essay write book title

How To Write Book Titles The Proper Way: A Complete Guide For Writers

• February 10, 2022

Book titles within essays or papers can be tricky. There are specific rules that are given for how to include a book title in a way that sets it apart from the content of your writing given by the Modern Language Association. However, as with many other things in life, there are exceptions to the rules. This article will guide you through the rules of the writing style guides so that you can include a book’s title in your paper or essay correctly.

How to write book titles:

Style guides and book titles.

When it comes to book titles within text, there are a few different style guides that have rules you can follow, depending on your writing type. The three types that you will encounter most often are; MLA style, Chicago manual of style, and APA. A writing instructor will usually tell you what style guide you are expected to use for a particular essay or paper.

MLA Style Guide

The MLA handbook states that you should always italicize book titles when styling book titles within your text. The exception to this rule are religious texts. You would not italicize the Holy Bible or the sacred books or titles of other religions. Note the following example.

Pam had stayed most of the summer indoors, re-reading her favorite book series. She was already up to  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone , and she didn’t regret not being more active or going outside.

In the above example, the book title is italicized. Fiction titles and nonfiction titles alike must be in italics when within the text.

Series Titles in MLA

In the above example, a book from a series was used. But what if the text had not specified which book from the series Pam was reading? Would it still need to be in italics? The answer is: in this case, yes. In other cases, sometimes.

It’s really not as confusing as it seems. When you are talking about a book series but don’t want or need to include the complete series titles for the purposes of your work, you only have to put words in italics that also appear in the book titles. So, because  Harry Potter  is part of the title of all of the books in the series, you would italicize his name every time you mention the book.

However, if you were talking about Katniss Everdeen, you would not have to do this, as the book series she is featured in doesn’t use her name in the titles of  The Hunger Games  series. The same would be true of books like the Nancy Drew books.

Quotation Marks

There are instances in which titles should be placed inside of quotation marks within a paper or essay. This is done when you cite the titles of poems , a chapter title, short stories, articles, or blogs.

So, for example, if you were to write a paper that featured a poem from a book, you would put the book title in italics and the poems cited in quotation marks.

An example of an enduring love poem is “Annabel Lee” from  The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe. 

Chapter Title

Another time that quotation marks should be used is when using the title of a chapter. If you are citing a specific chapter of a book, you would enclose the title of the chapter in quotation marks, and the title of the book should be in italics.

The desperation and sadness of a man on death row can be seen in the “Wild Wind Blowing” chapter of Norman Mailer’s  The Executioner’s Song. 

Short Stories

Short stories are another case. Much like the title of a chapter or poem, in which the title is placed in quotation marks, while the title of the book or collection it is found in is italics. The same can be said for sections, stories, or chapters cited within a literary journal.

Stepping away from his norm of horror and gore, Stephen King writes of trust, love, and regret in his story “The Last Rung on the Ladder,” which can be found in his short story collection  Night Shift. 

Punctuation Marks

If you are citing a story or title that includes question marks, you need to make sure to italicize the question mark when citing. Keep all punctuation, such as a question mark, comma, ellipses, colon, or exclamation mark, as it is in the original individual books.

If you want a funny and irreverent read, you’ve got to try  Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea.  Chelsea Handler has done a phenomenal job of being vulgar, relatable, and explaining life from her viewpoint in this hilarious and memorable book.

The Digital Age: Are Book Titles Underlined Anymore?

MLA style used to dictate that a book title should either be in italics or underlined. However, that is no longer the case. As computers started to take over as the major tool used in writing, it became unpopular to underline book titles. Therefore, this rule was dropped from the style guides.

However, it should be mentioned that when handwriting an essay or research paper, many instructors prefer that you underline book titles, as it’s relatively difficult to handwrite italics. If you are in a writing course or a class that is heavy on handwritten work, be sure to ask your instructor or teacher which method they prefer for citing a book title.

How to Come Up with Book Title Ideas

Now that quotation marks, italics, and style guides have been discussed, let’s move on to how you can come up with your own book title. If you’d like a title for your book that sounds interesting and will get a reader’s attention, you may find this article helpful.

Coming up with a good title for your book is a challenging yet essential marketing decision . The right title can make your target audience choose your new book off of the shelf instead of another writer’s work. Your book cover and your book title are quite possibly the most important marketing decisions you will make.

How to Choose a Good Book Title

Certain criteria should be met if you want to have a good book title , and there are specific steps involved in getting there. You may have assumed up until now that titles of books were just spur of the moment decisions made by authors or publishers, but a lot of work goes into writing good titles.

Grab the Reader’s Attention

As a general rule, you want your reader to remember your title and to sound interesting, even without the reader having seen the cover. There are several ways to do this. You can be a little dark with your title, be controversial, provoke the reader, or even be funny.

There are many examples of such works that use memorable and attention-seeking titles. The following are some different titles that are effective and would most likely provoke a reader to grab them from a shelf for closer inspection.

• Burn After Writing (Sharon Jones)
• Love in the Time of Cholera (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
• Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (Mindy Kaling)
• Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea (Chelsea Handler)
• The Devil Wears Prada (Lauren Weisberger)
• Chicken Soup for the Soul (various authors)
• God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian (Kurt Vonnegut)

Shorter Titles

If your full title for your book is long, you may end up boring a reader or creating a situation where a reader tries to remember the title of your book, but it’s too long and ends up getting it confused with another book. Although you should always do your best to make sure that there aren’t books by other authors that share a title or have a title similar to your book (more on that in a minute), you don’t want a person to get confused and get the wrong book instead.

Research Your Title Ideas

It’s a good idea to take the titles you have considered for your book and make a list. Then, do your homework. You can use tools like Google Adwords to test out your title to see if there are others like it, or you can simply use any search engine and plug your title ideas into the search bar and see what similar or exact titles of the same words pop up.

