how to write title of book in essay

How to Write a Book Title in an Essay (MLA, APA etc.)

Formatting your essay correctly ensures that you get full recognition for the hard work you put into it. Wondering what to do? There are two scenarios that lead you to the question of "how to write a book title in an essay":

• You have not been required to use a particular style guide, in which case consistency remains important.
• You have been instructed to use a particular style guide. You now simply need to ensure that you are familiar with its rules.

Regardless of which of these scenarios holds true for you, this guide is here to help.

How to Write a Book Title in an Essay

Many style manuals call on writers use title case and italics to format a book title. Title case rules vary slightly from one style guide to the next, but generally capitalize all important words — nouns, pronouns, verbs, and adverbs. Conjunctions and prepositions are not capitalized unless they are very long (generally more than four letters) or they appear at the beginning or end of a book title.

Writers who are not required to work with a specific style manual can't go wrong if they stick to this style. Some examples would be:

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals That Protect us From Violence by Gavin de Becker
• The Cat With a Feathery Tail and Other Stories by Enid Blyton

If, on the other hand, you're required to use a style guide, it will likely be one of these:

• MLA, commonly used in disciplines relating to literature and social sciences.
• APA, commonly used in psychology and other sciences.
• Chicago, often used in the publishing industry.
• Harvard style, commonly used in philosophy and social sciences.

These are certainly not the only "big players" in the style guide world, but they're ones it's good to be familiar with. There is overlap between these styles, but there are also major differences — so knowing one definitely does not mean you know the others, too.

Guidelines for Writing a Book Title in an Essay

Looking for a short and sharp answer, so you can get on with the rest of your essay? This is it.

This quick guide will help you reference the book title of your choosing in the body of your essay, but what about your Works Cited pages? Each style guide offers different rules, and we'll use the same book as an example to illustrate the differences.

• MLA uses the following format: Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book . City of Publication, Publisher, Publication Year. Example: Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Game. Tor Books, 1985. (You only have to detail the city of publication if the book was published before 1900, the publisher has offices in many localities, or the publisher is not known in the US.)
• APA uses the following format: Author Last Name, First Name. (Year of Publication). Title of book. Example: Card, Orson Scott. (1985). Ender's game.
• Chicago style uses the following format: Author Last Name, First Name. Book Title: Subtitle . Place of publication: Publisher, Year. Example: Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Game . Tor Books, 1985.
• Harvard uses the following format: Author Last Name, First Initial. (Publication Year). Title . ed. City: Publisher. Example: Card, O. (1985). Ender's Game. Tor Books.

If, after researching, you cannot find relevant information about publication years, publishers, or the city in which a book was published, you may omit it. For a full guide, it is always best to have a physical copy of the latest edition of the style manual you are using. You can, however, get by without this if you need to.

Should you still not know what to do, it will be helpful for you to know that you can "generate" citations for a particular style manual with the help of online tools like Cite Me . These are not always accurate, so if you decide to use one, always check the citation manually.

Why Is Proper Formatting Important?

All of the well-known style manuals ultimately serve the very same set of purposes, although they were each developed for a particular niche. The goals of these style manuals are both explicit and implicit:

• Following a style guide ensures consistency throughout a document, in this case an essay.
• Consistency ensures that reader's understand precisely what the writer is talking about, without exerting any effort on figuring that out. Clarity is especially important in academic writing.
• By using a style guide within a certain discipline, you show that you understand the rules within that discipline. This adds credibility to your voice as a writer. You have done your homework, have ideally bought the style manual, and are part of the "in group".
• Sticking to a certain style guide makes it easier for relevant parties to check your references, which they can then use to perform further research.

Students are increasingly asked to refer to style guides at all levels, including in high school. In this case, formatting your essay correctly, in accordance with the right style manual, serves two additional purposes:

• You'll lose points if you don't do it right, offering you an additional reason to do your research.
• Getting used to these formats prepares you for further education. If you are in high school, it prepares you for college-level writing. If you are an undergraduate student, it prepares you for academic work at the graduate and post-graduate levels.

Can you start an essay with a book title?

Yes, you can start an essay with a book title. This is a valid stylistic choice, but you will always want to consider your introduction carefully.

How do you write a book title in handwriting?

