Underline vs. Bold vs. Caps vs. Italics (essay, quote)

[Sand&Salt]

What are the instances that these are correct to use?


For example, in a novel, you would only see italics used to emphasize. Bold seems only for document headings. Underlines seem only for cursive writing.


CAPS, I don't know. I use them for emphasis in emails but have heard its akin to "shouting". Thoughts?

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by Sand&Salt

What are the instances that these are correct to use?
Thoughts?

They're a substitution for when the prose needed to distinguish or emphasize isn't there...
or can't be there whether due to space or time or talent.

In some venues (like forums) someone bangs out a 10 word comment that covers the bases well enough
but to be sure his point is being made and rather than expanding to the 500 word essay level to do that
the writer adds typography instead. It's usually adequate.

[Lovehound]

Referring to writing novels (and other fiction) only (i.e. professional writing), italics can be used to indicate a foreign word or phrase such as déjà vu, as a signal to the reader that the phrase is not English. Italics can also indicate a "made up" word. Italics are also sometimes used to indicate thoughts (of a character). In fantasy it is not unusual to see telepathic communications set in italics.

Bold should be used only for chapter or section headings.

I cannot think of any instance where underlining should be used.

When writing for novels no other formatting should be used, and word processor should be set to defaults including default style. The publisher will select font and point size during preparation for printing.


In writing my first short story I kept feeling the urge to insert smileys!


As far as forums go, everything is the wild, wild west! "We don' need no grammer [sic] here!"