Readers are generally busy people. They don’t have the time or the energy to ensure that writers get a title right. They’ll look for the book they are interested in, and if it proves to be too difficult, or if there are other books written that have the same title, they’ll move on to something else.

A writer really has to make sure that they have a title that isn’t going to be ignored, is interesting, isn’t too long, and isn’t too similar to other works.

The same goes for titles of short works within a larger body of work. Short works, like poems or stories, need to have unique titles as well when included in a larger body of work, such as a collection. If stories are similar in nature, be sure to title them differently so that readers will be able to tell them apart, as well.

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How to Write Book Titles in Your Essays

3-minute read

• 26th May 2023

When writing an essay, you’re likely to mention other authors’ works, such as books, papers, and articles. Formatting the titles of these works usually involves using quotation marks or italics.

So how do you write a book title in an essay? Most style guides have a standard for this – be sure to check that first. If you’re unsure, though, check out our guide below.

Italics or Quotation Marks?

As a general rule, you should set titles of longer works in italics , and titles of shorter works go in quotation marks . Longer works include books, journals, TV shows, albums, plays, etc. Here’s an example of a book mention:

Shorter works include poems, articles, chapters of books, episodes of TV shows, songs, etc. If it’s a piece that’s part of a biggHow to Write Book Titles in Your Essayser work, the piece considered a short work:

Exceptions to the Rule

The rule for writing book titles in italics applies specifically to running text . If the book title is standing on its own, as in a heading, there’s no need to italicize it.

Additionally, if the book is part of a larger series and you’re mentioning both the title of the series and that of the individual book, you can consider the book a shorter work. You would set the title of the series in italics and place the book title in quotation marks:

Punctuation in Book Titles

Do you need to apply italics to the punctuation in a book title? The short answer is yes – but only if the punctuation is part of the title:

If the punctuation isn’t part of the title (i.e., the punctuation is part of the sentence containing the title), you shouldn’t include in the italics:

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Summary: Writing Book Titles in Essays

We hope you’ll now feel confident when you’re writing and formatting book titles in your essays. Generally, you should set the title in italics when it’s in running text. Remember, though, to check your style guide. While the standards we’ve covered are the most common, some style guides have different requirements.

And once you finish writing your paper, make sure you send it our way! We’ll make sure any titles are formatted correctly as well as checking your work for grammar, spelling, punctuation, referencing, and more. Submit a free sample to try our service today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you write the title of a book in a sentence.

Set the title of the book in italics unless the book is part of a larger work (e.g., a book that’s part of a series):

When do you use quotation marks for titles?

Place titles of shorter works or pieces that are contained in a larger work in quotation marks:

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Writing A Book Title In Your Essay – The Right Way

Table of contents

• 1 APA Style: How to Write Book Titles in Essays
• 2 APA Style Essay: Writing The Name of The Author
• 3 MLA Style Essay: Citing a Book Title
• 4 Chicago Style Essay: Writing the Book Title
• 5 Writing Various Types of Titles
• 6 Should We Underline or Italicize Book Titles?

When you are writing an academic essay , the book title and author’s name should be written in italics. However, if the book title is part of a larger work (such as a journal article), it should be underlined instead. So, you’re wondering how to write a book title in an essay?

Writing an essay with a book title can be tricky, particularly because each style guide has its own formatting rules for including titles in the main text. Whether you are using MLA, APA, Chicago, or Harvard referencing styles, you will need to consider how to properly format the book title. For more complicated literature-based assignments, seeking assistance from an admission essay writing service may be wise, as they specialize in writing essays that incorporate academic sources.

In this article, we will explore how to write both titles in an essay properly so that you avoid any mistakes!

APA Style: How to Write Book Titles in Essays

When writing an essay, you must follow the style guide provided by your professor. Some teachers may require you to use APA style and others MLA style. There are some rules on how to quote a book title in an essay. You should use italics and quotation marks when writing book titles in essays. For example: “ The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II. “

When writing a book title in APA Style , you should be aware of these rules:

Write the book title in italics and place it after the author’s name, which is presented in reverse order (last name first).

Use quotation marks around the headline of a chapter or article.

Capitalize proper names that are not common nouns (names of people, places, organizations), but do not capitalize words such as “and,” “or,” “to,” or “and/or.”

Do not capitalize prepositions that appear at the beginning of titles if they are followed by an article (e.g., “A,” “An”), but do capitalize prepositions at the beginning of titles if they are not followed by articles (“Of”).

The first word of the headline should be capitalized, as well as any other words after a colon or hyphen. For example, “The Elements of Style: Grammar for Everyone”  or “Theories of Personality: Critical Perspectives.”

Capitalize proper names and words derived from them (e.g., the names of people, places, organizations), except proper nouns used generically (e.g., ‘a bed’).

APA Style Essay: Writing The Name of The Author

You should always use the full name and surname of the author in your APA essay because this will give proper credit to the writer. If you do not mention the author’s full name, people may not know who wrote what and will think you copied it from somewhere else. This will cause lots of problems for you and your reputation as well.

Make sure that all authors’ names appear in the same format in each entry. For example, if one person’s surname is Smith and another’s is Jones, both have first names starting with “J.” It may seem like they are being cited as different people when they’re actually written differently from each other on separate pages in your paper.

To write an APA essay without any issues, there are certain rules that you need to follow while writing an author’s name in APA essay:

• Use only one author’s name in your paper unless there are multiple authors
• If there are multiple authors, then use both their last names followed by the initials of their first names
• Only use initials of first names when there are three or more authors; otherwise, use full names with their last names

Example: Johnson, M.C., Carlson, M., Smith, J. N., & Hanover, L. E.

MLA Style Essay: Citing a Book Title

Now let’s discuss how to mention a book in an essay. The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th edition, published by the Modern Language Association (2014), contains detailed rules about how to cite a book title in an essay.