Students sometimes ask whether it is acceptable to underline book titles instead of italicizing them. This practice indeed stems from a time in which most students wrote their essays by hand. Although it has largely fallen out of practice now, you can still underline a book title if you are handwriting your essay.

How do you write a book title and chapter in an essay?

You should mention the chapter title first: "Rat" from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Consult the relevant style manual to ensure you get the formatting right.

Can you shorten a book title in an essay?

Yes, you can. Reference the full title the first time you mention it (for example: Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things ). The next time you mention the book, you may simply refer to Furiously Happy .

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Writing A Book Title In Your Essay – The Right Way

Table of contents

• 1 APA Style: How to Write Book Titles in Essays
• 2 APA Style Essay: Writing The Name of The Author
• 3 MLA Style Essay: Citing a Book Title
• 4 Chicago Style Essay: Writing the Book Title
• 5 Writing Various Types of Titles
• 6 Should We Underline or Italicize Book Titles?

When you are writing an academic essay , the book title and author’s name should be written in italics. However, if the book title is part of a larger work (such as a journal article), it should be underlined instead. So, you’re wondering how to write a book title in an essay?

Writing an essay with a book title can be tricky, particularly because each style guide has its own formatting rules for including titles in the main text. Whether you are using MLA, APA, Chicago, or Harvard referencing styles, you will need to consider how to properly format the book title. For more complicated literature-based assignments, seeking assistance from an admission essay writing service may be wise, as they specialize in writing essays that incorporate academic sources.

In this article, we will explore how to write both titles in an essay properly so that you avoid any mistakes!

APA Style: How to Write Book Titles in Essays

When writing an essay, you must follow the style guide provided by your professor. Some teachers may require you to use APA style and others MLA style. There are some rules on how to quote a book title in an essay. You should use italics and quotation marks when writing book titles in essays. For example: “ The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II. “

When writing a book title in APA Style , you should be aware of these rules:

Write the book title in italics and place it after the author’s name, which is presented in reverse order (last name first).

Use quotation marks around the headline of a chapter or article.

Capitalize proper names that are not common nouns (names of people, places, organizations), but do not capitalize words such as “and,” “or,” “to,” or “and/or.”

Do not capitalize prepositions that appear at the beginning of titles if they are followed by an article (e.g., “A,” “An”), but do capitalize prepositions at the beginning of titles if they are not followed by articles (“Of”).

The first word of the headline should be capitalized, as well as any other words after a colon or hyphen. For example, “The Elements of Style: Grammar for Everyone”  or “Theories of Personality: Critical Perspectives.”

Capitalize proper names and words derived from them (e.g., the names of people, places, organizations), except proper nouns used generically (e.g., ‘a bed’).

APA Style Essay: Writing The Name of The Author

You should always use the full name and surname of the author in your APA essay because this will give proper credit to the writer. If you do not mention the author’s full name, people may not know who wrote what and will think you copied it from somewhere else. This will cause lots of problems for you and your reputation as well.

Make sure that all authors’ names appear in the same format in each entry. For example, if one person’s surname is Smith and another’s is Jones, both have first names starting with “J.” It may seem like they are being cited as different people when they’re actually written differently from each other on separate pages in your paper.

To write an APA essay without any issues, there are certain rules that you need to follow while writing an author’s name in APA essay:

• Use only one author’s name in your paper unless there are multiple authors
• If there are multiple authors, then use both their last names followed by the initials of their first names
• Only use initials of first names when there are three or more authors; otherwise, use full names with their last names

Example: Johnson, M.C., Carlson, M., Smith, J. N., & Hanover, L. E.

MLA Style Essay: Citing a Book Title

Now let’s discuss how to mention a book in an essay. The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th edition, published by the Modern Language Association (2014), contains detailed rules about how to cite a book title in an essay.

The following guidelines will instruct you on how to refer to a book in an essay in MLA style :

• List your sources at the end of your paper, before the works cited page or bibliography.
• Use italics for titles of books, magazines, and newspapers, but not for articles within those publications, which should be placed in quotation marks.
• Include all relevant book information under two categories: “title” and “author.” In the former category, include the work’s title and its subtitle if there is one; do this even if neither appears on your title page (see below). In the latter category, include only primary authors who have written or edited an entire book; if there are multiple contributors, you should cite them separately under each.

