song title in essay

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Proper Formatting of Song Titles in Written Documents

Learn when to use italics and quotation marks to write clearly

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What to Know

• Refer to the style guide specified by your employer, client, or teacher.
• In the absence of a style guide, the general rule is to use quotation marks for song titles and italicize CD or album titles.
• Don't use underlining in place of italics unless you are using a typewriter or writing titles by hand.

This article explains the proper formatting of song titles in written documents and includes examples.

How to Format Song Titles in Written Documents

For matters of style when punctuating and formatting titles of any kind, turn first to the style guide prescribed by your employer, client, or teacher. In the absence of a style guide, use the following guidelines:

• Put quotation marks around song titles : For best appearance in professionally typeset material, use proper typographical quote marks and apostrophes ( curly quotes ).
• Set CD/album titles in italics : In typeset material, watch out for fake italics . That's not a grammar rule but it is a good design and printing rule.
• Do not use underlining (in place of italics) unless you're using a typewriter or writing titles by hand.

In desktop publishing and word processing software, create character styles to quickly format song titles and other types of titles used throughout a document.

Example References to Song Titles and Albums

Here are two examples of text that includes song titles and album titles:

• Trace Adkins' first #1 single “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” is from his 1997 CD  Dreamin’ Out Loud . 
• The title cut from Toby Keith’s How Do You Like Me Now? was the most-played country song of 2000. Other favorites from the same album include “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like That” and “Country Comes to Town.”

When the song/album is the same : In the second example, although “ How Do You Like Me Now? ” is the song title, it is also the album title and in that context is treated as the album title, using italics. It would be just as correct to write: My favorite song on the How Do You Like Me Now? album is “How Do You Like Me Now?”

Punctuation in titles : When a song title ends in a question mark, exclamation point, or other punctuation, that punctuation goes inside the quotation marks because it's part of the song title. The beginning portion of the Adkins song title in parentheses is contained in the quotation marks the same as the other part of the song title.

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Do You Use Quotation Marks or Italics for Song and Album Titles?

by Liz Bureman | 40 comments

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Are you making any playlists for the new year? I love music, and when I write about a song or album, I know when to use quotation marks and when to use italics. Do you? Are song titles italicized? Let's discuss. 

I love music. I've been teaching myself to play guitar, and I can stumble my way through four or five songs without wanting to poke holes in my eardrums, but my main appreciation for music is when other people play it. I'm an avid Spotify user, and I take a lot of pride in my ability to make kickass playlists. One of my girlfriends has even given me the green light to create her hypothetical wedding reception playlist.

Not everyone writes out the titles of their favorite songs or music albums regularly, so it's no surprise I sometimes hear people ask, “Are song titles italicized?”

The answer is no.

Here's how it works:

Song Titles in Quotation Marks

Song titles are always surrounded by quotation marks, like *NSYNC's “Bye Bye Bye,” or “A Whole New World” from Disney's Aladdin .

Anytime you write out the title of a song, you'll put that song title in quotation marks according to standard grammar rules. Think of a song as a shorter work like a short story. Short story titles are always in quotation marks. 

Album Titles in Italics

Musical album titles, on the other hand, are always italicized. For example, while I will openly admit to loving Journey's power ballad song “Faithfully,” I think pretty much every song on their Greatest Hits album should be sung at karaoke nights across the country.

When you write out an album title, you'll put it in italics.

It may help to remember that the music album is a longer work, like a novel. Titles of books are also written in italics in most major style guides. 

Are Song Titles Italicized in Classical Music?

Classical music isn't typically arranged into an album, per se, but the general rule still applies. The shorter songs and movements would be in quotation marks. If it is a full length longer composition, like a full sonata, concerto, or opera then use italics for titles indicating the full work.

For example: The aria “Der Hölle Rache” is probably the most famous piece in Mozart's opera The Magic Flute . 

Other Italics Questions

Of course, lots more media have titles than just songs and albums. There are books , short stories, podcasts, TV shows, episodes . . . the list goes on and on. Want more italics advice? Check out our ultimate title-writing guide for answers to all your italics conundrums.

Do you have any tricks for remembering when to use quotes and when to use italics? Tell us in the comments .

Imagine your favorite musical artist or group is discussing the set list for an upcoming show that has the potential to go viral. What will they play to appeal to fans, old and new?

Take fifteen minutes and write about the hypothetical conversation the ladies of the group had in determining the songs they would play for the show. Post your conversation in the Pro Practice Workshop , and leave notes for other writers brave enough to publish as well. Not a part of a writing community yet? Join us !

Liz Bureman

Liz Bureman has a more-than-healthy interest in proper grammatical structure, accurate spelling, and the underappreciated semicolon. When she's not diagramming sentences and reading blogs about how terribly written the Twilight series is, she edits for the Write Practice, causes trouble in Denver, and plays guitar very slowly and poorly. You can follow her on Twitter (@epbure), where she tweets more about music of the mid-90s than writing.

40 Comments

It was blowing up a storm when we started to practice, but that don’t stop Effie.  He thinks you gotta play no matter what.  If the tornado sirens go off down in town and one of our old ladies calls to tell us so, he’ll say, “Ya’ll can go get in your fraidey holes if you want to.  Me, I’m playing my fiddle.”

Well, you can’t go to the storm cellar with your tail between your legs, so we stay, me and Vander and Larry, even though Larry, who plays the washtub, lost his house in the tornado of ’96 and he shakes when the sky rumbles.  And then Effie’ll start in on some song like “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder,” just to put his spin on how things might turn out if a twister does find us.

So we’re playing, me on the bass, and we’re looking out the window, where you can see the sky turning the color of a two-day bruise, and Larry’s sweating and Vander’s got his eyes shut like he does when he plays mandolin, and Effie, truth be told, is a flat-out bully.  So he’s getting the show list together and acting like everything’s business as usual.

“I think we should start with “Sitting On The Front Porch,” he says.  Crowd pleaser, every time.  And then, “Baby’s Little Shoes.” And then “Walking With Clementine” for the old folks.  We’ll finish with “God Bless the U.S.A,” since the veteran’s home is bringing a bus.

Lightning is hitting closer, the sky like the Fourth of July.  Larry’s done sat down, turned all pale as fresh milk.  Larry’s a big man.  He can’t button his overalls up all the way on the side, so when he doubles over and then falls out of the fold-up chair, none of us knows what to do.

“I ain’t doing mouth-to-mouth,” Effie says, while the rest of us are trying to right him. 

Larry comes to soon enough, just as the hail starts.

“My new truck,” he says, and shakes his head. You know when people say you’re green at the gills? Well, Larry is.

All our trucks are parked outside, and all of ‘em are getting blasted.  I see my old Dodge, the one I’ve had since May left me, the hail, big as cotton bols hitting it, and it makes me sick.

And then I remember Effie’s truck.  His is in the carport.  Well, sure it is, I think.

Vander, who preaches every other Sunday over in the Cavanaugh bottoms, says, “Shit fire,” and hits the wall.  We are in the town hall of Rudy, a little Craftsman house donated by Mayor Giles Walker’s family when he passed, and the photos of the veterans shake when he does it.

The rain flashes down.  Pounding everything, soaking through my back windshield that was shattered by the hail.

“Mercy sakes,” is all I can say.

Larry stands up, grabbing my arm to do it.  He’s about as wide as he is tall, and he’s near about pulls me down.

“I’m off like a prom dress,” he says, “so don’t try to stop me.”  And then he turns to Effie.

“You’re about as helpful as a boar with teats,” he says, you know that? You act like you’re the bread and butter of The Frog Bayou Boys.”  He points to me.  “But Columbus here, he might not play as good as you like, but he’s the one got the news folks out here to do that story calling us the best band in the River Valley.  And he books every show, and when you get drunk, let’s just be honest here, when you get drunk, you can’t play worth shit.”

Effie came after Larry.  Effie’s a little action figure of a man, but he fights mean, and it took Vander and me to stop him.

We were holding Effie by his scrawny arms, and he was kicking, his cowboy boots flying off the wood floor, so that we were mostly holding him up.

“You are a liar and a snake,” Larry Brammel.  “A liar and a snake.  You’re going to go straight to hell with gasoline drawers on, and when you do, I’ll play my fiddle on your grave.”

Vander stepped in.  “Ya’ll cut it out.  Nobody’s dying,” he said.  “Effie,” he said, and pointed, “you and Larry need to quit showing your butts. That show on Saturday pays $100, plus they feed us.  We ain’t had a show like that since we played that Red, White and Bluegrass gig for the rich ladies who wanted to dress up in thousand dollar boots and wear tight jeans and drink beer in front of their husbands.”

And then Vander bowed up, like I never seen him do before.  “And Effie, we ain’t playing “Walking With Clementine.” The old folks can do without it for one dang night.  I wrote my own song and I want to sing it.  It’s called “She Broke My Heart And Stole My Wallet.” That’ll get ‘em going,” Vander said. 