The following guidelines will instruct you on how to refer to a book in an essay in MLA style :

• List your sources at the end of your paper, before the works cited page or bibliography.
• Use italics for titles of books, magazines, and newspapers, but not for articles within those publications, which should be placed in quotation marks.
• Include all relevant book information under two categories: “title” and “author.” In the former category, include the work’s title and its subtitle if there is one; do this even if neither appears on your title page (see below). In the latter category, include only primary authors who have written or edited an entire book; if there are multiple contributors, you should cite them separately under each.

The general format for citing the title of the book in an essay is as follows:

Author’s last name, first initial (Date). Title of Book with Subtitle if there is one. Publisher Name/Location of Publisher; Year Published

Chicago Style Essay: Writing the Book Title

One of the most important things to remember when writing in Chicago style is how to write the title of a book in an essay. To write a good book title in an essay, you should follow these steps:

• Write it at the beginning of your sentence.
• Capitalize it just like any other noun or proper noun.
• Put a comma after the title unless it’s an introductory clause or phrase. For example: “The Firm,” by John Grisham (not “by”) and “The Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D Salinger (not “and”).
• In addition to the book’s name, punctuation marks should also be italicized.

For example: Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince: Children’s Edition

Writing Various Types of Titles

Now that we covered how to write a book title and author in an essay, it’s time to look at some different types of titles. When you write a book title in an essay, several things must be considered. Whether it’s a book, series, chapter title, editor’s name, or author’s name, how you write it depends on where it appears in your paper.

Here are some key rules for writing headings for novels:

•  Use capital letters to write the title of the novel. For example,  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett .
• Use italics and capital letters to write the name of the author and his/her other works mentioned in a book title—for example,  Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813) .

You should use quotation marks when writing headings of short title poems, articles, and stories.

However, before deciding which format to use, it is important to understand the main idea you want to express in your essay. Additionally, you could use essay papers for sale to help you accomplish your goal of writing an essay effectively.

Should We Underline or Italicize Book Titles?

It depends on which style guide you use. The Modern Language Association and Chicago Manual of Style both suggest using italics, while the American Psychological Association suggests using quotation marks with a few exceptions.

The way you write the title of a book in an essay is different depending on the instructions you were given. For example, if you’re writing an essay in APA style, use quotation marks around the book’s name. If you’re writing for MLA or Chicago style , however, italicize the book’s name instead. If you’re writing a handwritten essay instead of using a computer, capitalize and underline the book’s name.

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How to Write Book Titles in Essays: APA, MLA, Chicago Styles

It’s your practical and up-to-point guide on how to write a book title in an essay. You’ll get the formatting rules and examples for citing book and author names in academic papers.

We’ve covered the top three citation styles: APA, Chicago, and MLA.

How to Write the Title of a Book in an Essay

First, remember the general rules of citing book names in academic works.

Here’s how to cite books in essays :

• Use capitalization. Every word of a book’s name goes in the title case, except prepositions, articles, and coordinating conjunctions.
• Use italics for longer and independent works. Use double quotations for shorter ones (poems, articles, book chapters, or play acts and scenes).
• Use single quotations for a book’s title within another title. (When citing monographs about literary works, for example.) 

While capitalization rules depend on the citation style, some general tips have a place to be. Please, no capitalization for:

• Articles: a, the (unless the book title begins with it)
• Coordinating conjunctions and prepositions: of, and, or, but, for, to, nor, in, so (unless the book title begins or ends with it)

Subordinating conjunctions (although, unless, because, if) go in capital letters.

How to Write a Book Title in an Essay: APA

APA (American Psychological Association) is the most popular style for citing academic works. It’s common for the social sciences like Education, Psychology, Sociology, and others. The current edition: 7th (2019).

Book titles in APA stand for:

• Italics. (If a book name includes any punctuation, italicize it too.)
• Capitalization. (Capitalize all words longer than four letters , regardless of the part of speech. Also, use capital letters for two-part words and those coming after a dash or a colon.)
• Double quotations instead of italics. (When citing a short work like an article or a poem; when citing a book chapter or when the book is a part of an anthology.)

For example: 

The Lord of the Rings but “The Fellowship of the Ring” (The latter is part of the trilogy.)

Related: How to Cite a Movie in APA Format

How to Write the Name of a Book in an Essay: Chicago

The Chicago Manual of Style is a guide by the University of Chicago. It’s common for fields like History, Fine Arts, and Business. The current edition: 17th (2017).

How to format book titles in Chicago:

• Italicize longer and independent works; put shorter ones in double quotations.
• Use italics for punctuation within a title.
• Capitalize all words except articles (a, the) and ALL prepositions or conjunctions (regardless of length).

For example:

In George Orwell’s 1984 , the author presents a dystopian society characterized by pervasive government surveillance and the suppression of individual freedom. The harrowing events in “Chapter 2,” where Winston Smith begins to rebel against the Party by starting a forbidden diary, mark a pivotal moment in the novel’s exploration of resistance against totalitarianism.

The style resembles the MLA format, but it’s flexible, allowing you to “break the rules if necessary.”

How to Write a Book Title in an Essay: MLA

MLA format stands for the Modern Language Association. It’s common for humanities like Literature, Culture, Linguistics, etc. The current edition: 8th (2016). 

How to format books in MLA:

• Italicize all words, including punctuation and those of two parts or going after colons and hyphens.
• Capitalize all words except articles (a, the) , prepositions, and short conjunctions within a book title.
• Use double quotations instead of italics when writing a book chapter or a part of a book series.

In Little Women , Beth March dies in Chapter 40, “The Valley of the Shadow.”

Formatting Book Author Names in Papers

Use the author’s full name (first and last) to format it in your essay for proper credit.

If a book has two authors, use both last names and initials. For works with three or more authors, use the last name of the first one and add “et all.”