The general format for citing the title of the book in an essay is as follows:

Author’s last name, first initial (Date). Title of Book with Subtitle if there is one. Publisher Name/Location of Publisher; Year Published

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Chicago Style Essay: Writing the Book Title

One of the most important things to remember when writing in Chicago style is how to write the title of a book in an essay. To write a good book title in an essay, you should follow these steps:

• Write it at the beginning of your sentence.
• Capitalize it just like any other noun or proper noun.
• Put a comma after the title unless it’s an introductory clause or phrase. For example: “The Firm,” by John Grisham (not “by”) and “The Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D Salinger (not “and”).
• In addition to the book’s name, punctuation marks should also be italicized.

For example: Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince: Children’s Edition

Writing Various Types of Titles

Now that we covered how to write a book title and author in an essay, it’s time to look at some different types of titles. When you write a book title in an essay, several things must be considered. Whether it’s a book, series, chapter title, editor’s name, or author’s name, how you write it depends on where it appears in your paper.

Here are some key rules for writing headings for novels:

•  Use capital letters to write the title of the novel. For example,  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett .
• Use italics and capital letters to write the name of the author and his/her other works mentioned in a book title—for example,  Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813) .

You should use quotation marks when writing headings of short title poems, articles, and stories.

However, before deciding which format to use, it is important to understand the main idea you want to express in your essay. Additionally, you could use essay papers for sale to help you accomplish your goal of writing an essay effectively.

Should We Underline or Italicize Book Titles?

It depends on which style guide you use. The Modern Language Association and Chicago Manual of Style both suggest using italics, while the American Psychological Association suggests using quotation marks with a few exceptions.

The way you write the title of a book in an essay is different depending on the instructions you were given. For example, if you’re writing an essay in APA style, use quotation marks around the book’s name. If you’re writing for MLA or Chicago style , however, italicize the book’s name instead. If you’re writing a handwritten essay instead of using a computer, capitalize and underline the book’s name.

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How to Write a Book Title in an Essay (+48 Examples)

Knowing how to properly format book titles in your essay is crucial. This guide will walk you through the various rules and conventions, ensuring that your writing is polished and professional.

Here’s how to write a book title in an essay.

Basic Rules for Writing a Book Title in an Essay

Let’s get right into the basic rules that you will use most of the time.

Italicize Book Titles

In most style guides, such as MLA, APA, and Chicago, book titles should be italicized. This helps to distinguish the title from the rest of the text and makes it clear to the reader.

• Correct: To Kill a Mockingbird
• Incorrect: To Kill a Mockingbird

Use Quotation Marks for Shorter Works

Shorter works, such as articles, essays, chapters, and short stories, should be placed in quotation marks.

• Correct: “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
• Incorrect: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

How to Write a Book Title in Different Scenarios

Table of Contents

Of course, sometimes, you’ll run into different situations where you might need to change how you write book titles in your essays.

In this section, I’ll cover as many of these scenarios as possible, along with examples.

1. MLA Format

In MLA format, book titles are italicized. If you are writing an essay in MLA format, ensure that you follow this rule.

Additionally, titles of articles, essays, chapters, and web pages should be placed in quotation marks.

This style is commonly used in humanities and liberal arts. MLA format emphasizes the clarity of source titles, helping to avoid confusion and ensure proper citation.

MLA guidelines help maintain consistency across academic writing, making it easier for readers to follow and understand references.

• Correct: In The Great Gatsby , F. Scott Fitzgerald explores themes of decadence and idealism.
• Correct: The chapter titled “The Custom-House” in The Scarlet Letter provides essential background.

2. APA Format

APA format also requires book titles to be italicized.

This style is commonly used in the social sciences. Titles of articles, chapters, and other shorter works are placed in quotation marks.

APA format focuses on date-driven citations, so the book title should stand out to help the reader quickly identify the source.

Using italics for book titles in APA ensures clarity and consistency, helping to distinguish the titles from other elements of the citation.

• Correct: The study is detailed in The Psychology of Learning .
• Correct: In the book Thinking, Fast and Slow , Daniel Kahneman discusses cognitive biases.

