with essay titles, there are some effective strategies you can employ to ensure clarity and adherence to proper formatting guidelines. Consider these helpful tips:

1. Utilize italics for longer works: When referring to the title of full-length books, plays, films, or even musical compositions, it is best to italicize the title to make it stand out from the rest of the text. For example, instead of writing “Great Expectations,” it is more appropriate to write Great Expectations . This helps the title become more visually distinct and easier for readers to spot.

2. Employ quotation marks for shorter works: If you’re referencing shorter works, such as articles, short stories, poems, or individual song titles, use quotation marks to set them apart. For instance, when mentioning a poem, write “The Road Not Taken” instead of The Road Not Taken. By doing so, you create a clear distinction between the title and the rest of the text. Remember to be consistent in your use of italics and quotation marks throughout your essay to maintain uniformity.

3. Be wary of exceptions: Keep in mind that certain titles may have their own specific formatting rules. For instance, the titles of sacred texts, like the Bible or the Quran, are typically not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks. Additionally, titles written in a language different from the rest of the text may also have their own conventions. Always consult the appropriate style guide or refer to the specific requirements of your academic institution to ensure you are following their preferred formatting guidelines.

5. Navigating the use of titles in digital content: blogs, articles, and online platforms

In the vast digital landscape, titles play a crucial role in capturing readers’ attention. Whether you’re crafting a blog post, an article, or content for online platforms, navigating the effective use of titles can make all the difference. To ensure your titles stand out and resonate with your target audience, here are some valuable tips and tricks to keep in mind:

1. Understand your audience: Tailoring your titles to your specific audience is essential. Consider the language and tone that will resonate with them the most. Are they looking for informative and educational content or something more entertaining and light-hearted?

2. Use powerful words: Make your titles captivating by incorporating compelling keywords that pique curiosity and draw readers in. Words like “unveiled,” “ultimate,” or “exclusive” can add an extra layer of intrigue. Additionally, using action verbs can create a sense of urgency and encourage clicks.

3. Be concise and specific: In the digital world, attention spans are shorter than ever. Keep your titles concise and to the point. Avoid vague or ambiguous phrasing, as it may confuse or discourage potential readers. Instead, clearly communicate what readers can expect to find in your content.

4. Experiment with formats: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different formats for your titles. Consider using lists or numbered headlines to make your content appear more organized and scannable. For example, “5 Essential Tips for Writing Engaging Titles” or “Top 10 Strategies to Master Title Creation.”

By mastering the art of crafting compelling titles, you can enhance the visibility and engagement of your digital content, ensuring your message reaches a wider audience. So, get creative, experiment with different techniques, and watch your titles become irresistible magnets for readership!

In the world of essay writing, it is crucial to pay attention to the proper capitalization and punctuation of titles. Whether you are writing an academic paper or an article for a magazine, the accuracy of these details can significantly impact the overall impression of your work. To ensure your titles leave a lasting impact, here are some expert tips to help you navigate the intricate rules of capitalization and punctuation:

1. Use title case for formal titles: Capitalize the first letter of every major word in a title, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns. Avoid capitalizing small words like articles, prepositions, and conjunctions (unless they are the first or last word of the title). For instance, a suitable title would be “The Art of Storytelling: Unleashing the Power of Words.”

2. Pay attention to italicization and quotation marks: Different types of titles require different formatting. When referring to long works or standalone publications, such as books, films, plays, or albums, use italics. For example, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” or “The Shawshank Redemption.” Conversely, use quotation marks for shorter works like articles, poems, or song titles, such as “The Death of the Moth” or “Bohemian Rhapsody.

One of the key elements in writing is maintaining consistency and clarity in your title formatting. This not only enhances the aesthetic appearance of your work but also ensures that readers can easily navigate through your content. To achieve this, here are some useful tips to consider:

1. Use a uniform font style and size: Consistency in font style and size throughout your title formatting helps create a harmonious visual experience for your readers. Select a font that is clear and easy to read, and stick to it for all your titles.

2. Standardize capitalization: Decide on a format for capitalizing your titles and stick to it. Whether you prefer title case (capitalizing the first letter of each word) or sentence case (capitalizing only the first word and any proper nouns), choose one method and use it consistently throughout your writing.

3. Implement a hierarchy with heading levels: Utilizing HTML heading tags, such as

In the world of writing, it is essential to understand the correct way of underlining titles of essays. To assist you in becoming a master of this rule, here are some valuable resources and tools that will provide clarity and help you avoid any confusion in the future.

1. Online Writing Guides: Several online writing guides offer comprehensive explanations and examples on underlining titles of essays. These guides break down the rules, providing you with a step-by-step understanding of when and how to underline titles correctly. Look for reputable sources such as Writing Center websites or style guides from academic institutions.

2. Style Manuals: Consult style manuals that cover writing conventions, such as the Chicago Manual of Style or the Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook. These manuals not only outline the rules for underlining titles but also provide guidance on other important writing elements. Be sure to have these manuals accessible for quick reference when you encounter uncertainties.

3. Writing Forums and Communities: Engaging in writing forums and communities can be incredibly beneficial to hone your knowledge. Participating in discussions and asking questions will connect you with fellow writers who have faced similar challenges. Their insights and experiences will prove invaluable as you navigate the intricacies of underlining titles.

4. Word Processing Tools: Utilize the resources available on your word processing software to format your titles correctly. For instance, Microsoft Word offers built-in tools for formatting essay titles, making it easy to apply the appropriate style (such as underlining) with just a few clicks.

Remember, the key to mastering the rules for underlining titles of essays lies in practice, reference, and staying informed. By utilizing these resources and tools, you will gain confidence and ensure that your titles receive the emphasis they deserve. Stay persistent in honing your skills, and soon underlining essay titles will be second nature to you.

Q: Are essay titles underlined in writing? A: No, essay titles should not be underlined. Instead, they should be italicized.

Q: What is the proper way to format essay titles? A: Essay titles should be italicized to distinguish them from the rest of the text. For example, “The Importance of Education in Society.”

Q: Why should essay titles be italicized and not underlined? A: Italicizing essay titles provides a clearer visual distinction between the title and the rest of the text. Underlining essay titles used to be the norm in typewritten or handwritten papers when italics were not available. However, with the advent of modern word processing software, italics have become the accepted style.

Q: Can I use quotation marks instead of italics? A: Quotation marks are usually reserved for shorter works like articles, short stories, or individual episodes of TV shows. Longer works like essays, books, or films should be italicized. So, it’s advisable to use italics rather than quotation marks for essay titles.

Q: Are there any exceptions to italicizing titles? A: Yes, there are some cases where italics are not used. For example, when referring to ancient texts like the Bible or The Iliad, they are usually capitalized but not italicized. However, in most contemporary writing, italics remain the preferred choice.

Q: Do the rules for italicizing essay titles apply to all forms of writing? A: The rules for italicizing titles are typically followed in academic writing, including essays, research papers, and articles. However, different style guides may have their own specific guidelines, so it’s important to consult the appropriate style guide for your document’s context.

Q: What are some commonly used style guides that provide guidelines for formatting titles? A: Some commonly used style guides include the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, the American Psychological Association (APA) style, and the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS). These guides offer comprehensive rules on formatting titles and can be a handy resource for writers.

Q: Can I underline an essay title if I don’t have access to italics? A: If you’re unable to use italics in your writing (e.g., when handwriting a paper), underlining can be an acceptable substitute. However, with modern word processing software, italics are readily available, making underlining titles unnecessary in most cases.

Q: How can adhering to proper title formatting enhance the clarity and professionalism of my writing? A: Using the correct formatting, such as italicizing essay titles, helps readers easily identify and distinguish titles within a text. It conveys a sense of professionalism and adherence to accepted writing standards, thereby enhancing the overall clarity and readability of your work.

Do You Underline Newspaper Titles in Writing? Expert Clarification

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Best Tips on How to Title an Essay

How to Make a Good Title for an Essay

The success of an essay heavily depends on its title. This may not come as a surprise given that the essay title is the first aspect to provide the reader with a sneak peek into the text. It piques our interest to read the paper in the first place and gives us a preview of what to expect from the author.

Our research paper writing help prepared a thorough guide on how to title an essay. Here you may find tips and tricks for developing an effective APA or MLA essay title. So, let's dive straight into the article for more exciting details!