No need to italicize author names in papers.

Why Properly Cite Book Titles in Essays

The short answer:

You won’t get a high grade for an essay. Formatting blunders count as mistakes.

The longer answer:

• You prove writing skills and an understanding of the rules in academia.
• Your papers maintain consistency. It’s critical to stick to criteria to prevent confusion. The consistent format for book headings also serves to better scannability and readability.
• You learn to cite different types of references for your future projects.

Do you italicize book titles?

Yes, you put book titles in italics. Please italicize long and stand-alone works: books, movies, webpages, reports, or music albums. Shorter works’ titles (articles, essays, poems, songs, or book chapters) come in quotations. (1)

Do you underline book titles?

Underlining book titles is an outdated practice. Some still use it in handwritten essays, but it’s not a must-follow rule. Neither APA nor MLA (or Chicago) mentions underlining book names in academic papers.

How to use book title capitalization in texts?

Capitalize every word in a book’s title. Exceptions are articles (a, the), prepositions, and short (three or fewer letters) conjunctions in mid-titles.

Are books italicized in all formatting styles?

Yes, book titles come in italics in all styles: APA, MLA, and Chicago. When citing book chapters or a book as a part of a series, use quotation marks instead.

How to write a book author in an essay?

Use the author’s full name when citing their book in your papers. For works with several authors, mention their last names and initials. Unlike book titles, author names come in standard formatting with no italics.

References:

• https://english.csuci.edu/resources/essay-writing-essentials.htm
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• Essay writing
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How to Write A BOOK Title In An Essay

Writing a book title in an essay can be confusing. But it is necessary for the credibility and clarity of the write-up. Plus, each writing style has its own rules for formatting titles. Hence, doing such an activity could be a real pain for the students.

Don’t worry, as you are in the right place! Since this interesting article focuses on guiding you about how to write a book title in an essay accurately. So, read it thoroughly before you search for a professional  paper writing services  provider.

Table of Contents

Understanding Formatting Guidelines

The first step in learning how to write book name in essay is to learn the basics. It means you need to get comfortable with different formatting guidelines. Let’s begin with the style guides.

Different style guides

When writing essays for college , it’s important to know the rules for formatting book titles. The three most popular style guides are MLA, APA, and Chicago.

In  MLA format , you should usually italicize book titles. You can also put them in quotation marks when a type of work demands.

For example, a book title like “To Kill a Mockingbird” would be italicized:  To Kill a Mockingbird .

However, a chapter title within a book would be placed within quotation marks. For example, “The Ewell Family.”

In  APA style , the first word of book titles is capital.

For example, a book title like “The Catcher in the Rye” would be written as The catcher in the rye

Chicago Style

Chicago style demands a book title to be in italics or quotation marks. It is very similar to the MLA style. But Chicago style gives you a bit more leeway to use italics or quotation marks. It’s best to stay consistent with what you pick throughout your essay when using the Chicago style.

Consistency within the Essay

You must be consistent when including the title of a book in an essay. Figure out what style guide you must follow and ensure you stick with it. That means all the book titles you mention should look the same.

For example, if you choose to italicize book titles according to MLA style. Ensure that all book titles in your essay are italicized consistently. Avoid mixing italicization with quotation marks or using different formatting styles within the same essay.

Inconsistency in formatting can confuse readers and undermine the professionalism of your work. Paying attention to detail and maintaining consistency will contribute to your essay’s overall clarity and readability.

Determine the Appropriate Style Guide to Follow

To determine the appropriate style guide to follow for formatting book titles in your essay, consider the following:

Assignment Requirements

See if your teacher or the instructions for the assignment mention a certain style to go by. Stick to that, if they do, to ensure everything is consistent, and you meet the expectations.

Academic Discipline

Your field of study can affect which style guide you should use. For example, humanities and literature students usually use MLA style, while social sciences usually use APA style. It’s important to know what’s typical in your discipline to choose the right guide.

Formatting Book Titles in MLA Style

Humanities and liberal arts disciplines use MLA writing rules. In MLA style, book titles are usually in italics like in APA style. But there can be variations in capitalization and punctuation. Let’s explore each aspect in detail with examples:

In MLA style, book titles are put in italics to make them stand out from the rest of the text.

Titles of shorter works, such as articles or chapters, are enclosed in quotation marks.

Example 1: Italicized Book Title

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby .

Example 2: Book Chapter (In Quotation Marks)

Smith, John. “The Art of Persuasion.” Essays on Rhetoric.

Capitalization

In MLA style, follows the title case. It means keep the first letter of each word capital. Capitalize articles, conjunctions, and prepositions only if they are the first or last words in title.

Example 3: Correct Capitalization

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird.

Punctuation

In MLA style, there should be no special punctuation like colons or periods between the main title and any subtitles. However, if the book’s title includes a subtitle, a colon should separate it from the main title.

Example 4: Book Title with Subtitle

Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers: The Story of Success.

Edition and Volume Numbers

To refer to a certain book edition, add the edition number after the book title. If the book is part of a multi-volume work, indicate the volume number after the title as well.

Example 5: Edition and Volume Numbers

Johnson, Mary. Chemistry in Focus. 2nd ed.

Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations. Vol. 1.

Translated Titles

If the book you are citing is translated from another language, include the original title and the translator’s name in the citation.

Example 6: Translated Title

Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis. Translated by David Wyllie.

It’s important to remember that MLA style is always changing and being updated. So always refer to the latest edition of the MLA Handbook or your institution’s writing guidelines.

Formatting Book Titles in APA Style

Usually the social sciences disciplines use APA (American Psychological Association) style. Let’s look at how you must consider capitalization, punctuation and italics in this writing style.

Just capitalize the first word of any subtitles and proper nouns.

All other words, such as articles (a, an, the), conjunctions (and, but, or), and prepositions (in, on, at), are in lowercase.