3. Chicago Style

Chicago style, used in history and other disciplines, also calls for book titles to be italicized.

This format is flexible and allows for both footnotes and endnotes.

Titles of articles, chapters, and shorter works are placed in quotation marks. The Chicago Manual of Style provides extensive guidelines for source citation and text formatting.

By italicizing book titles, Chicago style ensures that references are clear and unambiguous, aiding readers in locating the sources.

• Correct: The author of War and Peace is Leo Tolstoy.
• Correct: In her analysis, the book Pride and Prejudice is frequently cited.

4. In-Text Citations

When referencing a book title in the body of your essay, it should be italicized.

If you are referring to a specific chapter or section, place the title of the chapter in quotation marks.

This ensures clarity and helps the reader distinguish between the book title and other elements of your text.

In-text citations need to be precise and clear to ensure that the reader can easily identify the source material and verify the information.

• Correct: The theme of betrayal in 1984 is evident throughout the novel.
• Correct: The essay “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson is often quoted in academic circles.

5. In a Works Cited Page

In your works cited page, format book titles according to the style guide you are using.

For MLA, APA, and Chicago styles, book titles should be italicized.

This section provides full bibliographic details, making it easy for readers to locate your sources.

Properly formatting book titles in your works cited page ensures that your references are clear and consistent, which is crucial for academic integrity and credibility.

• MLA: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby . Scribner, 2004.
• APA: Fitzgerald, F. S. (2004). The Great Gatsby . Scribner.
• Chicago: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby . New York: Scribner, 2004.

6. Handwritten Essays

If you are writing an essay by hand, underline book titles instead of italicizing them.

This is because italics can be difficult to distinguish in handwritten text.

Underlining provides a clear way to differentiate book titles from the rest of your writing.

In handwritten essays, maintaining clear and legible formatting is important to ensure that the reader can easily recognize book titles and other elements of your text.

• Correct: Moby Dick should be underlined in a handwritten essay.
• Incorrect: Moby Dick should not be italicized in a handwritten essay.

7. Titles Within Titles

If a book title appears within another book title, italicize the main title and use quotation marks for the title within the title.

This distinction helps clarify the structure of the titles and ensures that each component is properly formatted.

Formatting titles within titles correctly avoids confusion and maintains the clarity and readability of your text.

• Correct: She read A Study of “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe .
• Correct: His analysis in Understanding “Moby Dick” was groundbreaking.

8. Multiple Works by the Same Author

When referencing multiple works by the same author in an essay, list the titles in italics and separate them with commas.

This formatting helps readers easily identify the different works and understand the scope of the author’s contributions.

Properly formatting multiple works by the same author ensures that your references are clear and organized, making it easier for readers to follow your analysis.

• Correct: Orwell’s 1984 , Animal Farm , and Homage to Catalonia all critique social structures.
• Correct: Austen’s novels, Pride and Prejudice , Emma , and Sense and Sensibility , are classics.

9. In a Bibliography

In a bibliography, book titles should be italicized, and other details should follow the respective style guide’s rules.

This ensures that your sources are listed correctly and consistently, making it easy for readers to find them.

A properly formatted bibliography is essential for academic integrity, providing a clear and comprehensive record of the sources you have used.

• MLA: Orwell, George. 1984 . Secker & Warburg, 1949.
• APA: Orwell, G. (1949). 1984 . Secker & Warburg.
• Chicago: Orwell, George. 1984 . London: Secker & Warburg, 1949.

10. In a Research Paper

In research papers, book titles should be italicized, and any specific sections, like chapters or essays, should be in quotation marks.

This clear differentiation helps readers distinguish between the entire work and individual parts.

Proper formatting in research papers ensures that your references are clear and professional, making it easy for readers to verify your sources.

• Correct: The character development in The Catcher in the Rye is significant.
• Correct: The chapter “The Catcher in the Rye” in Salinger’s book highlights the main theme.

11. In a Thesis or Dissertation

Theses and dissertations require strict adherence to formatting rules, so ensure book titles are italicized.

Proper formatting in these extensive research papers demonstrates attention to detail and adherence to academic standards.

Italicizing book titles in a thesis or dissertation helps maintain consistency and professionalism, which is crucial for the credibility of your work.