Essay Title Format

During your essay writing process, ensure you know the stylistic requirements before beginning an essay. Knowing the format you need to employ is crucial because different style manuals may have varying requirements. Mostly, you could have used an APA or MLA essay title format. Our service, where you can buy essay online , explains these two in more detail below.

Essay Title MLA

If you're required to create an essay title MLA format, check whether your instructor wants you to make a separate cover page. If not, put a heading at the beginning of your work that includes your name, the name of your professor, the course ID, and, lastly, the date.

On the other hand, if you must present a cover page for your essay title MLA, then you need to include the following:

The name of the college
The title of your paper
The subtitle of your paper, if applicable
Your first and last name
Your teacher or professor's name
The class name or course number
The date the paper is due

The formatting instructions are as follows:

Double-spaced
Times New Roman font
Size 12 font
Apart from very short terms, each word's initial letter should be capitalized. The initial word, however, must always be uppercase.
The title page shouldn't include a header with the page numbers.

Essay Title APA

Having discussed the MLA format essay title, let's explore what the APA student title page includes:

The paper title
Author names
Institutional affiliation where the author carried out the study
Name and number of the course
Professor name
Page number

The title of an essay format instructions:

double-spaced
1" margins
12-point Times New Roman
According to APA, your title should be targeted and brief, without unnecessary words or abbreviations

How to Choose a Good Title for an Essay: Important Qualities

Nobody will read a dull headline. Your title should grab your audience's attention and encourage them to read the rest of the work. As it is one of the initial things readers see, having a strong attention grabber is essential when writing an essay from scratch. To fully understand how to come up with a title for essay that is strong and exciting, let's consider a few following factors:

Employ a Catchy Hook - Usually, the title of essay format follows a similar basic structure, especially if they are used for an academic article. The hook serves as a unique component that attracts the reader. It's a captivating statement informing others about the topic of the essay. You can also explore several types of sentences with examples that can help you develop the ideal hook structure.

Consider Topic Keywords - These are essential terms or expressions pertinent to your subject and help your reader understand the focus and body of your article. These focus keywords should serve as a brief, one- to two-word article summary. You can choose some terms from the research topic your instructor gave you, but after your thesis statement is formed, this is where you should hunt for ideas.

Use a Colon - A colon is frequently used in academic titles to separate concepts and sentences. The standard procedure is to place a clever remark or brief quotation before the colon. Although these beginning words offer flavor, they can be overdone. Because of this, some individuals find using the colon to be repugnant. Therefore be careful not to misuse this method.

Ask a Question - To write essay title that is strong, consider asking a question. But, use it with caution because posing a question will make your tone less formal. As long as the question is suitably phrased to meet the subject of your essay, feel free to employ it. Always check to see if the title question still applies to your points in the essay's body. The thesis statement should be appropriately reflected as well.

Find Inspirational Quotes - There is no formula for selecting essay titles from the textual content. You may get playful and choose any quotation, proverb, or catchphrase that applies to your particular publication and works as a title. You may also create a great essay title using well-known expressions or idioms. Doing so will help your readers relate to and feel more comfortable discussing your subject.

Here are other rules for how to create a good title:

Title every section of writing: In the process of writing, create interesting subheadings to give your paragraphs an identity. Also, they make your text look ordered and clear.
The title must bear the theme of the text: choose a title that summarizes the essay.
Capitalize all words with certain exceptions: Capitalize the first letter of every word in the title, but do not capitalize pronouns, articles, prepositions, and conjunctions.
Avoid underlining the title: Since topics come in boldface, underlining it will amount to overemphasis. Some authorities say that if you must underline it, do not bolden it.
Review the final version of the title: Do not forget to do a quick review of the final version of the title—check for grammar, structure, spelling and so on. Re-read it to determine if the title has given justice to the essay. Confirm if the topic is catchy enough to attract your reader’s attention.
When using a colon in your title, follow the rules: Since we are dealing with punctuation rules here, let us talk about the colon – when you have two eye-catching topics, separate them with a colon.

Student’s Guide on How to Come Up with a Title for an Essay

Titling an essay can be easy, but there are a few core principles to be taken into account. The following tips will help you stay on track and avoid any common pitfalls.

Essay Goes First

Never start with a title! If you write it before the rest of the text, it will be based on it, and it should be vice versa. Writing an essay before choosing a heading will give you a clear understanding of what should make sense to the reader. Re-read the finished paper several times to decide on the title. The last thing to create is a title - such strategy will give more time to spend on crafting an essay outline, conducting research, or writing the paper itself.

What are you writing about? What is the style of your paper, and is it an academic essay or a free-form essay like a narrative essay? If the topic of your essay is “Do people who commit heinous crimes deserve the death penalty?” your title should not be humorous; it should be strict and to the point.

If your topic is “Why do people like watching funny cat videos?”, feel free to craft a funny title. Determine the tone of your essay and base your title on it—in consideration with the essay’s topic.

The tone can be:

Serious - “The implications of global warming”
Funny - “How cats and dogs love their masters”
Amiable - “Ways to fight depression”
Persuasive - “Why positive thinking is a must have skill for every person”
Informative - “Ten rules for creating a chemical at home”

The main goal of a title is to name its paper. There is no need to tell an entire story in the title, or provide any useless details. Sum up your paper in a few words! Another way to do this is to sum up your thesis statement, as it represents the main idea of your essay. Take your thesis and squeeze it into 3-4 words. Imagine that you are creating a title for your favourite newspaper or a slogan for Coca-Cola.

Don’t use fancy words! Take 2-3 main words (keywords), put them together, and stop wasting your time. Avoid jargon and abbreviations.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is something that can help any student and young writer reap benefits. While working on a title, detect the words related to the central idea of the paper. Type the words into the search field of Google and add the word “quote.” A search engine will show numerous web pages with in-text quotations that could be useful. Select the fragment you like. It is possible to learn how to make a creative title for an essay in this way.

Discover several more tips from experts:

Never forget the “What,” “Who,” “When,” “How,” “Why,” and “Where” questions (if you start with one of these questions, your title has a chance of getting noticed);
Come up with an unexpected image not related to the selected topic;
Sometimes, starting with a lie increases the chances of a title being able to catch an eye;
Review our catchy essay title examples.

Need Some Help With Your Essay's Title?

Feel free to contact EssayPro and we will provide you with a writing help at a moment’s notice. With the years of essay writing experience, titling becomes second nature, so you no longer need to worry about having a catchy headline on your paper.

Essay Title Examples: Bad vs Good

The strongest essay titles condense lengthy essays into concise statements. When wondering how to make an essay title, think carefully about your stylistic choices and essay format to produce an excellent one. Our dissertation help has provided essay title examples to let you understand the difference between good and bad ones more vividly.

Bad Essay Title Examples

As we discussed how to create an essay title and the specific elements that go into it, you should have a clear idea of how important it is to craft a strong title. In contrast, first, look at weak essay title ideas that can break your paper. This should serve as an example of why your heading should not be like this:

Ex 1: ' How Television Has Changed Our World ' - too vast and not informative

Ex 2: 'The Ara Pacis Augustae' - unclear for those who don't know Latin

Ex 3: 'The Most Poisonous Frog' - does not provide any insight

Ex 4: 'A Brief History of Subcultures and How They Manifest Themselves in a Constantly Changing Socio-Economic Environment' - too long and complicated

Ex 5: 'The Little Mermaid 29 Years Later: Selling a Harmful Sexist Message Through a Naughty Image' - inappropriate language

Good Essay Title Examples

Now that you know what a bad essay title looks like, let's explore good essay title examples as their substitutes. Examine the following essay title format styles that will give you a clear understanding.

Ex 1: ' The Electronic Babysitter: A Social History of Uses of the Television' - gives an exact description of what the essay will be about

Ex 2: ' The Modern Historical Significance of the Ara Pacis Augustae to the City of Rome' - here, the reader can understand what they will be reading about

Ex 3: ' A Deadly Beauty: The Evolution of Skin Coloration and Toxicity of the Poisonous Dart Frog' - clear, informative, and on-point.

Ex 4: 'Reconsidering Counterculture in Contemporary Society' - informative enough and brief

Ex 5: 'The Projection of Gender Stereotypes in The Little Mermaid' - employs appropriate language

Catchy Essay Title Ideas

You now understand that long, complicated headlines do not accurately convey the paper's main idea. Take ample time to consider the word choice before tilting your work. How do you create good essay titles? Think creatively and with common sense. But meanwhile, for your convenience, we compiled title ideas for essays you may use as inspiration.