Example 1: 

“The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business”

In APA style, book titles are italicized to distinguish them from the rest of the text.

Do not italicize titles of shorter works, such as articles or chapters. Just enclose them in quotation marks.

Example 2: Italics

Here’s an example of an italicized book title:

The Catcher in the Rye

In APA style, there should be a colon (:) between the main title and any subtitle.

When citing a book title within the text of your paper, use title case and italicize it.

When including book titles in your reference list, use sentence case and italicize it.

Example 3: Punctuation

Here’s an example of proper punctuation and citation within the text and reference list:

In-text citation

According to Smith (2019),  The Theory of Everything  provides an in-depth analysis of astrophysics.

Reference list citation

Smith, J. (2019).  the theory of everything . Publisher.

Include the edition number in parentheses right after the book title when a book has a specific edition.

If a book is part of a multi-volume work, you can also indicate the volume number after the title.

Example 4: Parenthesis

Here are examples of how to format book titles with edition and volume numbers:

Edition Number

Johnson, M. (2022). Chemistry in Focus (2nd ed.).

Volume Number

Smith, A. (2021). History of the United States (Vol. 3).

Include the translator’s name in square brackets if you cite a translated book. 

Example 5: Translated Thesis 

Here’s an example of how to format a translated book title:

Kundera, M. (1984). The Unbearable Lightness of Being [Original title: Nesnesitelná lehkost bytí].

Translated by M. Henry.

Formatting Book Titles in Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style is mostly used in the humanities and social sciences disciplines. Chicago style follows two systems, namely Author-Date System and the notes and bibliography system. Let’s explore both of them.

Author-Date System

In the author-date system, you include:

• In-text citations with the author’s last name
• The publication year
• A corresponding entry in the reference list

Italicization

In the author-date system, book titles are italicized. It makes them Distinguish from other elements in the citation.

Chicago style uses a title case for book titles in the author-date system. It means the first letter of the title, subtitles, and any major words are capitalized.

There should be a period at the end of the full book citation in the reference list.

Example 1: In-Text Citation

Example 2: Reference List Citation

Smith, John. 2019.  The Theory of Everything . Publisher.

Notes and Bibliography System

You use footnotes or endnotes in the notes and bibliography system for in-text citations and a bibliography for the full list of references.

Similar to the author-date system, book titles are italicized in the notes and bibliography system.

In the notes and bibliography system, the Chicago style uses headline-style capitalization for book titles. It means that the first letter of the first and last words of the title are capitalized.

Put a period at the end of each full bibliographic entry in the notes and bibliography system.

Example 3: Footnote/Endnote Citation

John Smith,  The Theory of Everything  (Publisher, 2019), 25.

Example 4: Bibliography Citation

Smith, John.  The Theory of Everything . Publisher, 2019.

You may include the edition number after the title, and for multi-volume works, the volume number after the title.

Example 5: Edition Number

Johnson, Mary.  Chemistry in Focus . 2nd ed.

Example 6: Volume Number

Smith, Adam.  The Wealth of Nations . Vol. 1.

For translated works, include the original title and the translator’s name in the citation.

Example 7: Translated Title

Kafka, Franz.  The Metamorphosis . Translated by David Wyllie.

Citation of Book Titles in Other Situations

Let’s highlight some unusual circumstances of including a title of book in essay. Starting with:

Book titles within quotations

If you’re citing a direct quote from a book in your essay, you may need to put the book title in quotes. Generally, you should use double quotation marks for this.

For example:

According to Mark Twain, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

In the novel 1984, George Orwell explores the theme of government surveillance through the famous line, “Big Brother is watching you.”

By using double quotation marks, you indicate that the words within the quotation marks are taken directly from the book.

Book Titles in Footnotes or Endnotes

In academic writing, footnotes or endnotes can be added to give extra info or credits. When including book titles, how you format them depends on the citation style you’re using.

In Chicago Style, book titles in footnotes or endnotes should usually be italicized or in quotation marks.

For Example:

Jane Austen,  Pride and Prejudice  (New York: Penguin Classics, 2002), 45.

Harper Lee,  To Kill a Mockingbird , (New York: Harper Perennial, 2006), 77.

Handling Foreign language book titles

Follow these rules for citing a book in a foreign language. You should keep the original language title, especially if it’s a popular work.

Italicize the foreign language book title following the same guidelines as you would for an English book title. Include a translation in parentheses if necessary.

Use the original foreign language title in sentence case without italics or quotation marks. Include a translation in brackets if needed.

Italicize or use quotation marks for foreign language book titles, following the same guidelines as you would for an English book title. Include a translation if required.

Special Cases

In certain situations, you might need to format book titles differently. Like if you’re talking about a poem or play. These types of works have their own rules for formatting titles. Let’s get to know them briefly. 

Typically, you’d put poem titles in quotation marks and longer pieces of poetry, like epics, in italics. It’s worth checking the style guide you’re using, though, since the rules can vary.

You’ll usually see the title written in italics when it comes to plays. The names of characters or speakers within the play are usually written with a mix of upper- and lowercase letters, without quotation marks.

Best Practices for Including Book Titles in Essays

Double-check formatting guidelines.

It’s super important to double-check the formatting rules for book titles when writing an essay since each style guide has its own rules. You need to make sure you’re following them properly.

Proofreading for Accuracy and Consistency

Look out for mistakes in how you’ve done the capitals, italics, and quotes. Double-check any extra rules that might apply to foreign language books, poems, plays, and other special cases.

Seek Assistance from Style Guides or Writing Resources

It’s a good idea to get help from style guides or writing tools when you are stuck with citations. You can also buy cheap essay from a well-reputed writing services provider.

It’s super important to get book titles in essays right. Not just for clarity but also to show you’re a pro. Ensure that you stick to the accurate style guide. It could be MLA, APA, or Chicago. Plus, there are special rules for poems and more.

