Underlining Book Titles: Core Rules and When to Skip It
In standard style guidance today, book titles are typically italicized in digital writing rather than underlined. Underlining originated as a typewriter workaround to indicate italics and remains acceptable if italics are unavailable or inaccessible. In handwriting, underlining is still commonly used because italic fonts aren’t practical. Publication style varies—APA, MLA, and Chicago all prefer italics for published works, but each allows underlining when italics can’t be rendered. For web content, intended emphasis and accessibility dictate format; reserve underlining for hyperlinks to avoid confusion and follow consistent editorial conventions.
Why Format Conventions for Titles Exist
Standardizing how we mark titles helps readers distinguish works from surrounding text and signals what is being referenced. Style guides codify these conventions to ensure clarity across publications and media. Editors, educators, and publishers rely on shared expectations to reduce ambiguity. Underlining, italics, and quotation marks each serve specific use cases shaped by technology (typewriters, word processors, web publishing) and medium (print versus digital). Understanding intent behind the rules lets you adapt appropriately without breaking clarity.
The Historical Shift from Underline to Italics
Before word processors, italics could not be produced on mechanical typewriters, so underlining was the standard way to mark a book or journal title. When digital typesetting became common, italics became the default because they are more visually distinct and take less space than underlines. Web typography further reinforced italics for screen reading, though underlining persists in contexts where italics aren’t feasible. Style guides now list underlining as an acceptable fallback rather than the first choice.
Modern Editorial Practice
Most contemporary editorial styles treat italics as the primary method for marking book titles in digital environments. Underlining is considered a secondary option when italics cannot be applied, such as in plain-text files, some handwriting situations, or legacy systems. Accessibility considerations also favor italics because underlined text can be misinterpreted as hyperlinks. Editors commonly instruct writers to use italics by default and reserve underlining for scenarios where italics are technically impossible or would break design systems.
Key Style Guides Compared on Underlining
Major style guides align in preferring italics while acknowledging underlining as a practical alternative. They differ mainly in medium-specific guidance and examples. Below is a concise comparison summarizing their core positions.
| Style Guide | Preferred Format for Book Titles | Acceptance of Underlining |
|---|---|---|
| MLA (9th ed.) | Italics | Permitted when italics unavailable |
| APA (7th ed.) | Italics | Allowed if italics cannot be used |
| Chicago (17th ed.) | Italics for published works | Permissible in notes or when italics aren’t feasible |
| AP Style | \nQuotation marks for most works | Italics preferred online; underlining accepted if needed |
Practical Guidance for Writers and Editors
Choose the format based on medium, audience expectations, and accessibility. Default to italics in digital content. Use underlining only when italics are technically impossible or when style explicitly permits it. Consistency within a publication or project is more important than rigid adherence to a single mark across contexts. Avoid underlining non-title text to prevent misinterpretation as links, and always verify institutional or client style requirements if working within a formal system.
When to Underline Book Titles
- Handwritten manuscripts or notes where italics aren’t practical
- Legacy typewritten documents that cannot apply italics
- Specific organizational or institutional styles that require underlining in plain-text submissions
- Systems where italics formatting would break rendering or accessibility tools
When to Avoid Underlining
- Web pages, emails, and digital documents where italics are supported
- Content where underlined text could be mistaken for hyperlinks
- Accessibility-sensitive contexts that rely on clear visual distinction
- Style guides that explicitly recommend italics as the primary method
Common Mistakes and Misinterpretations
Writers sometimes default to underlining out of habit from pre-digital workflows, which can appear dated in online publishing. Others underline inconsistently, causing confusion about which elements are titles. Overuse of underlines can make text harder to read because readers expect them to indicate links. Italicizing is almost always preferred on screen, and combining formats (underlining and italics) should be avoided unless a specific style mandates it for special circumstances.
Accessibility and Legibility Considerations
Underlined text that is not a hyperlink can disrupt reading flow due to its similarity to link styling. Screen readers handle both underlining and italics via semantic markup rather than visual appearance, but visual presentation still affects sighted users. Italics are generally more legible on screen and preserve clearer visual hierarchy. When underlining is necessary, ensure it is applied consistently and does not conflict with link patterns in the design system.
Consistency Across Digital Systems
Design systems and content platforms often specify default typography rules that make italics the standard for emphasis and titles. Underlining in such environments should be governed by link styles and reserved for interactive elements. Editorial style guides should document how titles are marked across channels—print, web, and app—to prevent conflicting implementations. Clear style documentation reduces rework and supports scalable content production.
Examples in Context
Correct use in digital prose: She reread Pride and Prejudice every year. The course syllabus lists required readings such as Educated and The Origin of Species. When submitting a manuscript in plain text, she underlines book titles as a fallback: _The Great Gatsby_.
Final Recommendations and Takeaways
Use italics as the default method to mark book titles in digital and typeset publishing. Reserve underlining for environments where italics are technically impossible or explicitly permitted. Maintain consistency within projects and follow the predominant style guide for your field. Clarify expectations with editors, clients, or teams, and document choices to ensure uniformity across formats and revisions.