Persuasive Essay Titles

Why Receiving College Education is Important: Examining Long-term Benefits
Face-to-Face Courses Cannot Be Replaced by Online Learning
An MBA Does Not Ensure Corporate Success.
Every Company Should Adopt a Green Strategy.
Energy Drinks Represent a Lucrative Market Segment.
Aircraft, Excess Weight Charges, Need to be Prohibited.
Patients' Life Shouldn't be Put to Death by Nurses.
Google Glasses May Increase the Number of Auto Accidents.
All of the Conventional Malls Will Soon be Replaced By Online Shopping
How Do Team-building Exercises Contribute to the Development of Inventions?
Illegal immigrants are entitled to remain in the US.

Academic Essay Titles

Several English Dialects: The Link Between Various Cultures
Instagram: A social media innovation
Is it possible to reverse drug-induced brain damage, and if so, how?
What the Future Holds for Humans in the Light of Artificial Intelligence
The Story of Two Nations after Decades of Conflict: North and South Korea
Video Games and Their Learning Context in Schools
Free Wi-Fi: Strategies for Enhancing the City's Economy

Strong Research Paper Titles

Digital World Cybersecurity
E-business to Provide New Paths for Booksellers
Outsourcing for Large Businesses
Preparing for College Costs for High School Students
What News Reporters Should Do in the Digital Age and How to Do It: Examples
The Transformative Power of Music: How Heavy Metal Impacted My Life

Best Essay Titles for College Students

The Possible Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence for Humans
The Potential for Time Travel in Virtual Reality
What Role Has Mathematics Played in Human History?
How to Succeed in the Real Estate Industry
E-Commerce: An Empire of Virtual Businesses Worth Millions of Dollars
How to Achieve Financial Independence in the Digital Age Without Opening a Real Business

More Creative Titles for Essays

When getting rewarded for their grades, would kids do better left alone?
How Does Fake News Impact the Mainstream press?
Homelessness in Contemporary Society: A Dilemma
What News Reporters' Best Job Is in the Digital Age and How to Uphold It
Elon Musk: Brilliant Mind or Insane Person?
Positives and Negatives of Employing a Smoker
Do We Employ the Appropriate Student Success Metrics?

Professional Academic Help

Now that you know how to make a good title for an essay, you should also understand that you should approach the task as a process. While composing your essay title, you must condense your whole thesis and point of discussion into a single, concise, yet powerful sentence. If you have time before your deadline, give it some thought and don't hurry.

Don't forget that you can always rely on our professional academic assistance, whether you need a reflection paper , ideas for a strong essay title, or any other academic papers. Consider the following words - write my essay for me - magic keywords for delegating your most complex tasks to our skilled writers!

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How To Title An Essay?

How to title an essay in mla format, what are some good titles for an essay, related articles.

How to Write a Summary of a Book with an Example

When writing a paper, do I use italics for all titles?

Simply put: no .

APA's Publication Manual (2020) indicates that, in the body of your paper , you should use italics for the titles of:

"books, reports, webpages, and other stand-alone works" (p. 170)
periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers)

Beyond APA's specific examples, know that certain types of titles are almost always written in italics.

A general rule of thumb is that within the text of a paper, italicize the title of complete works but put quotation marks around titles of parts within a complete work.

The table below isn't comprehensive, but it's a good starting point

On an APA-style reference page , the rules for titles are a little different. In short, a title you would italicize within the body of a paper will also be italicized on a reference page. However, a title you'd place in quotation marks within the body of the paper (such as the title of an article within a journal) will be written without italics and quotation marks on the references page.

Here are some examples:

Smith's (2001) research is fully described in the Journal of Higher Education.

Smith's (2001) article "College Admissions See Increase" was published in the Journal of Higher Education after his pivotal study on the admissions process.

Visit the APA Style's " Use of Italics " page to learn more!

Reading and Writing
Last Updated Jun 12, 2022
Views 2137911
Answered By Kate Anderson, Librarian

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Comments (8)

Nice, quick, concise listing. Good format to save for quick reference by AlonzoQuixano on May 14, 2015
Thank you so much for the information. It was so helpful and easily understandable. by mary woodard on Jun 29, 2015
Is it the same for MLA writing? Thanks Sara, Librarian: Lesa, Rasmussen College doesn't teach or focus on MLA for students. But if you have specific MLA formatting questions, I recommend you take a look at the MLA FAQ website here: https://www.mla.org/MLA-Style/FAQ-about-MLA-Style by Lesa D.W on Dec 04, 2015
What about the name of a community program, for example Friend's Read. Would you use quotations or italics? Sara, Librarian: Adriana, great question. for organization or program names in the text of a paper you don't need to use italics or quotation marks. Just capitalize the major words of the organization or program like you did above with Friend's Read. by Adriana on Apr 11, 2016
Thank you for this posting. I am writing a paper on The Crucible and, surprisingly, I couldn't find on the wonderfully thorough Purdue Owl APA guide whether titles of plays are italicized or in quotes. by J.D. on Apr 18, 2016
this was really helpful, thank you by natalie on Dec 11, 2016
thank you so much, this is very helpful and easy to understand. by Mendryll on Jan 24, 2017
Thank you! I am also wondering, do you capitalize only the first word of the title when using it in the text of your paper, like you are supposed to do in the references list? Or do you capitalize all the "important" words like usual? Sara, Librarian Reply: Ashley, within the text of your paper you should capitalize all the important words like you normally would. Thank you for your question! by Ashley on Dec 04, 2017

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Writing Tips

Titles in Essays (Italics or Quote Marks?)

4-minute read

26th February 2018

Formatting your own essay title is easy (just bung a Heading style on it). Unfortunately, the rules about formatting the titles of existing published works (e.g. a textbook or an article from a journal) are more complicated. Usually, though, it comes down to one question: italics or quote marks?

But most students will need to name a book, journal or website in an essay at some point, so it’s important to know how this works. To help you out, we’ve prepared this guide on when to use italics and when to use quote marks for titles.

When to Use Italics

Titles of longer works are usually italicised. A ‘longer work’ in this case is something presented as a standalone publication. Charles Dickens’ famous novel, for example, would be written as Great Expectations if it were named in an essay.

Other examples of longer works that should be italicised include:

Books and book-length poems (e.g. ‘An analysis of The Wasteland shows…’)
Journals, newspapers and magazines (e.g. ‘According to The Guardian …’)
Websites and blogs (e.g. ‘The project was funded via Unbound …’)
Films (e.g. ‘ Jaws broke several box-office records…’)
TV series (e.g. ‘Many fans of The X-Files claim…’)
Plays and other stage shows (e.g. ‘This production of Swan Lake is…’)
Paintings and works of art (e.g. ‘The Mona Lisa is currently housed…’)
Music albums (e.g. ‘The album Sticky Fingers was released in…’)

The key factor is that all of these are standalone products, not part of a greater whole. The main exceptions to this rule are holy texts, such as the Bible, which are not typically italicised.

Italics are also used for the names of particular vehicles in some cases, especially ships and spacecraft. For example, we might write about the space shuttle Enterprise or the HMS Beagle (note that the ‘HMS’ is not italicised, since this is an abbreviation).

When to Use Quote Marks

Quote marks , meanwhile, are usually saved for shorter works. These are often part of a larger publication, such as an article in a newspaper or a chapter in an edited book. For example, if we were to name a book and a chapter in one place we’d write:

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Hugh Wilder’s ‘Interpretive Cognitive Ethology’ was first published in Readings in Animal Cognition , edited by Marc Bekoff and Dale Jamieson.

As indicated by the italics, the book here is called Readings in Animal Cognition . ‘Interpretive Cognitive Ethology’, meanwhile, is an essay from the book, so we use quote marks for this title.

Cases where quotation marks are used for titles include:

Chapters from books
Articles in newspapers, magazines and journals
Particular pages or articles from a website
Individual poems and short stories
Episodes from a TV show

It is also common to use quote marks for unpublished writing regardless of length. For example, if you were referring to an unfinished manuscript or a PhD dissertation, you would put the title in quote marks; but if these same documents were published, you would use italics.

Look Out for Exceptions!

The guidelines above will apply in most cases, but there are exceptions. The APA style guide, for example, recommends italicising book titles in the main text of an essay, but not in the reference list. As such, it is wise to check your style guide to see if it has specific advice on formatting titles.