Furthermore, if you need a professional to help you out with citations, do count on the expertise of  our writers . They are always available to get you out of your troubles of how to write book titles in essays.

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How to Write A Book Title In Your Essay

Writing an essay can be an intimidating task, especially when it comes to citing sources. Properly citing book titles is an essential part of academic writing, and failure to do so can result in loss of marks. In this article, we’ll take a comprehensive look at how to write a book title in your essay and provide some practical tips to ensure that you get it right.

Understanding the Importance of Properly Citing a Book Title

Before we dive into the details, it’s vital to understand why book titles are such an essential part of academic writing. The primary purpose of citations is to give credit to the original source of information you use in your work. This not only avoids plagiarism but also adds credibility to your arguments as it demonstrates that you have conducted thorough research.

Moreover, citing a book title accurately is crucial to avoid any confusion or ambiguity in your writing. By providing a precise reference to the book you used, you enable your readers to locate the exact information you are citing, rather than searching through multiple sources to find the right one.

Why Book Titles Matter in Essays

Book titles play a crucial role in your essay, serving as a reference point for your readers to identify the source of information. Properly citing book titles also reflects your professionalism and attention to detail as a writer. This ultimately contributes to a more persuasive and compelling piece of writing.

Furthermore, citing book titles accurately also helps you avoid any potential legal issues. Using someone else’s work without proper attribution can lead to copyright infringement and legal action against you. Therefore, it’s essential to give credit where it’s due and cite your sources correctly.

The Role of Citations in Academic Writing

As mentioned earlier, citations are not just a formality; they serve a critical purpose in academic writing. By acknowledging the work of others, you are providing evidence that supports your argument, enhancing the credibility of your work. Additionally, citations also provide a way for readers to locate the source of information in the event that they need to cross-reference or verify your claims.

Moreover, citations can also help you build on the existing body of knowledge in your field. This not only adds depth to your writing but also shows your readers that you are well-versed in the latest developments in your field.

Properly citing book titles is a fundamental aspect of academic writing. It not only helps you avoid plagiarism and legal issues but also adds credibility to your work and contributes to a more persuasive and compelling piece of writing. So, make sure to give credit where it’s due and cite your sources accurately.

Different Citation Styles and Their Rules

When writing an essay or research paper, it is important to give credit to the sources you have used. This is where citation styles come in. There are multiple citation styles that you can use when citing book titles in essays. The most popular ones are APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard referencing style. Let’s take a look at each of them in more detail.

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

APA style is commonly used in the social sciences such as psychology, sociology, and education. When citing book titles using APA style, you need to italicize the title and capitalize only the first word of the title, the first word of any subtitle, and any proper nouns. For example, if you were citing the book “The Psychology of Human Misjudgment” by Charlie Munger, your citation would look like this:

Munger, C. (2019).  The psychology of human misjudgment . New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company.

MLA (Modern Language Association) Style

MLA style is primarily used in the humanities such as literature, languages, and cultural studies. When citing book titles using MLA style, you need to italicize the title and capitalize all words in the title except conjunctions, articles, and prepositions. For example, if you were citing the book “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, your citation would look like this:

Fitzgerald, F. Scott.  The Great Gatsby . Scribner, 2004.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chicago/Turabian style is typically used in the humanities, history, and social sciences. When citing book titles using this style, you have the option of italicizing the title or placing it in quotation marks. You should also capitalize the first letter of the first word and any subsequent important word in the title. For example, if you were citing the book “The Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin, your citation would look like this:

Darwin, Charles.  The Origin of Species . London: John Murray, 1859.

Harvard Referencing Style

Harvard referencing style, also known as author-date referencing, is often used in the sciences and social sciences. When citing book titles using Harvard style, you need to italicize the title and capitalize the first letter of the first word and any subsequent important word in the title. For example, if you were citing the book “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions” by Thomas Kuhn, your citation would look like this:

Kuhn, T. (2012).  The Structure of Scientific Revolutions . Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

It is important to note that each citation style has its own specific rules and guidelines. It is important to choose the appropriate citation style for your discipline and to follow the rules consistently throughout your paper. By doing so, you will ensure that your work is properly cited and that you are giving credit where credit is due.

Formatting Book Titles in Your Essay

Now that you have a good understanding of the different citation styles, let’s take a closer look at how to format book titles within your essay.

When you are writing an essay, it is essential to format the book titles correctly. Proper formatting not only helps you avoid plagiarism, but it also makes your work look professional and polished. In this article, we will discuss the different capitalization rules, italics, underlining, and quotation marks, and how to handle subtitles and edition numbers.

Capitalization Rules for Book Titles

Most citation styles have specific rules for capitalizing book titles. As a general rule, it is essential to capitalize the first word of the title, the first word of any subtitle, and any proper nouns. Proper nouns include the names of people, places, and things that are specific and unique. However, specific styles may use different capitalization conventions, so it’s always important to refer to the style guides before formatting your work. By following the capitalization rules, you can ensure that your essay looks professional and is easy to read.

Italics, Underlining, and Quotation Marks

When formatting book titles, you have three options: italicize, underline, or place them in quotation marks. While most citation styles prefer the use of italics, you may find that your professor or institution requires a different style. It’s always important to clarify any specific requirements before submitting your work. Italicizing the title of a book makes it stand out and helps the reader to identify it easily. Underlining and quotation marks are used less frequently but may be required in certain situations.

Handling Subtitles and Edition Numbers

When citing a book with a subtitle or edition number, it’s essential to include both the title and the subtitle or edition number. You can separate the title and subtitle with a colon, and for the edition number, use the appropriate abbreviation (e.g., 2nd ed.). Including the subtitle and edition number helps the reader to identify the specific version of the book that you are referencing. It also shows that you have taken the time to research the book thoroughly.

