Titles of Longer Works:
* Books: *Pride and Prejudice*, *The Lord of the Rings*
* Journals: *Nature*, *The Journal of Neuroscience*
* Plays: *Hamlet*, *A Streetcar Named Desire*
* Films: *Casablanca*, *The Godfather*
* TV Shows: *Breaking Bad*, *The Crown*
* Long Poems: *The Odyssey*, *Paradise Lost*
* Musical Compositions: *Symphony No. 5 in C Minor*, *The Nutcracker*
Other:
* Foreign words and phrases: *a priori*, *habeas corpus*
* Scientific names of species: *Homo sapiens*, *Canis lupus*
* Emphasis: You can use italics for emphasis within a sentence, but sparingly.
Things you DO NOT italicize:
* Articles and prepositions in titles: *The* Great Gatsby, *A* Midsummer Night's Dream
* Short stories: "The Gift of the Magi"
* Essays: "The Myth of Sisyphus"
* Songs: "Imagine"
* Chapters of books: "The One Ring" (from *The Lord of the Rings*)
* Sections of articles: "Results" (from a journal article)
General Tips:
* Consistency is key: Use italics consistently throughout your paper.
* Check your style guide: Different academic disciplines may have slightly different rules for italics. Consult a style guide such as the MLA Handbook or the Chicago Manual of Style for specific instructions.
Remember, italicizing is a stylistic tool that helps to distinguish titles and other important elements. Using italics correctly enhances the clarity and professionalism of your academic paper.