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Properly Format Your Titles: Underlines, Italics, and Quotes | Writer’s Relief

by Writer's Relief Staff | Format Your Writing , Proofreading , Punctuation | 47 comments

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Formatting titles gives some writers a headache. Should the title of songs, stories, movies, books, screenplays, etc. be in italics or quotes? When you’re trying to remember if you’re supposed to use underlining or italics or quotation marks for titles, here are a few simple rules from Writer’s Relief.

Remember that people used to type their work or write it longhand. When titles needed to be italicized, italics were represented by underlining. These days, many people avoid underlining to minimize confusion between words that are underlined and hyperlinks.

3 Simple Tips For Properly Formatting Titles Of Books, Stories, Poems

1) Underlining and italics serve the same purpose. Never do both. Do NOT use quotation marks, underline, or italics together.

2) For any work that stands on its own, you should use italics or underline. (Stories or chapters from within a book are considered PARTS of the book.)

Quick Formatting Style Guide For Your Titles

Books: Italics or Underline

CDs: Italics or Underline

Articles (Newspaper or Magazine): Quotation Marks

Chapter Titles (not chapter numbers): Quotation Marks

Magazines, Newspapers, Journals: Italics or Underline

Names of Ships, Trains, Airplanes, Spacecraft: Italics

Poems : Quotation Marks

Plays: Italics

Short Stories : Quotation Marks

Song Titles: Quotation Marks

Special Phrases (“let them eat cake”), Words, or Sentences: Quotation Marks

Television Shows and Movies: Italics

Television and Radio Episode Titles: Quotation Marks

Knowing when to use quotes, italics, or underlining can be tricky. Writer’s Relief proofreaders can help you proofread your creative writing submissions to be sure your titles are properly formatted.

For more formatting and writing tips follow Writer’s Relief on Twitter!

47 Comments

The English language is hard, man.

Esperanto is a lot better. I suggest looking into it.

That is false, you actually may use both quotes and italics. In certain cases of course.

Thannks! Needed help quickly and got it here 😀

this was a really nice resource for writing a paper that drew on multiple types of resources, thanks. only thing I didn’t find was formatting for movies!

Samuel is correct. You may underline, italicize, or put a quotation mark around the desired title of a book. Many people, (at first,) used to underline the titles of books. People now tend to italicize or put a quotation mark around a title of a book.

Whenever possible, italicizing book titles is a must. However, on social media, we prefer to use ALL caps; we may be in the minority for that—according to a recent poll by Grammar Girl: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/formatting-titles-twitter-and-facebook

Thanks! I have a huge test tomorrow and needed to get some quick study time in.

Formatting needs to adjust for social media, italics aand underline doesn’t work across platforms…. we’re living in the internet age still ruled by the before Internet age period. As of yet unnamed. Please some one fix this and also think of a name. Thx

what about sculptures paintings etc?

jj, sculptures and paintings would be italicized.

Great information, thank you. Do you know how webinar titles should be formatted? Thanks you in advance.

TF, webinar titles should be italicized.

Do you italicize or use quotation marks for the titles of publishers?

Hi, Olivia– Neither. The publisher’s name is just initial capped.

Do all of these rules apply to only books or do they apply to screenplays as well?

Good article!

Very helpful article!

Thanks a bunch!

What if I’m typing the title of a song and quoting what someone said about that song in the same sentence? Is it okay to put quotation marks around both the song title and what the person said? I know it’s grammatically correct but it just doesn’t look right and seems confusing.

The correct way to do it is to put both in quotation marks. If you gave a list of song titles in a sentence, each would be in quotation marks, so having multiple sets of items in quotation marks in one sentence is not uncommon.

Hi, if i want to quote a sentence for text evidence and the author underlined a word in that sentence, then do I have to underline that word when I quote also? Thank You

In copying quoted material, you should follow the extract exactly.

What about albums/EP names? Quote or italics for those?

Per the Chicago Manual of Style, titles of music albums are italic.

Hi! How would you format a quote from a short story from a series? Would you put the series in italics, but the story title itself in quotes?

Would this be appropriate?

“‘Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me,’ I observed.” – Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, “The Red-Headed League”

Is the title of a film series e.g. Star Wars put in italics or quotes?

The name of a specific film is in italics. The name of the series itself doesn’t use italics or quotes. Hope this helps!

Okay so this sentence The author said “James Joyce’s Dubliners is a circular analysis of stagnation and entrapment leading to both individual and collective death in a dead city.” Am I suppose to italicize that or leave it as be? It was in an article.

Hi Nehemiah,

“Dubliners” is the title of a book, so it would be italicized. If the sentence is in quotation marks, it doesn’t need to be italicized.

I’ve been looking but I can’t find any rules around referring to a blog in copy. Does anyone know the rule for this? The context is as follows>

Joe also writes a blog: Good Grammar

Titles of blogs are in italics.

Hello, I would like to subscribe for this weblog to take latest updates, so where can i do it please assist.

You can sign up for our mailing list here: https://writersrelief.com/submit-write-now/

I realize this isn’t really about quotation marks, but I get the distinct impression you know your stuff. Perhaps you can answer this question for me. I do transcription and we don’t use italics. Instead, we use quotation marks. Here is the sentence causing me grief:

“Hi, I’m from “Fern”.”

According to the guidelines I need to follow, Fern has to be in quotations because it’s a magazine title. However, this just doesn’t look right to me. It is correct? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

We can’t really speak toward your particular case, since typically a magazine title would be in italics. Your company follows its own guidelines, so the guidelines we follow wouldn’t really apply. You could consider putting the magazine title in all caps, or using single quotations within the double quotations.

What would you suggest for musical works that are numbered, for example: Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony? Should ‘Fifth Symphony’ be in italics or quotes, or just in normal type?

The title of a musical work is italicized. Whether there is a number in it has no relevance.

If you were to write the name of a charity, would you italicize, underline, or put it in quotation marks.

We recommend checking the Chicago Manual of Style for a definitive answer.

If I am referencing the title of a research paper or special assignment that I wrote, do I put it in quotation marks, or possibly capitalize the first letter in each word? For example:

“The Impact of Globalization on the Global Economy”

If one character is in dialogue with another and is quoting an extract from for example a Shakespeare play, should the quote be in italics? e.g. “I love the quote ‘I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space’.”?

You would seem to have it correct!

Angel Langner, This advice is about a year late, but I never did see an answer for you. Use single quotation marks inside the double quotation marks. “Hi, I’m from ‘Fern.’” Periods and commas are always inside quotation marks.

I have a paper on gender. I am trying to figure out what to use for the Me Too and Times up campaigns?

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

What about MLA format?

All research papers on literature use MLA format, as it is the universal citation method for the field of literary studies. Whenever you use a primary or secondary source, whether you are quoting or paraphrasing, you will make parenthetical citations in the MLA format [Ex. (Smith 67).] Your Works Cited list will be the last page of your essay. Consult the OWL handout on MLA for further instructions.

Note, however, the following minor things about MLA format:

Titles of books, plays, or works published singularly (not anthologized) should be italicised unless it is a handwritten document, in which case underlining is acceptable. (Ex. Hamlet , Great Expectations )
Titles of poems, short stories, or works published in an anthology will have quotation marks around them. (Ex. "Ode to a Nightingale," "The Cask of Amontillado")

Tip If you're using Microsoft Word, you can easily include your name and page number on each page by following the these steps:

Open "View" (on the top menu).
Open "Header and Footer." (A box will appear at the top of the page you're on. And a "Header and Footer" menu box will also appear).
Click on the "align right" button at the top of the screen. (If you're not sure which button it is, hold the mouse over the buttons and a small window should pop up telling you which button you're on.)
Type in your last name and a space.
Click on the "#" button which is located on the "Header and Footer" menu box. It will insert the appropriate page number.
Click "Close" on the "Header and Footer" window.

That's all you need to do. Word will automatically insert your name and the page number on every page of your document.

What else should I remember?

Don't leave a quote or paraphrase by itself-you must introduce it, explain it, and show how it relates to your thesis.
Block format all quotations of more than four lines.
When you quote brief passages of poetry, line and stanza divisions are shown as a slash (Ex. "Roses are red, / Violets are blue / You love me / And I like you").
For more help, see the OWL handout on using quotes .

Professor Name

English XXXX-xx

Day Month Year

Start your introduction paragraph here. Remember to double-space your entire document!

This sample paper describes MLA guidelines for formatting papers for your English courses. For more information on document design, see the MLA handbook, or any writing handbook, and perhaps do a web search for "document design."