I’d known Vander thirty-two years, and that was the first I’d heard of his songwriting.  His new girlfriend, the one who brought over the Mexican casserole when Vander’s wife died, was likely the inspiration for this new tune.

Word was, she was over in Branson now, hooked up with a cowboy singer who wore a Bolo tie and colored his hair.

Effie face was red.  He looked hotter than blue blazes, like he might catch fire at any minute.  And then he backed down, his shoulders falling.  He looked at all of us, me and Larry and Vander, and then he said, “Fine, that’s fine with me.  I been carrying you ya-hoos for way too long.”

Larry cuffed him on the arm, and then they shook hands, and the rain fell, and the thunder roared, but nobody moved for a minute. 

Effie had a bottle in his fiddle case, and he went to get it.  “Ain’t nobody driving till the rain stops,” he said.  “And that includes you, Larry.”

And then we sat down, and passed the bottle until Vander started singing.  “I loved a girl from Minnesota.  Loved her with a passion true.  And then stole my dad burn wallet, took it out and followed you.  You must be a handsome cowboy.  You must look like Johnny Cash.  But when I find my little Cindy, I will tell her that she’s trash.”

We were laughing then.  And Effie brought out his fiddle, and I picked up my bass, and Vander his mandolin.  Larry drug out the washtub, and we got back at it, the Frog Bayou Boys, just as good as new.

Wow, Marla, if you’re not from those parts then you’ve got one wild imagination, girl! Well done, and then some. The phrasing, the way you used the anarchic terminology, and even the names were spot on, perfect. Beautiful!

 Thank you, Yvette.  I can’t take credit.  I live with these people and these voices.  It’s like music to me.  We get teased A LOT but I wouldn’t trade the dialect or the cadence for anything. 

I love this!!!  The gig, the music, the attitudes.  And the dialogue is genuine county-folk!  Good work, Marla!

You’re so nice.  I love the music we have in the South, the twangy, ball-your-eyes-out stuff that connects us all and makes us feel less alone.  And I know men like these, I’ve heard them play, so writing this was easy.

Great writing Marla. I agree with the others you really have that dialect (which I’m also familiar with) down pat.  

Thank you, Mariaanne. Where are you from?

I live in Lynchburg Va now but was originally from Norfolk.  The accent you are writing sounds like an Appalachian accent to me. Where are you from?

Mariaanne, I live in Lynchburg, too! We have two crit groups here and would love for you to join us. Email me at charmainetdavis at yahoo dot com.

Charmaine – I can’t believe it.  Will you please email me?  [email protected].  I’d love to join you.  When and where do you meet?  

I had a playlist for my wedding that included  “One Day My Prince Will Come” and “If You Wish Upon a Star.”  Since I’m still single, it’s “The Impossible Dream.”

It depends if you’re writing for American or British publications. In the US, song titles are always “Jumping Jack Flash” but in the UK they’re often ‘Midnight Rambler’. It’s caused me no end of headaches writing for both.

They punctuate dialogue differently in the UK too don’t they?  I think the way they do it makes more sense actually but I don’t like to think about it too much or I get confused. I imagine it’s hard to write both ways.  

Agreed. The UK punctuates more logically. I had points knocked off of college papers for employing that punctuation, & tried to defend it with no success. Ha! Punctuation Wars – my kind of rebellion!

I’m in the US. In high school, I got marked off for spelling aluminum as “aluminium.” The teacher actually asked if I was British.

Ten years later, I’d still argue I was technically correct.

sorry so long to reply. Yet, after recent happenings, I can only hope that we can just get back to debating language. God Bless us All. Thanks for replying Eric Foster!!

Does also apply to other works that have a part/whole relationship? I’m thinking specifically of “short stories” and The Collection They Come in or “poems” and Chap Books.

I can’t make any italics work in this application, so I’ll indicate italics with [i] at the beginning and at the end of each title I intend to be italicized.

My practice:

The state-of-the-art bus pitched only slightly with the dips and rolls of Interstate 35 — not like those death-traps they used to ride in the ’40s and ’50s — on the way up to Fort Worth and Billy Bob’s.  He walked down the aisle toward his stateroom with the practiced sea-legs of an old salt, noticing that his harp-player, Mickey, had gone to sleep and was droolin’ in his lap. 

“HEY MICK YOUR FLY’S OPEN!”  he barked in that sargeant’s voice he could assume on a moment’s notice.  Mickey jumped awake and then amiably shot him the bird.  He laughed in his baritone voice and walked on into his quarters. 

Billy Bob’s.  Let’s see — that crowd likes the ’70s stuff off the concept albums, sprinkled ’round the edges with the early Nashville songs.  Let’s do, let’s do — he got his legal pad and licked the point of his stubby pencil — Let’s do “Bloody Mary Mornin'” and “Walkin'” from [i]Phases and Stages[i].  Follow that with “Hello Walls” from [i]And then I Wrote[i].  He sat before the big window and watched the country roll by, remembering.  Remembering. 

The world was a different place when I got started.  I’m an extrememly lucky man, he thought.  All the close shaves — I could easily have gone the way of Hank.  All  the little one-horse planes I’ve flown in, I also could have had the same end as Jim Reeves, or Patsy, God love ‘er. 

Gotta do “Crazy” tonight in honor of Patsy.  That’s another’un offa [i]And Then I Wrote[i].  Sold that’un for fifty dollars when my kids needed shoes, and I’d do it again too. 

He picked up the old spanish guitar with the hole in it where his right hand had worn through the wood over the decades, and began to strum it.  Key of E.  Began to sing just a little bit, soft and low:  “In___ the twighlight glow I see__ her . . .”  And then stopped.  All those years.  All those songs.  All those changes.  Phases and stages.

Yes, I’m lucky, it’s still hard to believe just how lucky.

Gotta find a spot for “Blue Eyes” tonight too.  [i]Red-Headed Stranger[i].  

Sometimes, he realized, I look in the mirror and that’s who I see.

Wow!  I love this.  The part about the hole in the guitar is gold.  And I love your main character.  I’d go hear him, in a heartbeat. 

Thank you all for your kind comments.   The piece is about Willie Nelson, I just didn’t name him.  All of the album and song titles are real, as is the hole in his guitar;  just look closely the next time you see him playing on tv and you’ll see it.  I had a lot of fun writing this!

I’ve always been amused by Willie’s “holy” guitar. He’s such a kook.

I forgot DISQUS doesn’t allow italics. Sorry about that John. Way to make it work 🙂

That was really well done John.  It’s kind of sad to hear him thinking about old times but he seems to be a pretty happy guy overall.  I like the hole in the guitar too as well as the guy drooling in his sleep.  Gross but probably about right.  

Good article. Quick and to the point. Thanks!

Not kickass playlists if they have Journey in them lol…

It will really depend on how are you going to use those kind of quotations in your writing but I what I have observed, this kind of thing was being used by most writing especially if when they emphasized a title on their writing.

I was going to ask about the title of a composition and the movements but after reading the program magazine I realized that italics are used for both.

I think I have been doing that correctly. I was worried.

Her hand twisted the edge of her shirt as the smell of sawdust filled the air. The crowd’s noises dimmed, her heart beat louder in her ears and her palms dampened as she climbed the stage stairs. Though she had practiced long hours she was nervous anticipating singing “China Girl” from John Cougar Mellancamp’s, (italics American Fool italics), album.

You should try djing. It’s easy if you can already make a good playlist. If you’re already a good selector, all you have to do is pre-cue the next song in your headphones then drop it on the 1. Really easy stuff. You can buy the app, djay, for ios devices and log in with your spotify account for access to your playlists and stuff. We need more female djs.

My first concert experience was of one that I would not easily forget, it was Summer Jam hosted by Hot 97. The concert had a majority of middle class rappers playing their hot singles. I came there for a select few: 50 Cent, Fabolous and Young Thug. The other performing artists were mainly for the female demographic, like Fetty Wap and Ty Dolla $ign. What I really enjoyed about this concert is they did not only play songs from this current generation, they reached out to other generations as well. The biggest example of this is seeing 50 Cent preform. He played hits from his Get Rich or Die Tryin’ album all the way up to his recent The Kanan Mixtape. I was going ballistic when I heard him preform a new track “I’m the Man” and decided to take us back to 2003 with “In da Club” immediately after. The artists I came for did not disappoint.

And if you are writing dialogue, I do not recall seeing two double quotation marks at end of dialogue. Maybe I am wrong. For instance, “Baby, you know I love Ted’s “Stranglehold,”” he fired back. I have seen a single followed by a double quotation at end of dialogue after the comma or period. So maybe that’s why the King’s English prefers single over double?

This saved my essay. Thanks Liz!