• Correct: The influence of Crime and Punishment on modern psychology is evident.
• Correct: In her dissertation, she cited Brave New World extensively.

12. In a Presentation

When preparing a presentation, italicize book titles in your slides or handouts to maintain professional formatting.

This practice ensures that your presentation is clear and visually appealing, reinforcing your points effectively.

Properly formatting book titles in presentations enhances the readability and professionalism of your slides, making your information more accessible to the audience.

• Correct: Key themes in To Kill a Mockingbird include justice and morality.
• Correct: The impact of The Iliad on literature cannot be overstated.

13. In a Discussion Post

When writing discussion posts for online classes or forums, italicize book titles to follow proper formatting.

This helps maintain clarity and ensures your posts are taken seriously by other participants.

Properly formatting book titles in discussion posts demonstrates your attention to detail and respect for academic conventions, enhancing the credibility of your contributions.

• Correct: I found The Great Gatsby to be a profound critique of the American Dream.
• Correct: In Frankenstein , Mary Shelley explores themes of creation and responsibility.

14. In a Book Review

In book reviews, the title of the book being reviewed should be italicized to clearly distinguish it from the rest of the text.

This practice ensures that readers can easily identify the book you are discussing.

Properly formatting book titles in reviews enhances the readability and professionalism of your writing, making your review more engaging and credible.

• Correct: The Road by Cormac McCarthy is a haunting tale of survival.
• Correct: In her review of Beloved , she highlights the emotional depth of the narrative.

15. In a Literary Analysis

Literary analysis essays should follow the same formatting rules, with book titles italicized.

This helps distinguish the titles from other parts of the text, making your analysis clear and organized.

Proper formatting in literary analysis ensures that your references are easily identifiable and enhances the overall professionalism of your essay.

• Correct: The symbolism in The Scarlet Letter is intricate and multifaceted.
• Correct: Macbeth by Shakespeare is a study in ambition and power.

16. In a Creative Writing Piece

Even in creative writing, when referencing other works, book titles should be italicized to maintain clarity.

Proper formatting ensures that your references are easily identifiable, even in a more informal context.

Italicizing book titles in creative writing helps to maintain consistency and professionalism, enhancing the readability and credibility of your work.

• Correct: She often thought of herself as a modern-day Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice .
• Correct: His journey felt like something out of The Hobbit .

17. In a History Essay

In history essays, book titles are italicized, and other works such as articles or chapters are placed in quotation marks.

This formatting helps clarify sources and makes your essay more professional.

Properly formatting book titles in history essays ensures that your references are clear and easily distinguishable, enhancing the credibility and readability of your work.

• Correct: The events in All Quiet on the Western Front illustrate the horrors of war.
• Correct: In the book The Guns of August , the causes of WWI are detailed.

18. In a Science Paper

Even in science papers, book titles should be italicized to ensure professional and clear presentation.

This practice helps to maintain consistency and clarity in your citations and references.

Properly formatting book titles in science papers ensures that your sources are easily identifiable and enhances the overall professionalism of your work.

• Correct: The theories in The Origin of Species revolutionized biology.
• Correct: In his book A Brief History of Time , Stephen Hawking explores complex physics concepts.

19. In a Philosophy Paper

Philosophy papers require careful citation, with book titles italicized and other works properly formatted.

Accurate formatting reflects a commitment to scholarly rigor and helps readers locate your sources easily.

Properly formatting book titles in philosophy papers ensures that your references are clear and professional, enhancing the credibility and readability of your work.

• Correct: Plato’s The Republic is fundamental to understanding his philosophy.
• Correct: The ideas in Being and Time by Heidegger are complex and profound.

20. In a Law Essay

Law essays often reference important texts and cases, with book titles italicized for clarity.

Proper formatting ensures that your legal citations are clear and professional, facilitating easy reference.

Italicizing book titles in law essays helps to maintain consistency and clarity, making your references easily identifiable and enhancing the overall professionalism of your work.

• Correct: In The Common Law , Oliver Wendell Holmes outlines fundamental legal principles.
• Correct: The casebook Constitutional Law is widely used in legal education.