You will not need a cover page or a title page for your essay, so set up the first page of your paper as described above. Be sure to double-space your entire essa y, including the Works Cited page (even though this web-page is not). Use at least one-inch margins on all four sides . Use a 12-point �readable� font (e.g. , Times New Roman , Cambria, Arial , or Calibri ) . Indent the first line of each paragraph one tab. An extra space between paragraphs is optional.

Finally, do not submit your final draft in one of those plastic "report covers" or binders. Ask your instructor if s/he prefers you to staple your final draft.

In addition, check your paper for the following items:

You should NOT �quote,� bold , underline , italicize , CAPITALIZE, or enlarge your own title.
You might use the assignment title as your own title --or even the number of the assignment, such as Essay #1, as your own title. But some instructors, and readers, might prefer you to come up with a more original title of your own , one that reflects the essay's topic or central idea (argument) .
You should definitely proofread your final draft carefully before submitting it.

As you proofread, pay particular attention to the following items:

Be sure to spell the names of any other authors correctly; check your book s to be sure.
When you refer to another author in your paper, use her/his full name the first time; then use either her/his full name or last name; do not refer to an author by her/his first name only .
Be sure to spell any other name s correctly as well, such as characters' names in a novel or play ; check your book s to be sure.
When you refer to a character in your paper, use his/her full name the first time; thereafter, you may refer to a character by his/her first name or full name.
We underline or italicize the titles of books , movies, TV shows, and albums/CDs-- e.g. , Where No Gods Came and The Little Seagull Handbook are underlined or italicized -- but not both at the same time, and be consistent with which one you choose.
We put in �quotation marks� the titles of stories, poems, articles, chapters, individual TV episodes, individual songs, etc. (For really long titles, once you have used the long title once, such as "Leaves that Shimmer in the Slightest Breeze," you can use a shorter version thereafter , such as �Leaves t hat Shimmer.�)

These are the most common formatting functions (Word '97) :

To Change Margins -- Go to File -- then Page Setup
To Change to Double spacing -- Highlight the whole text -- then go to Format -- then Paragraph -- then Line Spacing (or Ctrl-A -- then Ctrl-2)
To Create a Header -- Go to View -- then Header and Footer

Essay Writing Guide

How To Title An Essay

How to Title an Essay - A Detailed Guide

10 min read

Why is it Important to Have a Good Essay Title?

A great essay title is very important, and it can make or break the overall quality of your essay.

The reason is pretty simple: the title you choose for your essay is the first thing that will decide if your readers will continue reading your paper or not.

That’s why the choice of words and how you create a title is very important. If you are thinking the content of your essay is what matters, then you are wrong. To get a good grade and impress your teacher, every part of the paper plays an important role.

Creating a title that convinces people to read your essay also allows you to showcase your knowledge and writing skills.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

What are the Basic Components of an Essay Title?

There are different types of essays , and each essay has a specific structure that can be followed for writing a well-written paper. Creating an essay title has it is own method, too.

Below, you can find the main components of an essay title.

The Catchy Hook: It introduces the topic in the most interesting and creative way.
Topic Keywords: It is the ‘what’ question of your essay. This component of an essay title identifies the concept that you will discuss in your essay.
Focus Keywords: It is the ‘when’ and ‘where’ question of your essay. It provides more information about the headline and makes it more professional.

How To Make A Good Title For An Essay?

There are a few principles that you should keep in mind when titling an essay.

Write Essay First, Title in the Last

One effective approach is to complete your entire essay first and then tackle the title last. This method allows you to gain a comprehensive understanding of what would resonate with your readers.

Utilize Your Thesis

Your thesis statement , typically found in your essay's introductory paragraph, can be a goldmine for title inspiration. Reworking it can lead to a compelling and relevant essay title.

Take into Account the Tone of Your Paper

Consider the tone of your essay, as it significantly influences the title's choice. For serious topics, maintain a serious and appropriate tone in your title.

Use Relevant Keywords

Incorporate two to three relevant keywords within your title. These keywords should reflect the core themes of your essay and help potential readers find your work.

Get Help from Online Tools

Exploring online title generator tools can provide valuable insights into crafting an effective essay title. These tools can spark creativity and suggest suitable phrases that resonate with your essay's content.

Essay Titles in Different Formats

When titling an essay in different formats, it's important to follow the specific guidelines and formatting requirements of the style guide you are using. Below, you can find the basic guidelines for titling an essay for different formats:

Essay Title APA Format

Let's see what an APA title should include:

The title should be centered but not in bold or italics.
Use title case for the title.
Capitalize the first word of the title and any subtitles, as well as any major words within the title (e.g., The Psychology of Motivation: Understanding Human Behavior).
Use a 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font.

The Impact of Climate Change on Global Biodiversity

Essay Title MLA Format

Here is what an MLA paper title should include:

Title should be centered.
Use title case, which means capitalizing the first and last words of the title and all major words in between (e.g., The Art of Writing: Crafting Engaging Essays).
Do not underline, italicize, or use quotation marks for the title.
It's common to use a 12-point Times New Roman font.

Exploring the Themes in Shakespeare's Sonnets: Love, Time, and Beauty

Essay Title Chicago Format

Chicago style offers two options for formatting titles: headline-style and sentence-style.

Headline style: The title is in the title case and is centered. Major words are capitalized.

Example: The Decline of the Roman Empire: A Historical Analysis

Sentence style: The title is in sentence case (only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized). It is also centered. Use a 12-point Times New Roman or similar font.

Example: The decline of the Roman Empire: a historical analysis

MLA Format for a Book or Film Title Within the Essay

So, how to write a book title in an essay? If your essay discusses a book or film title, you would follow MLA formatting for titles within the essay. Enclose the title in double quotation marks.

Example: "The Catcher in the Rye": A Study of Adolescent Alienation

AMA Format (American Medical Association)

The title should be centered.
Use title case, with the first letter of major words capitalized (e.g., The Role of Genetics in Disease Prevention).
Do not use bold, italics, or quotation marks.
Use a 12-point Times New Roman font.

Example: The Impact of Nutrition on Cardiovascular Health

What are the Characteristics of a Good Essay Title?

A good essay title serves as a preview of the essay's content and should be engaging and informative. Here are the characteristics of a good essay title:

Clarity: The title should clearly convey the topic or subject matter of the essay. It should give the reader a sense of what to expect when they read the essay.
Relevance: The title should be directly relevant to the content of the essay. It should not mislead the reader by promising something that the essay does not deliver.
Conciseness: A good title is concise and to the point. It should be relatively short and avoid unnecessary words or phrases. Brevity is key.
Engagement: An effective title should be attention-grabbing and stimulate readers' interest. It should make them want to read the essay. This can be achieved through the use of intriguing language, a question, or a thought-provoking statement.
Originality: Aim for a title that is unique and original. Avoid clichés or overly generic titles that don't distinguish your essay from others on the same topic.
Balance: A good title strikes a balance between being descriptive and not giving away the entire essay. It should provide a sense of the topic without revealing all the details.
Appropriateness: Consider the context in which the essay will be read. The title should be appropriate for the intended audience and purpose of the essay.
Grammar and Style: The title should adhere to the rules of grammar and style for the chosen writing format (e.g., title case, sentence case) and should not contain errors.
Keywords: If relevant, include keywords or terms that are important to the subject matter. This can help with searchability and SEO if the essay is published online.
Readability: Ensure that the title is easy to read and understand. Avoid overly complex or jargon-filled titles unless the audience is well-versed in the subject matter.
Tone: The tone of the title should match the tone of the essay. For example, if the essay is serious and academic, the title should reflect that tone.
Memorability: A memorable title is more likely to stick in the reader's mind. If it's clever, thought-provoking, or evocative, it can make a lasting impression.

Additional Rules To Create a Good Essay Title

Here are additional rules and tips for creating a good title, summarized and rewritten in simpler language:

Title Each Section: Give every part of your writing a clear title. This helps organize your text and make it more understandable.
Reflect the Theme: Make sure your title reflects the main idea of your essay. It should give readers a good idea of what your essay is about.
Use Title Case: Capitalize the first letter of every word in your title, except for small words like pronouns (e.g., "it," "they"), articles (e.g., "a," "an," "the"), prepositions (e.g., "in," "on," "at"), and conjunctions (e.g., "and," "but"). These small words are not capitalized unless they are the first word in the title.
Avoid Underlining: Don't underline your title. Bold text is usually sufficient to emphasize the title. Some experts suggest that if you really want to underline it, don't bold it at the same time to avoid overemphasis.
Review and Edit: Always review the final version of your title. Check for grammar, structure, spelling, and overall quality. Re-read it to make sure it effectively represents your essay's topic and captures your reader's attention.
Using a Colon: If you decide to use a colon in your title, remember to follow the rules. A colon is used to separate two interesting parts of the title.
Simplify and Keep It Short: Rewrite your title in simple words and try to keep it short. Concise titles are often more effective.