Dear Liz, I was looking for some advice about quote/italics for song/movie/book titles and got totally side-tracked by your Journey reference. When I rule the world, I promise you will get your wish. Journey will be piped directly into people’s heads so they can all become happier and more well rounded. Tee Hee. Keep up the good work. 😉

The Excavators play Brady Wilkenson’s 8th Birthday Bash!

This past Saturday afternoon was Brady Wilkensen’s birthday party, and he could think of no better live entertainment than his father’s heavy metal band, The Excavators. When Brady suggested the idea, his dad felt honored, albeit unsure whether the mothers of his son’s 8-year-old classmates and friends would appreciate the lyrical content of his band’s hits, especially “Rotting Flesh” and “Glory Hole” off their latest album (i) In it for the Lingue Hall. (i)

Instead of becoming the third grade parents’ worst nightmare, Mr. Wilkensen figured he’d tone things down quite a bit to become more palatable to the kids and their discerning parents. He got the members of the Excavators together, sure, but instead of “Rock My Grave,” the afternoon’s selections included “Punk Rock Teacher” and “All My Friends Headbang” off their pseudo EP (i) Songs for the Peanut Gallery (i).

The party was to be held at Bringadown Hall, in a posh country club in the suburb where Brady and his family resided. Mr. Wilkenson figured that his band had better revamp their look for this gig as well. Instead of their usual studs and leather, the Excavators came to the party dressed in red t-shirts, jeans, and letter jackets that evoked high school in the ’70s.

The band decided to even craft some improv tunes on the subject of the party’s goings-on and present them to Brady and his guests at the end of the show. “Pizza on my Face, What a Disgrace!” did so well among Brady’s friends that the Excavators decided to include it on their upcoming album, (i) Smells like Burnt Crust (i).

Rather than the utter disgust that would have been sure to follow had the band performed its signature material, (i) Songs for the Peanut Gallery (i) was lauded by parents and children alike as a “too-cool-for-school crowd pleaser.”

Brady bragged from that day forward that he had the coolest dad in town, and his 8th birthday party became the epitome of birthday bash success in the eyes of the entirety of Willten Elementary School’s student body, whether they’d attended the party or heard about it from a friend-of-a-friend’s brother.

“Whew,” Mr. Wilkenson said to his wife when the party was over, “that was a good call!”

Thanks Liz, good info!

Here’s my sentence in question: “They just ran out the back door singing it to the tune of ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’.” It is dialog, and according to what I’m reading, I should use double quotes around the song and at the end of the sentence. Correct?

thanks for the help!

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How to Say a Song Title in an Essay: Formal and Informal Ways, Tips, and Examples

When it comes to mentioning a song title in an essay, it is important to know the correct way to do so depending on the context and desired tone. Whether you are writing a formal academic paper or a more informal piece, this guide will provide you with useful tips, examples, and regional variations, if necessary. Read on to discover how to effectively incorporate song titles into your essays.

Formal Ways to Mention a Song Title in an Essay

Formal essays typically follow specific guidelines for formatting and referencing sources, including song titles. Here are some formal ways to mention a song title:

• Italicizing the Song Title: In formal writing, song titles are often italicized to differentiate them from the rest of the text. For example, in an essay discussing the impact of music on society, one might write: “The Beatles’ iconic song Hey Jude had a profound cultural influence in the 1960s.”
• Using Quotation Marks: Another appropriate way to mention a song title is by using quotation marks. In this case, the song title is placed within double quotation marks to indicate that it is a specific title. For instance, “Frank Sinatra’s rendition of ‘My Way’ remains a classic.”
• Following Citation Guidelines: Finally, if you are using specific citation guidelines (such as MLA or APA style), it is essential to consult the appropriate style manual for the required formatting of song titles. These guidelines will provide you with the correct way to cite the song within the text and in the references section.

Informal Ways to Mention a Song Title in an Essay

Informal essays, such as personal narratives or blog posts, offer more flexibility in how you mention song titles. Here are some ways to incorporate song titles informally:

• Using Quotation Marks: Similar to the formal approach, using quotation marks can be effective in an informal essay. It helps to specify that you are referring to a particular song. For example, “The lyrics of ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon reflect his hopeful vision of a peaceful world.”
• Descriptive Phrases: Instead of directly mentioning the song title, you can employ descriptive phrases to refer to a song. This can add creativity and engage the reader. For instance, “Listening to Bruno Mars’ upbeat anthem, often known as the ’24K Magic,’ instantly lifts my mood.”

Tips for Incorporating Song Titles in an Essay

When incorporating song titles into your essay, consider the following tips to ensure clarity and accuracy:

• Consistency: Maintain a consistent approach throughout your essay when referencing song titles. Stick to either italicizing or using quotation marks, depending on the formal or informal tone of your writing.
• Capitalization: Use title case capitalization for formal essays, where the principal words of the song title are capitalized. In informal essays, you have more flexibility, but sticking to standard capitalization rules is still recommended.
• Accuracy: Be precise when mentioning song titles, ensuring they are spelled correctly and accurately reflect the original song title. In case of doubt, refer to reliable sources, such as official artist websites or music databases.
• Contextualization: Whenever you mention a song title, provide some context to help readers understand its relevance to your essay. This could include discussing the artist, genre, or broader themes associated with the song.

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.” – Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo’s quote beautifully encapsulates the power of music, and it is essential to acknowledge this power when mentioning song titles in your essays. Remember, the way you mention a song title can enhance the overall tone and engagement of your writing.

Now, let’s explore a few examples to illustrate the correct usage of song titles in essays:

• Formal example: The song Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen revolutionized the music industry with its groundbreaking fusion of rock, opera, and ballad styles.
• Informal example: Freddie Mercury’s majestic creation, often referred to as the ultimate ’70s anthem, can still mesmerize audiences of all generations.

To further enhance your essays, keep reading for regional variations when mentioning song titles in different cultures and languages.

Regional Variations in Mentioning Song Titles

While the guidelines mentioned above are generally applicable, some regional variations may exist when mentioning song titles in essays. Here are a few examples:

• British English: In British English, it is common to use single quotation marks instead of double quotation marks when referring to song titles. For instance, ‘Let It Be’ and “Imagine” were iconic hits by The Beatles.
• Spanish: When mentioning Spanish song titles in English essays, ensure you maintain the correct capitalization and accent marks. For example, the Spanish song Despacito became a global sensation in 2017.

By understanding these regional variations, you can tailor your essay to specific audiences in a respectful and accurate manner.

In conclusion, properly mentioning song titles in an essay is crucial for maintaining clarity, accuracy, and the desired tone. Whether you adopt a formal or informal approach, ensure consistency, accuracy, and provide appropriate context. Remember, music has the power to move and inspire, and incorporating song titles appropriately can elevate the impact of your essay.

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Guide on How to Say a Title in an Essay

When it comes to writing an essay, choosing an appropriate title is essential as it sets the tone for your piece and grabs the reader's attention. But what about actually mentioning the title within the essay? How should you refer to it? In this guide, we will explore various ways to encompass the title of your essay within the text, providing both formal and informal approaches. So, let's dive in and discover how to effectively mention the title in your essay!

Guide: How to Say the Title of a Book in an Essay

When writing an essay, it's important to be able to properly reference the title of a book. Including the book's title in your essay can lend credibility, provide additional context to your arguments, and demonstrate your depth of knowledge. However, there are certain conventions and rules that need to be followed. In this guide, we will discuss various formal and informal ways to refer to the title of a book in your essay, along with a few helpful tips and examples.

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to properly incorporate the title of a book into your essays. Whether you are writing a formal academic paper or a more casual piece, correctly referring to the titles of books shows your understanding and attention to detail. In this guide, we will explore both formal and informal ways to mention book titles in essays, while providing various tips, examples, and regional variations. So let's dive in!

How to Say a Book Title in a Sentence

When discussing books, it is essential to know how to properly refer to their titles in a sentence. Whether you need to mention a book in a formal or informal way, understanding the conventions of book title references is important. In this guide, we will explore various tips and examples on how you can mention a book title in a sentence, providing both formal and informal approaches.

How to Say a Book Title in APA: A Comprehensive Guide

APA (American Psychological Association) style is widely used for academic writing, including research papers, essays, and articles. When referring to a book title within your writing, it is important to follow specific guidelines to ensure consistency and clarity. This guide will provide you with tips, examples, and regional variations (if necessary) on how to properly cite and say a book title in APA format.

How to Say Bonded Title in Spanish - A Comprehensive Guide

Are you looking to learn how to say "bonded title" in Spanish? Whether you are a language enthusiast, a traveler or simply want to expand your vocabulary, this guide will provide you with all the information you need. We will cover the formal and informal ways to say "bonded title" in Spanish, share regional variations if necessary, and provide numerous tips and examples to help you grasp the concept effectively.

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Music enthusiasts are often confused about how to format song titles properly in written documents such as essays, research papers, and articles. While some people might think that formatting song titles is not essential, it is a crucial element in writing that can change the meaning or context of a song. The following guidelines will help you correctly format song titles in written documents.

