Does Your Magazine Need to Be Italicized?

When it comes to writing magazine titles or names, one of the most common questions is whether these should be italicized. After all, we typically italicize book titles and movie names. So, does the same convention apply to magazines? Let's dive into this topic to find out.

First, it's important to understand the purpose of italicization. In linguistics, italics are primarily used to indicate 'scare quotes' – phrases or words that are used in a way that differs from their usual meaning. Additionally, they're used for foreign words and phrases when they're not yet established in English. However, titles are an exception to these rules.

Title Case and Magazines

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), a widely referred-to style guide, recommends title case for magazine titles. This means using capital letters for all major words and lowercase for minor ones. So, the title "Reader's Digest" is correctly styled and should not be italicized.

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an image of the front page of a magazine with different font and numbers on it

Title case shows respect and gives prominence to the magazine's name, making it clearer and more visually distinctive. It's also easier to read, which is particularly important in publication catalogs or lists of magazines.

When to Use Quotation Marks

While magazines typically don't require italics, they may need quotation marks. For instance, if a magazine is being referred to in a sentence, it should be enclosed in quotation marks. For example: "I've been reading 'Vogue' since I was a teenager."

an article in the magazine is shown with black and white text on it, including two letters

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an open magazine is shown with blue and white pages on the front, back and side

Similarly, if a magazine's title is part of a phrase or sentence, quotation marks should be used. For instance: "I subscribe to 'The Nation' and 'The Atlantic'."

Magazines vs. Books and Films

Magazines, books, and films all have different styles of presentation. While books and films are considered 'works', magazines are a type of publication. Therefore, they don't follow the same italicization rules. Books and films usually appear in italics because they are considered standalone pieces of work, while magazines are periodicals that are published regularly.

For instance, if you're referring to a specific article in a magazine, you'd write: "In the New Yorker's recent issue, there was an excellent piece on climate change." In this case, 'New Yorker' is a magazine, not a standalone work, so it doesn't require italics.

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Exceptions and Style Guides

While CMOS and many other style guides agree that magazines should not be italicized, there can be exceptions. Some publications, like The New Yorker, often use italics for their own name in headlines or when they want to emphasize it. However, these are exceptions and not standard practice.

In the world of academia, especially in MLA style, book and magazine titles do not require italics. Instead, they're enclosed in quotation marks, which can also apply to magazines. But remember, MLA style is specific to academic writing and usually isn't applied to publishing industry standards.

Consistency is Key

Regardless of the specific rules, maintaining consistency is crucial. Choose a style guide that fits your needs or your organization's requirements, and stick with it. That's more important than following every single rule to the letter.

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Lastly, whether a magazine should be italicized isn't a black-and-white issue. As with many aspects of language, it largely comes down to context, consistency, and the specific style guide you're using. So, next time you're wondering if you should italicize a magazine, keep these points in mind, and you'll be well on your way to writing accurately and stylishly.