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Some Interesting Example Essay Titles

If you are struggling to come up with a good essay title, refer to the following section. Here, you will find some interesting title examples for different kinds of essays.

How to Title an Essay About Yourself - Examples

Things that make you happy
The significance of personal growth
Your definition of feminism
Why is volunteering important?
The importance of a healthy lifestyle
Your favorite memory
Your proudest moment
Your secret talent
A place you’d want to go
Your most unfortunate day

How to Title an Essay for College - Examples

Poop, animals, and the environment
From homeschooling to the football field
The civil rights movement and its effects
Internet Influence on Kids
The popularity of Sports in the United States
A book that sparks your love for literature
The steps you took to fix an error in coding a program
A serious illness you battled
A talent you have had since you were young
A documentary that made you aware of a particular issue

Example Argumentative Essay Titles

Should animal testing be banned?
Is healthcare a basic human right?
Why does homework not improve learning?
Should video games be considered a sport?
Should teachers be paid more?
Is standardized testing effective?
Is space travel a waste of money?
Effects of video games on children
Is cloning ethical?
Is globalization good or bad?

How to title an essay examples - MyPerfectWords.com

Example Research Paper Titles

How does a search engine work?
Attention deficit disorder
Limitations of the media
What are the gender issues in education?
What are the pros and cons of school uniforms?
Discrimination in education
Education and funding
Disadvantages of homeschooling
How can eating disorders be treated?
Interracial marriage

Example Descriptive Essay Titles

The most beautiful place on earth
The beauty of the starry sky
A perfect companion for me
The best concert I attended Why I like my smartphone
An unusual room
Your favorite food
A favorite photograph
An accident scene
Your favorite car

Hopefully, now you understand how to title an essay in the best way possible. Refer to the above guidelines before you begin the writing process.

However, you can also get help from our essay writing company if you don’t know how to title an essay. Professional essay writers at MyPerfectWords.com can help you write a creative title or even the whole essay from scratch for you.

Feel free to contact our paper writer online anytime and get the best essay writing help.

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Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

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Italics and Underlining: Titles of Books

When writing, the decision about how to type a title can be particularly vexing. Should you underline the title, use quotations, italicize, or try some one-of-a-kind styling? To make matters more confusing, popular style guides offer different guidelines and grammar rules. Plus, the answer varies, depending on whether you have a book title, chapter title, article title, song title, or movie title on your hands. What’s a grammar enthusiast to do?

Here’s the short answer: italicize book titles.

In this article, we’ll discuss the recommendations that different style guides make and the history of how these formatting preferences evolved.

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The Chicago Manual of Style

Books: Italics

Magazine Articles: Quotes

Albums: Italics

Poems: Quotes, unless book length

Book Chapters: Quotes

Art: Italics

Songs: Quotes

Associated Press (AP Style)

Books: Quotes

Magazine Articles: N/A

Albums: Quotes

Poems: Quotes

Book Chapters: N/A

Art: Quotes

American Psychological Association (APA Style)

Modern language association (mla style), exceptions to the rules.

The above guidelines apply to most books; however, book series, handbooks, reference catalogs, and canonical texts (like the Bible) tend to be handled differently. In the event that you’re writing the title of a non-standard book, be sure to check with your preferred style guide for additional advice.

When do you underline, and when do you italicize?

Since the advent of the word processor, writers have more ways to signal emphasis than ever before. Whereas, in the past, some style guides recommended underlining titles, today most prefer italics or quotation marks. When you’re writing something by hand, underline the titles that would normally be italicized.

MLA, APA, and Chicago guides agree that the use of italics is appropriate for standard book titles. Only the Associated Press prefers quotation marks for the title of a book, and that’s because they do not ever advocate the use of italics. At first, this rule seems arbitrary. After thinking about it, I can picture a foreign correspondent submitting an longhand assignment after narrowly escaping danger; the Associated Press might avoid italics for the practical reason that they’re impossible to write by hand.

It’s not hard to remember the APA style rules—they’re the simplest of the bunch. If you’re writing the title of a larger work that can stand alone, then you should use italics. For shorter works that make up a portion of a larger whole—such as journal articles, short stories, or song titles—always use quotation marks.

As a general rule, the title of an article, album, chapter, or artwork will vary significantly from one style guide to another. Poems and song titles are almost always written the same way, within double quotation marks, no matter which stylebook you use.

How to Reference a Book

Chicago style.

Frost, Robert. Robert Frost: Selected Poems . New York: Fall River Press, 2015.

This publication manual, intended for journalism writing, only recommends in-text citations:

In “Robert Frost: Selected Poems,” Frost compared…
Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind” contains…
“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” by J. K. Rowling became…

Frost, R. (2015). Robert Frost: selected poems . New York: Fall River Press.

Frost, Robert. Robert Frost: Selected Poems . Fall River Press, 2015.

https://apvschicago.com/2011/04/titles-quote-marks-italics-underlining.html
https://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2012/03/how-to-capitalize-and-format-reference-titles-in-apa-style.html
https://morningside.libguides.com/MLA8/title
https://style.mla.org/citing-artwork-from-an-exhibition/
https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/punctuation/titles-using-italics-and-quotation-marks.html
https://twitter.com/apstylebook/status/1110901868350328833?lang=en
https://www.citationmachine.net/

Kari Lisa Johnson

I’m an award-winning playwright with a penchant for wordplay. After earning a perfect score on the Writing SAT, I worked my way through Brown University by moonlighting as a Kaplan Test Prep tutor. I received a BA with honors in Literary Arts (Playwriting)—which gave me the opportunity to study under Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel. In my previous roles as new media producer with Rosetta Stone, director of marketing for global ventures with The Juilliard School, and vice president of digital strategy with Up & Coming Media, I helped develop the voice for international brands. From my home office in Maui, Hawaii, I currently work on freelance and ghostwriting projects.

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A newsletter for novel writers looking for inspiration and advice on their creative journey.

Should You Underline Or Italicise Book Titles?

Maybe you’re writing your author bio or a blog post, or maybe you need to refer to a book in your own story.

But when it comes to typing in that book title, you find yourself hovering between the italics and underline buttons, unsure which to choose.

In most cases, there’s a straightforward answer to this conundrum, which means the general rule is nice and easy to remember once you know it.

Read on to get the lowdown on representing book titles in your writing.

Italicise or Underline Book Titles: The General Rule

Unless you’re following a style guide that specifically tells you otherwise, you should generally italicise book titles.

This is the rule you’ll find in many style guides, including the Chicago Manual of Style , Harvard referencing style and the Modern Language Association (MLA) .

These style guides are mainly targeted at academic writing, but if you look at magazines, periodicals and other edited print or digital publications, you’ll notice that most also italicise book titles.

If you happen across some older documents, you might see book titles underlined, as this used to be the standard. But underlining fell out of favour as computer technology improved and formatting and style options became more varied.

In contemporary practice, underlining is generally not considered a standard way of distinguishing book titles in your writing.

Having said that, there are style guides that prefer enclosing book titles in quotation marks over italics, so it’s always a good idea to check this. But if nothing is specified, italicization is the best fallback.

This might all seem a bit arbitrary, but ultimately, formatting book titles correctly is a matter of producing a professional, consistent piece of writing.

Following the expectations of specific publishers and publications is a big part of a writer’s role, and styling book titles correctly is one way of showing you can adhere to standard writing practices.

Why Does It Matter?

As writers, many of us are probably fairly pedantic when it comes to grammar , punctuation and style (I know I am!).

But just in case you’ve read this far and are still wondering why it really matters if you italicise or underline (or do anything at all), here’s some food for thought.

Distinguishing book titles in some way is important to avoid confusion. Many books have titles that aren’t automatically recognisable as book titles.

If titles are included in the flow of a sentence without any indication, they can pull readers up as they try to read the title as part of the sentence.

When you produce a piece of writing, you no doubt hope your audience will read it closely, think about it and enjoy it. But nothing throws a reader out of a piece of writing like incorrect or out-of-place punctuation and formatting.