1. Capitalization:

The first letter of every word in a song title should be capitalized, except for articles, conjunctions, and prepositions that are shorter than four letters.

Example: “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses.

2. Italicize:

Song titles should be italicized when they appear in a written document, such as when they appear in a sentence or a paragraph. The only exception to this rule is when the document is handwritten.

Example: “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen is one of the most popular rock songs of all time.

3. Quotation Marks:

When a song title is part of a larger work, such as an album, an opera, or musical theater, use quotation marks to distinguish the song title from the rest of the work. Example: “Don’t Stop Believin'” is a song from the album, “Escape” by Journey.

4. Punctuation:

When referencing a song title, place a comma before and after the title.

Example: The song, “Time After Time,” was a hit for Cyndi Lauper.

5. Acronyms:

If the title of the song consists of an acronym, all letters must be capitalized, and the acronym should also be placed in quotation marks.

Example: “YMCA” by the Village People.

In conclusion, proper formatting of song titles in written documents is crucial in expressing the correct information to the reader. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in misinterpretation of song titles and changing the context of the song. By following these simple guidelines, music lovers, students, and authors can confidently format song titles in written documents.

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23 How to Quote Song Lyrics in an Essay in APA Style

When writing essays in fields like music education, psychology, sociology, or other disciplines that may analyze song lyrics, you’ll often need to incorporate direct quotations or paraphrases to support your arguments and deepen your analysis. Understanding how to properly attribute these sources is essential to both academic integrity and effectively guiding your reader back to the original work. The American Psychological Association (APA) style provides the framework for formatting these citations while ensuring you give credit where credit is due.

Additionally, if you find yourself overwhelmed with the task of incorporating citations or formatting your paper according to APA guidelines, consider seeking assistance and ask professionals to do my paper on DoMyEssay to ensure accuracy and adherence to academic standards.

While there’s no single section in the APA manual devoted entirely to musical sources, you can intelligently adapt the principles for citing various source formats to fit this particular purpose. This involves a careful understanding of both APA’s conventions and the unique nature of musical works, where elements like composer, lyricist, performer, and the date of a particular release all contribute to the full picture.

In-Text Citations

Short Quotations : Integrate shorter lyrical excerpts directly into your text using quotation marks, providing a seamless flow within your writing and allowing the lyrics to speak directly to the reader. Separate line breaks with a single forward slash ( / ) and stanza breaks with two ( // ).

Joni Mitchell explores themes of freedom and constraint in her song “Big Yellow Taxi,” where she poignantly sings, “They paved paradise / And put up a parking lot” (Mitchell, 1970, track 4). 

This technique lets the song’s imagery resonate clearly, strengthening your argument by using the artist’s own words as direct evidence. Furthermore, short quotations can be particularly impactful when they capture a powerful metaphor or a striking turn of phrase unique to the songwriter. 

The bitter irony of “Don’t it always seem to go / That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone” (Mitchell, 1970, track 4) underscores the song’s larger message about the fleeting nature of what we take for granted.

Block Quotations : For lengthier lyrical segments (typically four lines or more), set them apart as block quotations to emphasize their significance, help with visual clarity, and signify a deeper level of analysis. Indent the entire block from your main text. Consider this example:

They took all the trees

Put ’em in a tree museum

And they charged the people

A dollar and a half just to see ’em

(Mitchell, 1970, track 4)

By using a block quotation, you invite the reader to pause and carefully consider the extended lyrical passage, potentially uncovering deeper meanings, nuances, or its connection to the larger themes of your work. Block quotations can also highlight shifts in tone within a song or reveal the development of an idea across several verses. In Mitchell’s case, the block quote emphasizes the absurdity and commercialization of a world where nature is commodified, adding a layer of social commentary to the environmental focus of “Big Yellow Taxi.”

Citation Components : An in-text citation for song lyrics generally includes the songwriter(s) last name, copyright year, and either track number (for recordings) or page/line number (for printed scores). For example, a direct quotation from “Big Yellow Taxi” would be cited as (Mitchell, 1970, track 4). Paraphrases follow the regular APA pattern of (Author, Year), allowing you to rephrase the song’s message in your own words while still giving credit to the original idea. Remember that consistency in your citations adds a layer of professionalism and clarity to your essay writing , demonstrating your respect for intellectual property and guiding your reader effectively.

Reference List Entries

Your reference list, found at the end of your essay, provides a comprehensive and detailed guide to all the sources you’ve used. For song lyrics, this is where you meticulously list full publication information, allowing a reader to easily locate the exact music you analyzed. Here’s the basic structure, with examples and additional considerations:

Recorded Music : Start with the songwriter(s), copyright year, song title, and recording artist. Then, specify the album title, medium of the recording (vinyl, CD, digital, etc.), location of the record label, and the label itself.

Mitchell, J. (1970). Big Yellow Taxi [Recorded by Joni Mitchell]. On Ladies of the Canyon [LP record]. Burbank, CA: Reprise Records.

If the songwriter and recording artist are the same, you can omit the bracketed “[Recorded by…]” portion. Sometimes, you might need to differentiate between various editions or re-releases of an album, especially if bonus tracks or alternate versions are involved. Since different versions could contain lyrical changes, it’s important to be detailed to ensure a reader can locate the precise source you used. Also, be aware that original publication dates and recent re-releases can differ, so make sure to list the date relevant to the version you’re citing.

Printed Scores : For printed sheet music, whether it’s a full score or a simplified arrangement, focus on the publication details. List the songwriter(s), year of publication, song title, the type of score (vocal, instrumental, choral, etc. – if relevant), the city and state where the publisher is located, and the publisher’s name.

Dylan, B. (1963). Blowin’ in the Wind [Vocal score]. New York, NY: Warner Bros. Publications.

Printed scores can vary widely, from simple piano-and-vocal arrangements to comprehensive orchestral scores. Specifying the score type clarifies the exact version you used for analysis and can be particularly helpful if your arguments focus on instrumentation, harmonies, or other musical elements beyond just the lyrics themselves. Additionally, some scores include notes on historical context or performance practice relevant to specific genres or time periods, giving you additional insights for your analysis.

With a bit of careful attention and by understanding the core principles of APA, you can successfully integrate song lyrics into your academic writing, giving proper credit, strengthening your analysis, and enhancing the overall scholarly impact of your work!

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Mastering the Art of Incorporating Song Titles in Your Essays

When it comes to writing essays, incorporating song titles can add depth and context to your work. However, knowing how to correctly format and use song titles is crucial. In this guide, we'll explore the ins and outs of writing song titles in essays.

Table of Contents

The Importance of Proper Formatting

Why correct formatting matters.

Properly formatting song titles in your essays serves several essential purposes. It not only adds clarity and professionalism to your work but also distinguishes the titles from the rest of the text.

Standard Practices for Song Titles in Essays

Italicizing song titles.

The most common practice for including song titles in essays is to italicize them. This convention helps set the titles apart and ensures that they are easily recognizable.

Examples for Clarity

For instance, if you're discussing the song "Imagine" by John Lennon, you should write it as: In his song "Imagine," John Lennon explores...

Capitalization Rules

Proper capitalization.

When writing song titles, it's important to capitalize the principal words. This includes nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Articles, conjunctions, and prepositions are usually in lowercase unless they are the first or last word of the title.

Applying Capitalization Rules

In the song title "Blowin' in the Wind," you would capitalize 'Blowin'' and 'Wind,' but 'in' and 'the' are in lowercase.

Dealing with Quotation Marks

Quoting song titles.

In certain cases, you may need to use quotation marks instead of italics to emphasize song titles, especially if you're using a style guide that recommends this format.

Handling Song Lyrics

Quoting song lyrics.

When quoting lyrics within your essay, use quotation marks for lyrics. Additionally, follow the conventions for citing lyrics accurately.

Adhering to Citation Styles

Mla, apa, chicago, and more.

Different citation styles (MLA, APA, Chicago) may have slight variations in rules for song title formatting. Always consult the specific guidelines of the style you're using.

Maintaining Consistency

Regardless of the style, maintain consistency in formatting throughout your essay. Whether you italicize or use quotation marks, be uniform.

Final Checks

Proofreading and review.

After completing your essay, proofread it to ensure that all song titles and lyrics are correctly formatted. Consistency in formatting contributes significantly to the professionalism of your work.

Frequently Asked Questions: Writing Song Titles in Essays

The standard practice for including song titles in essays is to italicize them. This helps distinguish them from the rest of the text.

In some cases, style guides recommend using quotation marks for song titles instead of italics. Check the specific guidelines you're following.

Capitalize the principal words in the song title, including nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Articles, conjunctions, and prepositions are usually in lowercase unless they begin or end the title.

If your essay discusses a song title within another title, such as an album or movie title, use quotation marks for the song title and italics for the larger work.