21. In a Social Studies Essay

Social studies essays should also follow proper formatting rules, with book titles italicized.

This practice helps to clearly distinguish the sources and enhances the readability of your essay.

Properly formatting book titles in social studies essays ensures that your references are clear and consistent, making it easier for readers to locate your sources and enhancing the credibility of your work.

• Correct: The impact of Silent Spring on environmental policy was significant.
• Correct: In Guns, Germs, and Steel , Jared Diamond explores the factors influencing human societies.

Here is a good video about how to write a book title in an essay:

Summary Chart: How to Write a Book Title in an Essay

Final thoughts.

By following the formatting rules outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your writing is clear, professional, and polished.

For more guides on writing essays (and more), check out some of our other blog posts below.

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How to Write a Book Name in an Essay

Last Updated: February 14, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Noah Taxis and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Noah Taxis is an English Teacher based in San Francisco, California. He has taught as a credentialed teacher for over four years: first at Mountain View High School as a 9th- and 11th-grade English Teacher, then at UISA (Ukiah Independent Study Academy) as a Middle School Independent Study Teacher. He is now a high school English teacher at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School in San Francisco. He received an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education. He also received an MA in Comparative and World Literature from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a BA in International Literary & Visual Studies and English from Tufts University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 68,362 times.

When you’re writing an essay that includes a book title, it can be confusing to write the title correctly. However, it’s really easy once you know the rules. How you write the title will vary a little bit depending on the style your instructor assigns and if you are typing or handwriting the essay. Luckily, it's easy to follow the rules for writing a book name in an essay.

Writing Help

Typing an Essay in MLA or Chicago Style Format

• For example, you would write To Kill a Mockingbird , The Lord of the Rings , or Wuthering Heights .

• If you have the book name in front of you, you can just copy it down as it is printed.
• Articles include a, an, and the.
• Prepositions include at, in, on, of, about, since, from, for, until, during, over, above, under, underneath, below, beneath, near, by, next to, between, among, and opposite.
• Coordinating conjunctions include the FANBOYS, which are for, and, not, but, or, yet, and

• For example, you would write the name of William Faulkner’s novel Absalom, Absalom! with both the comma and the exclamation point in italics.

• If the highlight bar goes away, try again, making sure that you don’t click anywhere on the page after you highlight the book name.

• Alternatively, you can press the italicize icon before you type the title.
• If you’re using Microsoft Word to type your essay, the italicize key may appear if you hover over the highlighted book name.

• If the next word after your title appears italicized when you resume typing, simply highlight it and click the italicize icon to remove the formatting.

• For example, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is sometimes published in one volume. In this case, you could write the name of the first novel as "The Fellowship of the Ring" when citing it in an essay.

Typing an Essay in APA Format

• Capitalize the first letter of the words, not the entire word.
• If the word is a two-part hyphenated word in the title, you should capitalize both words. For example, you would write Blue River: The Trial of a Mayor-Elect .
• If there is a dash or colon in the title, you should capitalize the word after the punctuation, regardless of how long the word is. As above, you would write Blue River: The Trial of a Mayor-Elect .

• For example, you would write Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? with the question mark italicized.

• If the book name is not highlighted, left click and drag your cursor again, making sure that you don’t click again anywhere on the page.

• If you are using Microsoft Word, the italics icon may appear when you hover over the highlighted book title. It’s okay to click this key.

Handwriting an Essay

• For MLA and Chicago style essays, capitalize the first word of the book name and every word other than articles, prepositions, or coordinating conjunctions. For example, write The Lord of the Rings .
• If you’re using APA style, capitalize the first word and all words longer than 4 letters. [9] X Research source This means you would write Public Policy in Local Government .

• If you’re writing on lined paper, it may help to follow along the line of the paper. However, make sure your line is dark enough so that your instructor will see that you properly underlined the book name.

• For example, you would write Judy Blume’s Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by underlining the punctuation marks as well as the words.

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about academic writing, check out our in-depth interview with Noah Taxis .

• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_general_format.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_literature/formatting.html
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/underline-or-italicize-book-titles/
• ↑ https://askus.library.wwu.edu/faq/116757
• ↑ https://libguides.up.edu/apa/books_ebooks
• ↑ https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/italics-quotations/italics

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