If you underline book titles, you’ll potentially confuse readers and likely distract them from the content of your piece. They’ll start to think not about what you’re saying, but about the things that stand out as odd or incorrect!

The risk of confusion is particularly strong if you’re writing for digital publication . Readers typically expect that an underline on the web will be a hyperlink, so underlining book titles here is something to avoid.

For all these reasons, it’s in your best interests to present book titles accurately in your writing. It’ll help you come across as professional, and will make your piece clearer and easier to understand.

Are There Exceptions to the General Rule?

Beyond the case of a style guide that asks for something other than italics, there are few exceptions or special cases to the rule of italicising book titles.

One exception would be the very rare case where you’re writing by hand, because it’s pretty hard to represent italics in handwriting.

You might also need to submit writing through a web form, where it isn’t always possible to include formatting like italics.

In this case, sometimes there might be instructions that give you an alternative, but otherwise, enclosing titles in asterisks is a common way of indicating italics in this case.

Using all caps for the title is another option that’s commonly used on social media. Social media platforms are informal , so it isn’t as important to do things in a standard way here. As long as your meaning is clear, no one is likely to pull you up.

In the above cases, it’s often best to avoid using quotation marks as an alternative. Because quotation marks are used to signify other forms of writing (which we’ll get to in a minute), this could make things unclear.

Another special case you might come across is a chunk of italicised text that has a book title within it. In this case, you would remove the italics from the internal title so it stands out.

When quoting from a source that doesn’t italicise a book title, it’s generally considered acceptable to change titles in the quote so they’re italicised to match the style of your own work.

Again, this is really just a matter of being consistent so as not to cause confusion.

What About Other Kinds Of Titles?

We’ve covered book titles, but what about poems or blog posts? What about book series titles? This is where things get a bit more complicated – and where we get back to quotation marks.

If you’re italicising book titles, you’ll generally want to enclose the titles of poems, blog posts, articles or stories from an anthology in quotation marks.

Other things you’ll want to italicise include movie titles, magazine titles, and in most styles, overall website titles.

A good way to remember what needs italics and what needs quotation marks is that the pieces contained within books or larger ‘publications’ (which could include magazines, journals or blogs/websites) tend to be placed in quotation marks, while the larger publications themselves are italicised.

For example, a poem published in a literary journal would be styled: “Name of Poem”, Name of Literary Journal .

That seems easy enough, right? But what about book series titles?

Well, the jury’s out on this one. Even in the most professional of publications, you wouldn’t be surprised to see italicised or regular (roman) text when it comes to series titles.

MLA gives a confusing set of rules where the way book series titles are treated depends on whether the series title forms a part of each book’s title.

If it does, you can italicise the series title; otherwise, leave the series title in plain text.

For example, Nancy Drew is a series title you wouldn’t italicise, because the words ‘Nancy Drew’ are not in the book titles.

Harry Potter, on the other hand, could go either way, because ‘the Harry Potter series’ could mean the series about Harry Potter (the character’s name, so not italicised), or the series titled Harry Potter (a series title that also appears in the book titles, so italicised).

Talk about complicated!

Chicago’s rule of leaving series titles in plain text is much simpler and more logical. After all, a series is not a singular, physical book , and usually you’ll include the word ‘series’ in a sentence about a series, which will make things clear.

Having said all that, you probably will see series titles italicised in some places and not in others.

As long as you’re consistent and italicising doesn’t end up causing confusion between individual books and the series, it’s really up to you what you do in this case.

Should You Italicise Punctuation?

This is one of those things that only the most pedantic among us are likely to notice. But if you happen to get a particularly eagle-eyed reader or editor , it’s just the thing that might annoy them.

The rule for this one is that if punctuation and grammatical appendages are not a part of the original book title, they shouldn’t be italicised.

This can seem a little strange in some cases, but it’s really a sensible rule: these features are not part of the title itself, so to present them as though they are could be confusing.

In practice, this means that if you have a comma or full stop after your book title, you should turn italics off before that piece of punctuation. The same is true for dashes, question marks and any other punctuation.

A place where this rule might get confusing is when you need a possessive apostrophe with the book title. For example: ‘On Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ‘s cover …’

In this example, the possessive ‘s after ‘stone’ is not italicised because it’s not in the title itself.

Even if it strikes you as odd to have part of the word italicised and part not, it’s important to get this right to distinguish between what is and isn’t the book’s title.

All in all, the question of whether to italicise or underline a book title has a straightforward answer: italicise unless your style guide tells you otherwise.

But there are various nuances to be aware of for particular situations, or depending on the platform you’re publishing your writing on. And when it comes to other kinds of titles, it can all become a bit confusing.

The good thing is, once you’ve got it all in hand, getting italics, quotation marks and underlining right in titles and in your writing more broadly can make your writing more professional and consistent.

You’ll show publishers that you can follow formatting and style guidelines , and ensure that readers focus fully on your content.

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Essay Writing Titles: Being Creative Without Topic Generators

How to Write and Format your Essay Titles

Essay writing is a stage you cannot skip when you are in school or college. Essays are wide spread in all learning institutions. Through essay writing, a tutor is able to know as student’s analytical, persuasive and research skills.

As a student, you have to write the best essays if you want to please your tutors.

The discussion of a good essay cannot be complete without mentioning the title. In reality, the title can make or break the final appearance of the essay you are going to present. It has to be a title that will intrigue the professor or any other reader.

Needless to say, you need to be very selective in your choice of words and style of constructing an essay title.

The title you put in an essay reveals a lot about what the reader expects. It needs striking ideas that will make your readers yearn to read more. If the headline of your essay is not attention-grabbing, readers will find it boring to read on.

A goods essay title needs to engage the audience and incentivize them to continue enjoying the rest of your essay.

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Do You Underline Essay Titles?

Many writers make good arguments, storytelling and narrations in their essay but still end up with a bad score. Titling is what betrays these types of essays. It is important to learn proper ways of formatting your essay title so as to attract your readers.

Underlining, italicizing and bolding are some of the common pitfalls that bring total confusion to a writer.

In a typical essay, avoid underlining the title because it is not necessary. If your title is in boldface, you already have the emphasis that an essay title requires. Adding underlines will overemphasis the title. Nevertheless, if you opt to do it, there is no need for bolding the title.

A bold title that is underlined will not look good on your essay.

The same case applies to the subheadings you give to your paragraphs. Since every section of essay writing needs titling so that you audience find it easy to read, the text must look orderly. The titles should not be underlined because the spacing is enough to bring out the right emphasis.

For better clarity, the first letter of the words in your title should be in capital. However, this should not apply to pronouns, conjunctions, articles or prepositions.

Instances When You Italicize Essay Titles

When it comes to the use of italics font in essay, there are many factors to be considered.

Italicization of titles is advisable when the source is liberated and self-reliant. The titles written in films, books, databases and periodicals are usually italicized. This should be applicable to the titles that are within the body of your essay.

The main title of the essay does not have to be italicized.

Moreover, if the source of the title you are having is part of another work, the use of italics is recommended. It this case, italicization should be accompanied by quotation marks to put the right emphasis on the title and distinguish it from the rest.

When used in a title, the slanting style of italic fonts can be very effective in emphasizing the title. Generally, full works that include newspapers and books will appear better when the titles are in italics. Short writings such as stories and poems use quotation marks as opposed to italics.

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Do You Bold Essay Titles?

The titles in an essay should not be bold or even appear in quotation marks. As long as it is in the center and a double space appears, the styling is correct.

The use of a period after a title is also not recommended.

In addition, bolding of titles is not necessary because the centering and spacing is enough to show the audience the emphasis of the titles.

However, this depends on the format of writing. For instance, APA style recommends titles to be in boldface and at the center of the respective paragraphs. On top of this, there should be no inclusion of abbreviations or any unwanted words.

This is how to create a succinct title that has few words but delivers the accurate message to your audience.

Why Are Essay Titles Important?

The title you choose has an immense impact on your essay. As a matter of fact, it will determine if your audience will be interested in reading your essay or not.

The title is what gives the readers a brief explanation of what to expect in the entire easy. It should grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read more.

Wrong choice of title in an essay can be the defining point.

If the final essay you are going to submit does not have a catchy title, impressing your tutor will be difficult.

Through a title, the audience discovers how you develop the story arguments and they will want to read more. Therefore, a title plays an important role in the success of the entire essay.