While citation styles like MLA, APA, and Chicago have specific guidelines, the standard practice of italicizing or using quotation marks for song titles remains consistent across these styles. Refer to the style guide you're using for specifics.

Yes, you can include song lyrics in your essay, but they should be enclosed in quotation marks and properly cited following your chosen citation style.

Yes, proofreading is essential to ensure all song titles are correctly formatted and consistent throughout your essay. Consistency enhances the overall quality of your work.

Richard Stallman

Founded by Richard Stallman, an enthusiast in creative writing and technology, TitleGeneratorHub.com is born out of a passion to assist writers[...]

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Home / Blog / Mastering the Art of How to Quote a Song in an Essay

Mastering the Art of How to Quote a Song in an Essay

Jennifer Livingstone

Introduction

In the realm of academic writing, the ability to effectively how to quote a song in an essay plays a pivotal role in enriching your text, offering depth and a unique perspective to your argument. Whether it’s how to quote a song lyric in an essay to underscore a point, evoke an emotional response, or how to quote a song title in an essay to reference cultural context, the integration of musical elements can significantly enhance the reader’s engagement with your work. This guide aims to demystify the process, providing a clear set of guidelines for accurately citing songs within your essays. From the nuances of incorporating lyrics to the technicalities of referencing song titles, understanding these principles ensures that your academic writing not only adheres to the highest standards of scholarly integrity but also captures the essence of the musical pieces that influence and inspire your thoughts.

Understanding the Purpose of Quoting a Song

Quoting a song in an academic essay serves several key purposes, each enhancing the depth and breadth of your analysis. Learning how to quote a song in an essay allows you to bolster your arguments or themes with the emotional power or cultural resonance of music. When you master how to quote a song lyric in an essay, you tap into a rich vein of emotional and intellectual material, providing vivid evidence or illustrative examples that support your claims in a uniquely compelling way. Furthermore, understanding how to quote a song title in an essay goes beyond mere citation; it invites readers to consider the cultural or historical significance of the song, connecting your work to broader dialogues within society. This approach not only enriches your essay but also positions your arguments within a larger cultural and historical context, demonstrating the multifaceted impact of music on human experience.

Preparing to Quote a Song

Before incorporating a musical piece into your essay, it’s imperative to navigate the intricacies of how to quote a song in an essay with precision. The initial step involves meticulously identifying the relevant portion of the song that aligns with your discussion or argument. This selection process is critical as it ensures that the excerpt directly contributes to reinforcing your thesis or enriching your analysis.

Contextualizing the song for your audience is another vital aspect. When deliberating on how to quote a song lyric in an essay, providing background about the song or artist can offer valuable insight into its intended message or cultural impact, making your argument more persuasive. This context helps bridge any gaps between the reader’s knowledge and the significance of the lyrics within your essay’s framework.

Furthermore, the adherence to formatting guidelines, such as how to quote a song in an essay MLA, underscores the importance of academic integrity while lending credibility to your work. Whether you’re quoting a song lyric or citing its title, following the Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines ensures that your citations are properly structured and recognized.

Ultimately, ensuring that each quote supports your essay’s thesis or main idea is paramount. This careful integration of how to quote song lyrics in an essay not only enhances your argumentation but also enriches the reader’s understanding, making your essay a more compelling and informative read.

Guidelines for Quoting a Song

When incorporating music into your writing, understanding how to quote a song in an essay MLA format is crucial for maintaining academic integrity. Begin by italicizing song titles and capitalizing the initial letters of each word. Artist names should be presented in their standard form. For in-text citations, include the artist’s last name and the song title in parentheses. For instance: (Bowie, “Space Oddity”).

In the Works Cited page, the entry should list the artist’s name, the title of the song in italics, the album name as the container, followed by publication details and the format. An example would look like: Bowie, David. “Space Oddity.” David Bowie, 1969, CD.

Adhering to these guidelines ensures that how to quote a song in an essay aligns with MLA standards, providing a clear and concise method for referencing songs in your scholarly work.

In APA format, quoting a song involves specific guidelines that ensure clarity and consistency across academic writing. When addressing how to quote a song in an essay or how to quote a song lyric in an essay using APA style, start by presenting song titles in sentence case, using quotation marks. Artist names should be written in full, without alterations.

For in-text citations, include the artist’s last name and the year of the song’s release in parentheses, for example: (Dylan, 1963). If quoting lyrics, also include a timestamp to indicate the exact part of the song, like (Dylan, 1963, 1:15).

In the References list, the entry should format as follows: Artist’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Song title [Song]. On Album Title. Publisher. For example: Dylan, B. (1963). Blowin’ in the Wind [Song]. On The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Columbia.

Adhering to these APA guidelines ensures your citations are properly formatted, offering a clear reference for readers to follow when you quote a song or its lyrics in an essay.

Chicago Style

When employing Chicago style in your essay, the approach to how to quote a song in an essay or how to quote a song lyric in an essay integrates a nuanced citation method. Song titles should be quoted, with artist names presented in their full form without alterations.

For footnote or endnote citations, you format them by including the artist’s name, song title in quotation marks, album name in italics, year of release, and format type. An example would look like: 1. Artist Name, “Song Title,” Album Name, Year, Format.

In the bibliography, the entry should be arranged as follows: Artist’s Last Name, First Name. “Song Title.” Album Name. Year. Format. For instance: Dylan, Bob. “Blowin’ in the Wind.” The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. 1963. CD.

This Chicago style formatting ensures that quoting a song or its lyrics in your essay is clear, precise, and adheres to academic standards, providing a structured way for readers to locate the original source material.

Incorporating Song Quotes in Your Essay

Incorporating song quotes into your essay requires a seamless approach to ensure the text flows naturally. When how to quote a song in an essay or how to quote a song lyric in an essay, using signal phrases such as “According to [Artist Name]” or “[Artist Name] sings” can smoothly introduce the quote into your narrative. This method not only credits the original artist but also prepares the reader for the integration of external content.

After presenting the quote, it’s crucial to delve into its significance within your analysis. Discuss how the lyrics or the title enhance your argument, contribute to thematic development, or illuminate the subject matter from a unique perspective. This step is vital in demonstrating the relevance of the song quote to your essay’s broader discussion, thereby enriching the reader’s understanding and engagement with your work.

By thoughtfully integrating song quotes and articulating their importance, you bridge the gap between musical expression and academic analysis, offering a richer, more textured exploration of your essay’s themes.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Navigating the legal and ethical landscape is paramount when how to quote a song in an essay or how to quote song lyrics in an essay. Understanding copyright laws is crucial to ensure that your use of song lyrics respects the intellectual property rights of artists and songwriters. When considering how to quote a song lyric in an essay or how to quote lyrics from a song in an essay, it’s important to adhere to the principles of fair use. This doctrine allows for the use of copyrighted material under certain conditions, such as for commentary, criticism, or educational purposes.

Best practices include quoting only the necessary amount of lyrics to support your argument or analysis and always providing appropriate attribution to the original artist. Furthermore, when quoting song lyrics or titles, ensure your usage falls within the guidelines of fair use by contributing original commentary or analysis that transforms the original work in a meaningful way.

By adhering to these legal and ethical considerations, you can ethically incorporate song quotes into your academic writing, enriching your essays while respecting the rights of creators.

In conclusion, mastering how to quote a song in an essay, how to quote a song lyric in an essay, how to quote song lyrics in an essay, and how to quote lyrics from a song in an essay is a valuable skill that enhances your academic writing. We’ve explored the importance of selecting relevant song portions, properly formatting citations across different styles, and the significance of integrating these quotes smoothly into your analysis. Remember, quoting songs not only enriches your essays by providing a diverse range of expressions and cultural references but also deepens the exploration of your topic.

I encourage you to utilize song quotes thoughtfully within your essays. This approach not only demonstrates your ability to engage with a variety of sources but also invites a deeper understanding and appreciation of the intricate ways in which music and text can intersect to reveal profound insights. Let the power of music amplify the impact of your words , and may your essays resonate with the richness and depth that song quotes can provide.

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How to Quote a Song in a Paper (with Formatting & Examples)

Last Updated: April 17, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Marissa Levis and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Marissa Levis is an English Teacher in the Morris County Vocational School District. She previously worked as an English director at a tutoring center that caters to students in elementary and middle school. She is an expert in creating a curriculum that helps students advance their skills in secondary-level English, focusing on MLA formatting, reading comprehension, writing skills, editing and proofreading, literary analysis, standardized test preparation, and journalism topics. Marissa received her Master of Arts in Teaching from Fairleigh Dickinson University. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 318,840 times.

Depending on the type of paper you're writing, you may need to use a song as a reference – either a specific recording, or the composition of the song itself. The format of your citation will be somewhat different depending on whether you are using Modern Language Association (MLA) style, American Psychological Association (APA) style, or the format in the Chicago Manual of Style. You'll also need a brief, in-text citation to point the reader to the more complete citation at the end of your work. [1] X Research source

• The performer could be a single individual or a band. If you're using the name of a single person, use "last name, first name" format.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé.

