When it comes to writing about plays, one common question that arises is whether you should underline the name of a play. This may seem like a small detail, but it plays a significant role in ensuring clarity and adhering to proper writing conventions.
Understanding how to correctly format the title of a play not only improves the professionalism of your writing but also respects the traditions of literary and academic communities. Whether you’re a student, a writer, or simply someone who enjoys theater, knowing the right way to present a play’s title can enhance your communication and avoid common pitfalls.
The confusion about underlining titles often stems from outdated practices and the transition from handwritten to digital text. While underlining was once the standard for emphasizing titles, especially in manuscripts, modern style guides tend to prefer italics.
However, different contexts and style manuals may have varying rules, which can make it challenging to decide when to underline, italicize, or quote a play’s name. Let’s dive into the nuances of how to handle the names of plays effectively and confidently.
Historical Context of Underlining Titles
Before the digital age, writers and typists had limited options for emphasizing text. Underlining served as a practical way to indicate that a title needed special formatting, such as italics, once it was typeset or published.
This tradition carried over from handwritten drafts to typewritten manuscripts and academic papers.
Underlining was especially common in educational settings where students were expected to handwrite or type essays without access to italic fonts. The practice ensured that editors and readers understood the intention behind the formatting.
With the rise of word processors, the ability to use italics became widespread, reducing the need for underlining. However, many style guides still mention underlining as an acceptable alternative, especially when italics are unavailable.
“Underlining was the handwritten equivalent of italics.” – The Chicago Manual of Style
Why Underlining Was Popular
- Limited font options in typewriters and handwritten documents
- Clear visual cue for editors and printers
- Standard in academic writing before computers
Modern Style Guides and Their Recommendations
Today, the preferred method for formatting the names of plays varies depending on the style guide you follow. The most common guides are MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style, each with its own rules that mostly favor italics over underlining.
MLA (Modern Language Association) style clearly prefers italics for the titles of plays, while APA (American Psychological Association) also recommends italics but is more focused on scientific writing.
Chicago style allows both italics and underlining, but italics are the preferred and more modern approach.
It is important to know which style guide applies to your writing context. For academic papers, your instructor or publication will often specify which style to use.
| Style Guide | Preferred Format for Play Titles | Notes |
| MLA | Italics | Used in humanities writing |
| APA | Italics | Focuses on social sciences |
| Chicago | Italics preferred; underlining acceptable | Flexible but favors italics |
When to Use Underlining Today
- If you are handwriting or typing without access to italics
- When submitting manuscripts to publishers that request underlining
- In older academic settings or institutions that maintain traditional rules
Difference Between Underlining and Italicizing
Understanding the distinction between underlining and italicizing can clarify when and why each is used. Italics are a typographic feature that slants the letters, often used to emphasize titles, foreign words, or certain types of text.
Underlining is a manual mark drawn beneath the words, historically used to indicate italics when the type was not available. Today, italics are preferred for digital and printed media because they are visually cleaner and less obtrusive.
Using underlining instead of italics in digital writing can sometimes confuse readers, as underlining is often associated with hyperlinks or clickable text on websites. Thus, italics help maintain the clarity of your writing in modern digital contexts.
Tip: When typing on a computer, always opt for italics to denote play titles rather than underlining unless instructed otherwise.
How to Format Play Titles in Different Contexts
The context in which you write determines how you should format the name of a play. Academic essays, creative writing, theater reviews, and journalism each have their own conventions.
In academic writing, adhering to the style guide is crucial. For instance, a research paper on Shakespeare’s works would italicize the title Hamlet.
In creative writing or informal reviews, some writers may choose quotation marks instead, although this is less common for plays.
When writing by hand or in plain text emails where italics are unavailable, underlining remains an acceptable alternative. In professional publishing, italics are almost always used, so it’s best to familiarize yourself with the tools to create italicized text.
Examples by Context
- Academic: Italicize play titles (e.g., Death of a Salesman)
- Creative writing: Italics preferred, quotation marks sometimes used
- Handwritten or typewritten: Underline if italics are unavailable
- Web writing: Use italics; avoid underlining to prevent confusion with links
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Formatting Play Titles
Even experienced writers occasionally fall into traps when formatting play titles. One of the most frequent errors is mixing underlining with italics or using quotation marks incorrectly.
Some people confuse the rules for short works, such as poems or short stories, which are enclosed in quotation marks, with plays, which are always italicized or underlined. Another mistake is underlining only part of the play’s title or using inconsistent formatting within the same document.
Ensuring consistency throughout your writing enhances readability and professionalism. Double-check your document to confirm that every play title follows the same formatting rule.
“Consistency in formatting is just as important as correct grammar in professional writing.”
Tips to Avoid Errors
- Decide on one formatting style per document and stick to it
- Remember: plays are italicized or underlined, not put in quotation marks
- Use italics on digital platforms to avoid confusion with hyperlinks
- Check style guide requirements before submitting academic work
Alternatives to Underlining: When Italics Aren’t Available
Sometimes you might find yourself in situations where italics are not an option, such as plain text emails, older typewriters, or certain digital platforms. In these cases, underlining remains a practical and acceptable method to distinguish play titles.
Another alternative is to use quotation marks, but this is generally reserved for shorter works like poems, articles, or songs, not for plays. Therefore, underlining serves as the best fallback for longer works like plays, novels, and films.
Knowing these alternatives is useful, especially when writing in less-than-ideal formats or communicating informally but clearly.
| Formatting Option | Use Case | Notes |
| Italics | Digital documents, published works | Preferred modern standard |
| Underlining | Handwritten, typewritten, plain text | Acceptable alternative when italics unavailable |
| “Quotation Marks” | Short works like poems or articles | Not recommended for plays |
How to Apply These Rules in Everyday Writing
Incorporating the correct formatting for play titles into your daily writing routine is easier than it seems. It starts with knowing when to use italics or underlining and applying it consistently.
For students, this means checking your style guide or instructor’s preference. For professionals, especially those working in publishing or journalism, using italics is often automatic through word processors.
For casual writers or bloggers, understanding the difference helps maintain credibility.
When unsure, you can also refer to related writing topics such as do you underline magazine names in writing? or is the name of a book underlined or italicized?
These resources provide additional insight into title formatting conventions that align closely with play titles.
Practical Tips for Writers
- Use your word processor’s italic function for play titles
- If handwriting, use underlining consistently
- Refer to style guides relevant to your field
- When writing on platforms like blogs, avoid underlining to prevent confusion with links
Conclusion: Mastering the Presentation of Play Titles
Understanding whether to underline the name of a play involves more than just following old traditions. It requires awareness of the historical context, familiarity with modern style guides, and the ability to adapt to different writing environments.
While underlining was once the norm, italics have largely taken its place as the preferred method for emphasizing play titles, especially in digital and published formats.
However, underlining remains a valuable alternative when italics are unavailable, such as in handwritten or typewritten documents. The key to effective writing is consistency and clarity, which can be achieved by choosing one method and applying it throughout your work.
By mastering these formatting nuances, you not only honor the literary significance of plays but also communicate your ideas with professionalism and precision.
Remember, the way you present a play’s title reflects your attention to detail and respect for the art form. For further exploration of naming conventions and formatting, check out How to Name a Story: Creative Tips for Perfect Titles and do authors names get italicized?
clear writing rules. These resources can deepen your understanding of how to handle titles across various types of writing and enhance your overall communication skills.