When you present your essay, the first thing the reader will face is the title. If it is interesting, the reader will be eager to continue reading. If it is boring, it jeopardizes the judgment of your professor.

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Qualities of a Good Title

You have to write the best titles for your essay by observing the following qualities:

1. Make it as Attractive as Possible

There is no professor who will have time for an essay or academic paper that has a boring title. In essence, if the title is boring, there is a higher likelihood that other subtopics used and the entire content is the same. Thus, take time and invest in a title that is attractive to the readers.

As much as you want it to be catchy, believability should be observed. You might focus on creating an attractive title and end up straying away from the truth. This will not only make the headline inaccurate but also unprofessionally erroneous. In the end, a writer will have a catchy title that does not deliver the expectations in the essay body.

2. Simple to Read

It should be easy to read with no complicated or contentious words. Likeable titles in an essay do not contain strange and complicated phrases. Use common and recommended fonts with no complex structures.

3. Write in Active Voice

Stick to active voice when writing essay titles. Avoid the use of passive phrases in your titles. In addition to this, make them as brief as possible.

Long and complicated titles make it difficult for your audience to understand. Short titles demonstrate a writer’s ability to write concise essays.

4. Specific Titles

Professors recommend accurate titles no matter the topic you have. This gives the audience a clear knowledge of what the essay is all about. Inaccurate titles can dent the overall quality of your essay.

5. Avoid Controversy

To create effective titles in your essay, try not to sound offensive or negative so that you avoid controversy. Staying positive in your title and avoiding the use of controversial terms will ensure that your essay has a professional outlook. This simply means that even when the teacher gives you a dull and unexciting topic; try to make the titles positive.

Lest you forget, good titles make use of appropriate language to make a positive impression to readers.

To finalize your title, it is important to review the final version you have. Proof read thoroughly to check if there are spelling, grammar or sentence structure issues. Going through it several times will help you to know if the essay you have written deserves this kind of title.

When not handling complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

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IMAGES

Creating an MLA title page
How to Title an Essay: Tips and Examples
How to Title an Essay: Tips and Examples
💣 Strong titles for an essay. How to Title an Essay: Tips and Examples
Title Emphasis: Italicizing, Underlining, and Added Quotation Marks • 7ESL
Printable Title Page

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teachers when you dont underline your date or title:
English teachers when you dont underline the date and title (relatable)
Bling Bang Bang 🔥#manhwa #manhua #webtoon #manga #anime #manhuarecommendation
Teachers when you don’t underline your date and title 🙄 #fyp #britain #school #teachers #viral #fyp
HTML Class 2
Title Design in HTML and CSS (update)

COMMENTS

Knowing When To Underline Or Italicize: Your Go-To Guide
Wrapping Up. Now you know when to underline or italicize, and much more. To wrap up, italics should be used for the titles of longer works such as movies, books, and TV shows, and underlining for handwritten papers. In addition, we hope you've learned the more tricky rules such as question marks and commas, and that you've given some ...
Do You Underline Titles When Writing? The Essential Guide
To clear up this common convention, let's delve into the guidelines that will help you make the right decision every time you encounter a title. 1. **Underline Titles**: - Books: Underline the titles of complete books, such as *To Kill a Mockingbird*. - Magazines: Underline the titles of entire magazines, for example, *National Geographic*.
MLA Titles
Use quotation marks around the title if it is part of a larger work (e.g. a chapter of a book, an article in a journal, or a page on a website). All major words in a title are capitalized. The same format is used in the Works Cited list and in the text itself. Place in quotation marks. Italicize.
Do You Underline Titles of Essays in Writing? Master the Rules
Always underline the title of your essay when writing it by hand. When typing or using a word processing software, such as Microsoft Word, italicize the title of your essay instead of underlining. Ensure that the title is centered and properly capitalized, following the appropriate style guide (e.g., MLA, APA).
Formatting Titles
Simply type out the title using title case and bold it-that's it. On the first page of the essay, center and repeat the title, bold it, and use title case. Again, do not use any special formatting. Do not use a bigger font size or style. Do not underline or italicize and so forth.
How to Title an Essay: Tips and Examples
The main goal of a title is to name its paper. There is no need to tell an entire story in the title, or provide any useless details. Sum up your paper in a few words! Another way to do this is to sum up your thesis statement, as it represents the main idea of your essay. Take your thesis and squeeze it into 3-4 words.
When writing a paper, do I use italics for all titles?
On an APA-style reference page, the rules for titles are a little different.In short, a title you would italicize within the body of a paper will also be italicized on a reference page. However, a title you'd place in quotation marks within the body of the paper (such as the title of an article within a journal) will be written without italics and quotation marks on the references page.
Titles in Essays (Italics or Quote Marks?)
As indicated by the italics, the book here is called Readings in Animal Cognition. 'Interpretive Cognitive Ethology', meanwhile, is an essay from the book, so we use quote marks for this title. Cases where quotation marks are used for titles include: Chapters from books. Articles in newspapers, magazines and journals.
Writer's Web: Titles: Underline, Italics, or Quotations?
For titles of written or musical works that are published within other works use double quotations; underline or italicize names of works published by themselves: ex. I just read the short story "Looking for Jake" in China Miéville's anthology of the same name, Looking for Jake. ex. Beckett's play Waiting for Godot will be performed next season.
Properly Format Your Titles: Underlines, Italics, and Quotes
3 Simple Tips For Properly Formatting Titles Of Books, Stories, Poems. 1) Underlining and italics serve the same purpose. Never do both. Do NOT use quotation marks, underline, or italics together. 2) For any work that stands on its own, you should use italics or underline. (Stories or chapters from within a book are considered PARTS of the book.)
Formatting
Your Works Cited list will be the last page of your essay. Consult the OWL handout on MLA for further instructions. Note, however, the following minor things about MLA format: Titles of books, plays, or works published singularly (not anthologized) should be italicised unless it is a handwritten document, in which case underlining is acceptable ...
Formatting Your Paper using MLA Guidelines
You might use the assignment title as your own title--or even the number of the assignment, such as Essay #1, as your own title. But some instructors, and readers, ... We underline or italicize the titles of books, movies, TV shows, and albums/CDs--e.g.
How to Title an Essay: Examples and Tips
The Catchy Hook: It introduces the topic in the most interesting and creative way. Topic Keywords: It is the 'what' question of your essay. This component of an essay title identifies the concept that you will discuss in your essay. Focus Keywords: It is the 'when' and 'where' question of your essay.
Italics and Underlining: Titles of Books
When you're writing something by hand, underline the titles that would normally be italicized. MLA, APA, and Chicago guides agree that the use of italics is appropriate for standard book titles. Only the Associated Press prefers quotation marks for the title of a book, and that's because they do not ever advocate the use of italics. At ...
When to Underline a Title
Only the stand-alone work should be either underlined or italicized, such as book title, magazine title, the name of a conference, etc. Parts of works, such as book chapters, magazine articles, and similar, should be presented in quotation marks. The primary goal in writing is to show your work clearly so that there is no confusion.
Title page setup
Follow the guidelines described next to format each element of the student title page. Place the title three to four lines down from the top of the title page. Center it and type it in bold font. Capitalize major words of the title. Place the main title and any subtitle on separate double-spaced lines if desired.
Should You Underline Or Italicise Book Titles?
Italicise or Underline Book Titles: The General Rule. Unless you're following a style guide that specifically tells you otherwise, you should generally italicise book titles. This is the rule you'll find in many style guides, including the Chicago Manual of Style, Harvard referencing style and the Modern Language Association (MLA).
Essay Writing Titles: Being Creative Without Topic Generators
The titles written in films, books, databases and periodicals are usually italicized. This should be applicable to the titles that are within the body of your essay. The main title of the essay does not have to be italicized. Moreover, if the source of the title you are having is part of another work, the use of italics is recommended.
Do You Underline Book Titles?
The issue is addressed by the top stylebooks, but the answers vary. ( Grammar Rules for Writers .) According to the Chicago Manual of Style and the Modern Language Association, titles of books (and other complete works, such as newspapers and magazines), should be italicized. So if abiding by either of those guides, you'd italicize Stephen King ...
Let's Clear This Up: Should You Underline Or Italicize Book Titles?
If you have italics as an option, use it. If not, underline. If underlining isn't an option, use asterisks or under-slashes to set off titles. That last one is the way to go when you include a book title in a text message or social media post or comment, where you can't apply any kind of text formatting. Underlining can be problematic with ...