• If there are multiple writers, list them all in the order they appear in the copyright information for the song. If the song has lyrics, there may be both a composer and a lyricist.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé and James Blake.

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé and James Blake. "Freedom."

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé and James Blake. "Freedom." Lemonade , Parkwood Entertainment, 2016.

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé and James Blake. "Freedom." Lemonade , Parkwood Entertainment, 2016. Online, www.beyonce.com/album/lemonade-visual-album/, accessed January 9, 2017.

• Use the name you used in your full citation. Just use the first or primary name if there is more than one artist in the full citation. Include the title or a title phrase if you're citing more than one work by that artist.
• For example: (Knowles-Carter, "Freedom")

• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J.
• If there are multiple writers and their roles are identified, you can put these in parentheses after their names. For example: Knowles-Carter, B. (Lyricist), & Blake, J. (Composer).

• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J. (2016).

• You also may want to include the name of the performing artist if they are known by a stage name or are otherwise not immediately identifiable by their last name.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J. (2016). Freedom [Recorded by Beyoncé].

• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J. (2016). Freedom. On Lemonade [CD].

• Include state or country information if the city is not well-known. Otherwise, simply include the name of the city.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J. (2016). Freedom. On Lemonade [CD]. New York City: Parkwood Entertainment (2016).

• For example: (Knowles-Carter & Blake, 2016, track 10)

Using Chicago Style

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé, and James Blake.

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé, and James Blake. Freedom .
• If the performer of the song is someone different from the songwriters, include this information immediately after the title of the song or album by listing their first name and last name.
• If the performer is more important than the songwriter or composer, you may want to list their name first. Use your best judgment depending on the focus of your paper.

• If you can't find the recording number on the physical copy of the recording itself, look on www.discogs.com. Make sure you have the listing for the same recording as the one you're referencing.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé, and James Blake. Freedom . On Lemonade . Parkwood Entertainment, 88985336822, 2016. [11] X Research source

• For example: For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé, and James Blake. Freedom . On Lemonade . Parkwood Entertainment, 88985336822, 2016, CD.

• For example: (Knowles-Carter 2016).
• To provide a pinpoint citation to a specific song, include the track number. For example: (Knowles-Carter 2016, track 10).

Community Q&A

• If you're using Chicago style, list audio recordings separately in a discography that is separate from your main bibliography. [14] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• When you access music online, you may have difficulty finding the information you need for your citation. Try looking up the song on a website such as www.discogs.com, which will have publication information. [15] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://pitt.libguides.com/citationhelp
• ↑ https://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2011/12/how-to-cite-recorded-music-in-apa-style.html
• ↑ http://www.ubishops.ca/wp-content/uploads/APAguide6thofficial.pdf
• ↑ http://libguides.depauw.edu/c.php?g=73436&p=472435
• ↑ https://www.discogs.com/Beyoncé-Lemonade/release/8486714
• ↑ http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/turabian_citationguide.html
• ↑ http://www.easybib.com/guides/citation-guides/chicago-turabian/how-to-cite-a-musical-recording-chicago-turabian/

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To cite a song using APA, start by putting the last name of the songwriter or composer, followed by their initials. Then, add the copyright year in parenthesis, and the title of the song. Next, start a new sentence with the word “on,” followed by the italicized name of the album and the medium you heard it on. End the citation with the location, the name of the recording company, and the recording year. For more information on citing songs, including in-text citations for MLA and Chicago style, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How Do You Denote a Song Title in Writing? Correct Format

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Different Ways to Denote a Song Title in Writing

Understanding the importance of properly formatting song titles, using quotation marks to indicate a song title, italicizing song titles for clarity and consistency, when to capitalize words in a song title, adding punctuation marks to song titles: what you should know, special considerations for denoting non-english song titles in writing, frequently asked questions, the conclusion.

When it comes to denoting a song title in writing, there are several different formats and styles you can use. Each method carries its own unique charm and can add a creative flair to your written work. Here are some creative ways to denote a song title:

1. Quotation marks: One of the most commonly used methods, placing song titles within quotation marks is a classic way to highlight them. For example, you can write “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. This format helps differentiate the song title from the surrounding text, making it easily recognizable.

2. Italics: Another popular method is to italicize song titles. This provides emphasis and can help the title stand out in a sentence or paragraph. For instance, you can write “Hotel California” by the Eagles. Using italics is a sleek and elegant way to denote a song title, especially when you want to maintain the flow of your writing.

3. Capitalization style: Instead of using quotation marks or italics, you can capitalize the entire song title. This method is often used in journalistic writing or when adhering to a specific style guide. For example, you can write DANCING QUEEN by ABBA. Capitalizing the entire song title adds prominence and can create a visual impact in your writing.

4. Block quotes: If you’re referencing lyrics or want to highlight a longer passage from a song, consider using block quotes. This formatting style visually sets the lyrics apart from the main text and makes them more prominent. For instance:

“You may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one”

Hopefully, these will inspire you to explore new formatting options. Whether you choose quotation marks, italics, capitalization, or block quotes, remember to maintain consistency throughout your work. Experiment with different styles and find the method that best suits your writing style and the overall tone of your piece.

When it comes to songs, the proper formatting of their titles plays a significant role. Not only does it help create a visually appealing and organized look, but it is also crucial for effective communication and understanding among music enthusiasts. Properly formatting song titles can greatly enhance the presentation and professionalism of music content, whether it is on a website, album cover, or a streaming service.

One important aspect of formatting song titles is the use of capitalization. By following consistent rules, such as capitalizing the first letter of each important word, we ensure that the title is easily readable and visually appealing. Additionally, the use of quotation marks or italics helps distinguish the song title from the rest of the text and adds a touch of emphasis. Utilizing proper formatting techniques not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also makes it easier for music lovers to locate and identify a specific song when browsing through playlists or searching for a particular artist.

Furthermore, properly formatting song titles is essential for maintaining consistency across different platforms and mediums. Whether it’s an online music streaming service, a physical CD, or even a live performance, the consistent formatting of song titles allows for seamless recognition and understanding. Imagine a world where each platform used different formatting methods for song titles. It would undoubtedly lead to confusion and frustration amongst fans and listeners. Consistency in formatting ensures that regardless of where the song title appears, it remains recognizable and coherent.

In the world of writing and typography, quotation marks serve a variety of purposes. One specific usage of quotation marks is to indicate the title of a song. By placing a song title within quotation marks, we are acknowledging the artistic value and uniqueness of that particular musical piece. Whether you’re writing an essay, an article, or even a social media post, it’s essential to know how to properly use quotation marks to enhance the clarity and credibility of your writing.

Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when :

1. Placement of Quotation Marks: Always place quotation marks around the title of the song to set it apart from the rest of the text. For example: “ Bohemian Rhapsody is considered one of the greatest songs in rock music history.”

2. Capitalization: Capitalize the first letter of each major word in the song title, including significant words like nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. However, articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions, unless they are the first or last word of the title, should generally be lowercase. For instance, “ Love Story by Taylor Swift beautifully captures the essence of a tragic romance.” or “When I heard “ Shape of You ” by Ed Sheeran, it instantly became my favorite song.”

Remember, properly using quotation marks helps to give proper credit to songwriters and musicians while ensuring accuracy in your writing. So whether you’re writing a review, an analysis, or simply sharing your favorite tunes, don’t forget to give song titles the recognition they deserve.

When it comes to song titles, using italics can be a handy tool for enhancing clarity and maintaining consistency in your writing. Italicizing song titles helps to visually distinguish them from the surrounding text, making it easier for readers to identify and locate the names of specific songs within your content.

Using italics for song titles also brings a sense of professionalism and adherence to style conventions. Whether you are writing an article, a blog post, or creating content for social media, consistent use of italics for song titles can elevate the overall visual appeal and readability of your text. Moreover, it demonstrates your attention to detail and commitment to providing accurate information to your audience.

To ensure proper italicization, remember to follow these guidelines:

1. Use italics for the full titles of individual songs, such as “Bohemian Rhapsody” or “Sweet Child o’ Mine.” 2. Italicize song titles within the body of your text, not just in headings or subheadings. 3. Avoid using quotation marks around italicized song titles, as this can lead to confusion and visual clutter. 4. Consistency is key! Stick to the same formatting style throughout your content to maintain a professional and polished look.

Creating a captivating song title is an important aspect of songwriting that should not be overlooked. Not only does it set the tone for your composition, but it also helps grab the listener’s attention. Capitalization plays a significant role in ensuring that your song title stands out and is easy to read. Here are some guidelines to help you determine :

• Capitalize the first and last words: To enhance readability and visual appeal, capitalize the first and last words of your song title, regardless of their part of speech. This simple rule will instantly make your title more eye-catching and professional.
• Capitalize proper nouns: Proper nouns, such as names of people, places, or specific brands, should always be capitalized in a song title. Not only does this give them the importance they deserve, but it also adds credibility and clarity to your composition.
• Capitalize major words: Capitalize the main words in your song title, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns. For example, “Sunset Serenade” should be capitalized as “Sunset Serenade” to ensure that the title sounds coherent and well-structured.