Incorporating Book Titles in Your Essay Text

Knowing how to format book titles using the appropriate citation style is an essential skill for any academic writer. However, simply knowing how to format the title is not enough; you also need to know how to incorporate it effectively into your essay text.

Introducing the Book Title in Your Essay

Introducing the title of a book in your essay can be tricky, especially if you are not familiar with the specific citation style you are using. In general, it is essential to use the correct formatting to ensure that your essay is both professional and easy to read. For example, in MLA style, you should italicize the title, whereas in Harvard style, only the first letter of the first word and any subsequent important word should be capitalized. It is also important to include the author’s name and the publication date in your introduction to provide context for your reader.

When introducing a book title in your essay, you can use a variety of techniques to make it stand out. For example, you could use bold or underline formatting, or you could place the title in quotation marks. Whatever technique you choose, be sure to use it consistently throughout your essay.

Using Parenthetical Citations for In-Text References

Parenthetical citations are an essential part of academic writing as they help to identify the original source of information. When using parenthetical citations to cite a book title, it is crucial to include the author’s last name and the page number in parentheses. For example: (Fitzgerald, 2004, p. 37).

When citing a book title in your essay, it is important to remember that you should only include the page number if you are directly quoting from the book. If you are paraphrasing or summarizing information, you do not need to include the page number.

Creating a Works Cited or Bibliography Page

Finally, when citing book titles in your essay, it’s essential to create a Works Cited or Bibliography page. This page lists all the sources you used in your work and includes the author’s name, title, publication date, publisher, and location.

The Works Cited or Bibliography page is typically located at the end of your essay, and it should be formatted according to the specific citation style you are using. Be sure to double-check your formatting and citations to ensure that they are accurate and consistent.

Final Thoughts

Citing book titles in your essay may seem like a small detail, but getting it wrong can result in significant consequences. By following the rules and guidelines outlined in this article, you can ensure that your citing is accurate, and your essay is professional and credible. Remember always to clarify any specific requirements with your professor or institution to avoid any confusion

Frequently asked questions about writing an essay

What is the difference between an essay and a report.

An essay is typically shorter and has a narrower focus than a report. An essay is usually written in response to a question or topic, and it presents an argument, opinion or point of view. A report, on the other hand, is often longer and provides more detailed information on a particular topic.

How do I write a good introduction for an essay?

Your introduction should include a brief overview of the main points you will be discussing in your essay. It should also include a thesis statement, which is a single sentence that summarises your argument.

How do I write a good conclusion for an essay?

Your conclusion should summarise the main points of your argument, and should leave the reader with a clear understanding of your position. It should also include a brief restatement of your thesis statement.

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How to Format a Book Title in Writing: Step-by-Step Guide

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Choosing the Right Format for Your Book Title

Understanding the use of italics and quotation marks, formatting fiction book titles: novels, short stories, and anthologies, formatting non-fiction book titles: essays, articles, and chapters.

• ` for main sections, ` ` for sub-sections, and so on. This enables readers to grasp the overall organization of the content at a glance. 4. **List chapter titles**: Consider creating a clear and concise unnumbered list to display chapter titles. Use the ` ` tag to indicate an unordered list and ` ` tags for each chapter title. This formatting approach enables readers to quickly skim through the chapter titles and navigate the book efficiently. By following these HTML formatting guidelines, non-fiction authors can give their essays, articles, and chapter titles a professional and visually appealing look, enhancing the overall reading experience for their audience. Remember to stay consistent with formatting choices throughout the book to maintain a cohesive and well-structured publication. Navigating the Formatting of Book Titles with Subtitles

Special Cases: Formatting Series Titles and Edition Numbers

Helpful tips for consistency and clarity in book title formatting, frequently asked questions, final thoughts.

When it comes to selecting the perfect format for your book title, it’s essential to consider various factors to ensure that your title stands out and captures the attention of potential readers. Here are some key aspects to keep in mind while making this decision:

1. Length: The length of your book title plays a crucial role in its format. For longer titles, it’s generally recommended to opt for a smaller font size or consider dividing it into sections using line breaks. On the other hand, shorter titles might benefit from a larger and bolder font to create visual impact.

2. Font Style: The font style you choose can greatly influence the visual appeal of your book title. Consider the genre and tone of your book when selecting a font. Serif fonts often work well for formal or traditional genres, while sans-serif fonts offer a modern and clean look suitable for contemporary or light-hearted themes. Moreover, it’s essential to ensure that the chosen font is easily readable both in print and digital formats.

When it comes to writing, it is essential to understand and properly utilize italics and quotation marks. These formatting tools serve different purposes and can greatly enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your writing. Here’s a breakdown of how and when to use them:

Using Italics: 1. Emphasizing words or phrases: Italics can be used to highlight specific words or phrases in your text for added emphasis. For example, you might italicize an important concept or a foreign word. 2. Titles of works: Italicize the titles of books, movies, TV shows, plays, poems, albums, and other standalone works. This helps differentiate them from the surrounding text and gives them more prominence. 3. Thoughts and inner dialogue: Italics can be used to represent a character’s inner thoughts or dialogue. This helps readers distinguish between the character’s external dialogue and their internal musings.

Using Quotation Marks: 1. Direct quotations: Quotation marks are commonly used to indicate direct speech or a quote from another source. When including someone’s exact words, it is important to enclose them in quotation marks to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original author or speaker. 2. Titles of shorter works: Quotation marks are used to denote the titles of shorter works such as articles, short stories, poems, episodes of TV shows, and songs. This sets them apart from the main body of text. 3. Words as words: Quotation marks can be used to indicate that a word is being discussed rather than used in its usual sense. For instance, you might write, “The word ‘process’ can have multiple meanings.”