While these guidelines provide a general framework for capitalizing words in a song title, remember that artistic expression shouldn’t be confined by strict rules. If deviating from these guidelines enhances the artistic intent or ambience of your song title, feel free to explore different capitalization options. Ultimately, the goal is to create a memorable and aesthetically pleasing song title that perfectly complements your musical creation.

When it comes to song titles, punctuation marks can make a big difference in conveying the intended meaning or creating a specific tone. Whether you’re a songwriter, music enthusiast, or just curious about the subject, it’s essential to understand the rules and guidelines for adding punctuation marks to song titles. Here’s what you should keep in mind:

• Captivate with a question mark: Using a question mark in a song title can add intrigue and engage the listener’s curiosity. It can be particularly effective when the song poses a thought-provoking question or reflects a sense of doubt or uncertainty. For instance, “Where Did Our Love Go?” or “Who Can It Be Now?”
• Emphasize with an exclamation point: An exclamation point in a song title can amplify the excitement or intensity of a track. It’s perfect for songs that embody powerful emotions, energetic anthems, or tracks that simply demand attention. For example, “Love Story!” or “Celebrate Tonight!”
• Delve into emotions with parentheses: Using parentheses in song titles allows for a deeper exploration of emotions. It enables artists to provide additional context or express an alternative viewpoint. This can be seen in titles like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” or “Creep (Acoustic Version)”.

Remember, punctuation marks should be used purposefully and thoughtfully in song titles to enhance the overall message or style. When used correctly, they can evoke emotions, create intrigue, and capture listeners’ attention. So, don’t be afraid to play around with punctuation marks and let them add that extra spark to your song titles!

When writing non-English song titles, it is essential to use the appropriate format to accurately represent the original language. By adhering to these special considerations, you can ensure that your writing reflects the unique nature of the song titles and pays respect to the language they originate from.

To correctly denote non-English song titles, keep the following guidelines in mind:

1. **Retain the Original Language**: Whenever possible, maintain the original language of the song title. This helps preserve the cultural significance and authenticity of the work. 2. **Italicize**: Italicize non-English song titles to distinguish them from the surrounding text. This formatting convention assists in visually separate them, making it easier for readers to identify them as distinct elements. 3. **Provide Translation**: If the song title has a commonly accepted translation, consider providing it in parentheses after the original title. This allows readers unfamiliar with the language to understand the meaning without altering the original text. 4. **Include Pronunciation**: To assist readers with the pronunciation of non-English song titles, you may provide a phonetic transcription. This can be especially helpful for less familiar languages or those with distinct pronunciation rules.

By carefully considering these aspects, you can accurately convey the essence of non-English song titles in your writing while ensuring proper understanding and appreciation among your readers.

Q: What is the correct format for denoting a song title in writing? A: When denoting a song title in writing, you should follow specific formatting rules to ensure clarity and consistency.

Q: How should I format a song title within a paragraph? A: When including a song title within a paragraph, enclose it in quotation marks. For example, “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen is considered one of the greatest rock anthems of all time.

Q: What if the song title contains punctuation or special characters? A: If the song title includes punctuation or special characters, you must include them as they appear in the original title, within the quotation marks. For instance, “Uptown Funk!” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars should be written exactly this way.

Q: Are there any exceptions to using quotation marks? A: Yes, there are exceptions. If you are writing a formal academic paper or a publication that follows specific citation guidelines (such as MLA or APA style), you should italicize the song title instead of using quotation marks.

Q: Should capitalization be consistent for song titles? A: Yes, capitalization should be consistent in song titles. Major words such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns should always be capitalized. However, articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or), and prepositions are typically lowercase, unless they appear at the beginning or end of the title.

Q: Are there any specific guidelines for formatting album titles? A: Yes, album titles should also be properly formatted. Similar to song titles, album titles should be enclosed in quotation marks or italicized, depending on the context or citation style being used. Capitalize all major words in album titles as well.

Q: What about formatting song titles for online platforms or social media? A: When it comes to online platforms or social media, such as YouTube or Twitter, it is common to format song titles in all capital letters. This helps create visual emphasis and catch the reader’s attention.

Q: Can you provide an example of correctly formatted song titles ? A: Sure! Here are a few examples: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana, “God’s Plan” by Drake, and “Piano Man” by Billy Joel.

Q: How important is it to correctly format song titles ? A: Correctly formatting song titles is essential for proper attribution, citation, and clear communication. It shows respect for the original artist’s work and ensures that your writing follows commonly accepted conventions.

Q: Are there any other tips to keep in mind when denoting song titles? A: Apart from proper formatting, it is important to accurately spell song titles and attribute them to the correct artists. Additionally, it is helpful to maintain consistency in formatting throughout your writing.

In conclusion, it is important to use proper formatting when denoting a song title in writing. From italics to quotation marks, clarity is key!

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How do I cite song lyrics?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

The way you cite song lyrics will vary depending on how you access them and how much information you include in the body of your essay.

If you cite song lyrics from a CD you listened to, you might simply refer to the song in your essay:

“You say you got a real solution,” the Beatles sing in “Revolution 1.” 

You can then provide a works-cited-list entry for the album that contains the song. Follow the MLA format template : list the name of the performer or band as the author, the name of the album as the title of the source, the publisher, and the date. In the optional-element slot at the end of the entry, list the format:

Beatles. The Beatles . EMI Records, 1968. CD.

If you cite song lyrics from a booklet accompanying the CD, list a description in the “Title of source” slot and the name of the album as the title of the container:

Beatles. Booklet. The Beatles , EMI Records, 1968.

If you cite lyrics from a website, provide a description in place of the title. Then provide the name of the website, publication information for the site, and the URL:

Beatles.  Lyrics to “Revolution 1.” Genius , 2017, genius.com/The-beatles-revolution-i-lyrics.

Home / Guides / Citation Guides / How to Cite Sources / How to Cite a Song in APA, MLA, or Chicago

How to Cite a Song in APA, MLA, or Chicago

Music is an art form—and just as you’d analyze a poem for a literary paper or cite a painting for an art history paper, you may find yourself using a song as a source, especially if you’re enrolled in music theory courses. Here, we’ve laid out how to cite a song, so if you’re deciding whether or not to include a song in your next paper based on whether you can figure out how to cite it, go for it! Citing songs, whether you’re working off the audio recording or using written lyrics, is actually a pretty similar process to what you might have done for other kinds of citations.

Although citing a song might seem unfamiliar, there’s no need to worry. We’ve got you covered for both audio recordings and written song lyrics, whether you need to cite in MLA format ,  APA format, or Chicago style.

Citing an Audio Recording of a Song Found Online

If you’ve ever cited a movie before, you’ll discover that citing an audio recording of a song is a pretty similar process. But even if you’ve only cited text before, you should be a pro at song citations in no time! We’ve included examples of how you would cite Ed Sheeran’s “Don’t” for each of the three styles as well.

To cite an audio recording of a song, you should make note of the following pieces of information: 1. Singer’s name 2. Songwriter’s name 3. Title of the song (and subtitle, if there is one) 4. Title of the album (and subtitle, if there is one) 5. Album’s Edition (if there is one) 6. Track Number 7. Publisher 8. Year of publication 9. Website or database where the song was found 10. URL 11. The names of any other contributors

Use the following structure to cite an audio recording found online in MLA 9:

Singer’s Last Name, Singer’s First Name. “Title of the Song.” Title of the Album , album’s ed., Publisher, Year of publication, track number. Website or Database Name , URL (remove http:// or https://).

Here’s how the above example would be cited in MLA 9 :

Sheeran, Ed. “Don’t.” X , deluxe ed., Asylum Records, 2014, track 4. Spotify , play.spotify.com/track/34gCuhDGsG4bRPIf9bb02f?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in an in-text citation:

(Singer’s Last Name)

Use the following structure to cite an audio recording in APA format:

Songwriter’s Last Name, Songwriter’s First Initial. (Year of publication). Title of the song [Recorded by Singer’s First Initial, Singer’s Last Name if different from writer*]. On Title of the album [Audio file]. Retrieved from URL

*Do not include the information in the brackets if the name of the songwriter is the same person as the singer or performer.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in APA:

Sheeran, E. (2014). Don’t. On X. [Audio file]. Retrieved from https://play.spotify.com/track/34gCuhDGsG4bRPIf9bb02f?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open

Use the following structure to cite an audio recording in Chicago:

Singer’s Last name, Singer’s First name. Title of the Song. Publisher, Year of publication, Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in Chicago:

Sheeran, Ed. Don’t. Asylum Records, 2014, Accessed June 5, 2017. https://play.spotify.com/track/34gCuhDGsG4bRPIf9bb02f?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open.

Citing Song Lyrics Found Online

Citing written song lyrics is pretty similar to citing an audio recording, but if you’re used to mostly citing written work, you may find this procedure a bit easier since you’re citing words off a page rather than audio. Here, we’ve cited “Imagine,” a song by John Lennon which you’ve surely heard before—and one which could be the subject of rich analysis for your next paper.

To cite written song lyrics, you should make note of the following pieces of information: 1. Singer’s name 2. Songwriter’s name 3. Title of the song (and subtitle, if there is one) 4. Title of the album (and subtitle, if there is one) 5. Album’s Edition (if there is one) 6. Track number 7. Publisher 8. Year of publication 9. Website or Database where the lyrics were found 10. URL 11. The names of any other contributors

Use the following structure to cite written song lyrics in MLA 9:

Songwriter’s Last Name, First Name. Lyrics to “Title of the Song.” Names of other contributors, Album’s Publisher, Year of publication. Name of Website, URL.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in MLA 9:

Lennon, John. Lyrics to “Imagine.” Performed by John Lennon, Ascot Sound Studios, 1971. Genius, genius.com/John-lennon-imagine-lyrics.

Use the following structure to cite written song lyrics in APA format :

Songwriter(s) Last Name, Songwriter(s) First Initial. (Year of publication). Title of song [Lyrics]. Retrieved from URL

Lennon, J. (1971). Imagine [Lyrics]. Retrieved from https://genius.com/John-lennon-imagine-lyrics

Use the following structure to cite an written song lyrics in Chicago:

Singer’s Last Name, Singer’s First Name. “Title of the song.” Name of Website. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.

Lennon, John. “Imagine.” Genius. Accessed June 5, 2017. https://genius.com/John-lennon-imagine-lyrics.

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To cite a song or music in MLA, it is helpful to know information including the song title, contributor names, and production details. The templates and examples below are based on the MLA Handbook , 9th edition.

In-text citation and works cited list entry examples for a song by a single artist are given below:

In-text citation template and example:

Artist Surname

Parenthetical:

(Artist Surname)

Works cited entry template and example:

Surname, First M. “Song Title.” Album Title , relevant contributor information, Production/Record Company, Year Released.

Grande, Ariana. “Moonlight.” Dangerous Women , Republic Records, 2016.

The in-text citation does not include the release year. The surname alone is used in the in-text citations.

The song title should be enclosed in double quotation marks. If the song is part of an album, the album title should be included. Any additional contributors, the name of the record company, and the year the song was released should also be part of the works cited entry.

To cite song lyrics, include the following details: the lyricist/artist’s last name, year, song’s title, title of the album, medium, producer, and URL if applicable.

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Do You Underline Song Titles in Essay Papers?

Forest time.

When you are writing an essay, different types of resources demand different forms of punctuation. While major works such as novels and journals often are underlined or italicized, minor works such as songs, articles and poems follow their own set of rules. The proper way to punctuate a song title really depends on which composition style you are adhering to.

Explore this article

• Chicago Manual of Style

1 APA Style

The American Psychological Association publishes one of the most frequently used sets of publication guidelines. APA guidelines most often are used by students of the social sciences, such as sociology and psychology, but they also can be used by students in other scientific disciplines. According to the Online Writing Library at Purdue University, APA style calls for song titles to be enclosed in quotation marks when referred to in the body of an essay. Do not underline song titles if you are adhering to APA guidelines.

2 MLA Style

Modern Language Association citation and publication style is used primarily for English and literature classes, but it also is commonly used by students in other areas of the humanities, such as history. According to the Writing Center at the University of Richmond, MLA style calls for many music and film titles to be underlined or italicized, but not the titles of songs. Instead, song titles should be enclosed in quotation marks.

3 Chicago Manual of Style

The Chicago Manual of Style publishes a guide to publication and style usage that frequently is used as the basis for properly formatting essays in college classrooms. Conveniently, the Chicago Manual of Style publishes its complete guide online and also maintains an active site where students may ask questions and receive answers from Chicago style experts. As with APA and MLA styles, the proper way to punctuate the title of a song in Chicago style is to enclose it in quotation marks.

If you are a student of journalism or communications, it is likely that your professor has asked you to adhere to Associated Press publication style while writing essays. In AP Style, the titles of almost all works -- including the titles of songs -- should be enclosed in quotation marks. No titles should be underlined when using AP style to write an essay.

• 1 Purdue OWL: APA In-Text Citations
• 2 University of Richmond Writing Center: MLA Documentation
• 3 Chicago Manual of Style Online: Q + A Capitalization, Titles

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How to write the title of a musical in an essay.

Posted by Buddy Iahn | Dec 6, 2021

Writing a musical essay can sometimes be a daunting task, especially if it’s in an academic setting, and you are writing it for the very first time. Most academic essay writers see it as a creative challenge, and as such, they go all out brainstorming different ideas trying to determine the storyline or to create the one-line story summary. An academic writer can even try studying musicals to get inspiration on what to write. All these steps are very important in creating a good musical essay; however, most academic writers ignore a very important aspect of a musical essay. This aspect is the title writing. Lauren Bradshaw, a professional academic writer from CustomWritings.com , once said that “Good titles not only serve as a beacon that attracts people to a good essay but also reveal how good the essay is going to be before actually reading it.” and I support this, there is no better way for a writer, especially academic writers to expect a good response about their musical essay without putting in some work in writing the title.

How do you write the title of a musical in an essay? What strategy should you employ in writing the title of your musical? This article aims to answer all these questions and more, as you will find out as you continue to read through. By the end of this article, you are guaranteed to know how exactly to write a good musical title in your essay, especially if you are an academic writer Writing a good musical title is generally all about knowing +how to use punctuations and when to apply italics or underline. However, when writing an essay, different essay types require different forms of punctuation. For example, lengthy essay titles are mostly italicized or underlined, while smaller essay titles depend more on what style of composition you intend to use. Below are some composition styles and the appropriate way of writing its title.

1. APA Style

This is one of the most frequently used guidelines by even the American association of psychological studies. Many academic writers use this style for concise, powerful, and persuasive scholarly communication. Although this method is general and can be used by students of scientific discipline, It is mostly used by social science students such as sociology, physiology, and political science. According to the online writing library at Purdue University, the APA style requires that the title is enclosed in quotation marks, especially when it is referred to in the body of an essay. However, it is essential to note that the title should never be underlined when the APA guidelines are followed. Also, the references in this style of writing should be double-spaced. More importantly, the title should be placed at the center.

2. MLA Style

The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation and publication style is generally used by all students who major in different areas of humanity, such as history, but students mostly follow it in both literature and English class. So you can say this style of writing is for arts and humanities. The MLA style requires all its titles to be underlined or italicized, except its song titles. The song titles under this guideline are expected to be enclosed in quotation marks. In this style, the title should also be at the center.

3. AP Style

The Association Press style is mostly used by academic journalists or communication writers while writing musical essays. It is the go-to style and guide for magazines and newspapers as well. Its title is enclosed in quotation marks, and under no circumstances should it be underlined.

4. Chicago Manual of Style

Many academic writers prefer this style in different disciplines, including literature, art, and history. It is mostly the basis for formatting essays in college classrooms. The Chicago manual of style published the guide online and created an active site to ask Chicago-style academic writer’s experts questions. The proper way of punctuating a musical’s proper style in Chicago style is to enclose it in quotation marks, just like the APA and MLA styles.

It would be good to recognize the guidelines you are using to be able to know the exact rules of title punctuations are to be followed and how to use them appropriately.

How To Put Quotation Marks For Your Title

To write titles for musicals in short musicals while observing guidelines like the AP, APA, MLA, and Chicago Style, you need to put your titles in quotation marks. That’s why it’s important to know how to put quotation marks in your title. To do this, all you need to do is first press the key(“) and then put in the title, before finally pressing the key(“) again to close it. With this, you are done, and you have successfully put quotation marks on your title.

How To Italicize Your Titles

Are you aware that almost lengthy essays are to be italicized? Therefore, as academic writers, you need to know how to italicize titles to have a shot in writing appropriate titles for musicals. To be able to italicize words generally, whether one phone or a laptop, here are simple steps to easily italicize your titles. Firstly, you have to type your title and select it either by a long press or by a right click of your mouse. After which, you click Italian on the home page; it is recognized by a slanted I, and your title will easily be italicized. Examples of musical italicized essay titles include: Matilda The Musical, Miss Saigon, etc.

To find and learn more about how to write better titles for your musical essay, you can easily visit Custom Writings for more amazing rules that you can observe to make title writing all the easier for you.

About The Author

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: [email protected]

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• Brantley Gilbert extends Off the Rails Tour April 26, 2024
• Orville Peck announces duets album April 26, 2024