In the vast world of fiction, titles hold significant importance as they are meant to capture readers’ attention and convey the essence of the story within. When it comes to formatting fiction book titles, whether they belong to novels, short stories, or anthologies, it’s crucial to follow a consistent style. Here are some guidelines to help you navigate the art of formatting book titles:

1. Novels: When formatting the title of a novel, it should be italicized to indicate that it’s a standalone book. For example, “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Alternatively, you can also use quotation marks if italicizing is not an option, such as “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger.

2. Short Stories: Similar to novels, short story titles are also typically italicized or enclosed in quotation marks. However, if the short story is a standalone book (e.g., “Animal Farm” by George Orwell), it’s common to treat it like a novel and italicize the title. On the other hand, if the short story is part of a larger collection, it should be placed in quotation marks within the larger anthology’s title, like “The Tell-Tale Heart” in “The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe.”

HTML allows for easy and effective formatting of non-fiction book titles, such as essays, articles, and chapters. By utilizing specific HTML tags, authors can enhance the visual appeal and organization of their writing. Here are some key formatting guidelines to consider:

1. **Italicize** titles: Use the ` ` tag to add emphasis to the title of an essay or article. This formatting option distinguishes the title from the rest of the text, allowing readers to easily identify it.

2. **Enclose chapter titles in quotation marks**: To differentiate chapter titles from the main text, surround them with the ` ` tag. This helps readers navigate through the book and locate specific sections with ease.

3. **Use headings to structure content**: Employ HTML heading tags (`

When it comes to formatting book titles with subtitles, it’s important to follow consistent rules to maintain clarity and professionalism. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the formatting nuances:

1. Capitalization: In book titles, capitalize the first and last word, all nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs. However, do not capitalize coordinating conjunctions (e.g., and, but), articles (e.g., a, an, the), or prepositions (unless they are the first or last word of the title). For subtitles, capitalize the first letter of the first word, proper nouns, and all significant words. Minor words like articles and prepositions should remain lowercase.

2. Punctuation: Use the appropriate punctuation marks to separate the main title and subtitle. Typically, a colon is used. For example: “The Art of Fiction: A Comprehensive Guide to Writing Engaging Stories.” If the main title already contains a colon, consider using a dash to set apart the subtitle, such as: “The Miracle Morning – The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life Before 8 AM.”

3. Italicize: In most cases, it is preferable to italicize both the main title and the subtitle to distinguish them from the rest of the text. However, if italics are not available (for example, in certain mediums like email or plain text), you can use double quotation marks (” “) to enclose book titles instead. In professional writing, avoid using underlines for book titles as it may be confused with hyperlinks in online formats.

In the world of publishing, series titles and edition numbers are essential elements to consider when formatting your content. To ensure consistency and clarity, here are some guidelines to follow for these special cases:

1. Formatting Series Titles: – Italicize series titles to set them apart from the rest of the text. For example, if you have a book series called “Adventures in Wonderland,” ensure that this series title is italicized throughout your content. – Capitalize the first letter of each significant word in the series title, except for articles, conjunctions, and prepositions unless they are the first or last word of the title. – If the series title includes a proper noun or a brand name, make sure to capitalize it consistently.

2. Including Edition Numbers: – Place the edition number immediately after the title but within the same sentence, separated by a comma. For example, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, 20th Anniversary Edition.” – Use numerals for edition numbers, followed by “th,” “st,” “nd,” or “rd” to denote the corresponding ordinal indicator. For instance, 5th edition, 1st edition, 2nd edition. – If the edition belongs to a specific publisher or includes additional descriptors, such as “revised” or “abridged,” include this information after the edition number, separated by a comma.

One of the key elements in book design is the formatting of its title. Consistency and clarity in book title formatting can greatly enhance the visual appeal and readability of your book. Here are a few helpful tips to consider:

– Use a clear and legible font: Select a font that is easy to read and complements the theme or genre of your book. Avoid using overly decorative or complex fonts that may hinder clarity. – Maintain consistent capitalization: Decide on a capitalization style for your book titles and stick to it throughout. You can choose to capitalize all significant words or only the first word and proper nouns. Consistency in capitalization will give your book a polished and professional appearance. – Pay attention to spacing and punctuation: Ensure proper spacing between words, as well as before and after punctuation marks. Consistency in spacing and punctuation will help maintain a visually pleasing layout . – Consider font size: The size of your book title should be appropriate, neither too small nor too large. Make sure the font size stands out while still fitting within the overall design.

– Include subtitle possibilities: If your book has a subtitle, consider different formatting options to differentiate it from the main title. You can use italics, a smaller font size, or a different font style to make the subtitle stand out. – Experiment with font styles and weights: To add visual interest and emphasize certain words or phrases in your title, try using different font styles or weights. For example, you could use bold or italics to highlight key words, while keeping the rest of the title in a regular font style. – Limit the use of special characters: While some special characters may be appropriate for specific genres, it’s generally best to keep them to a minimum. Using too many special characters can make the title appear cluttered and difficult to read. Stick to simple, clear typography for optimal clarity and consistency.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your book title formatting maintains consistency and clarity, allowing potential readers to easily recognize and engage with your work. Remember, a well-formatted book title not only enhances the overall design but also conveys professionalism and attention to detail.

Q: Why is it important to format a book title correctly in writing? A: Formatting a book title correctly is important as it helps readers identify the source you are referring to, and it also shows respect for the author’s work. Correct formatting enhances the clarity and professionalism of your writing.

Q: How should I format a book title in an essay or an article? A: When writing an essay or article, you should use italics or underlining to format the title of a book. For example, “To Kill a Mockingbird” should be written as To Kill a Mockingbird.

Q: Are there any exceptions to this rule? A: Yes, there are a couple of exceptions. If you are using a typewriter or handwriting your work, you should underline the book title instead of italicizing it. Similarly, when writing an email or a text message, you can use quotation marks instead of italics or underlining. For example, “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Q: How about shorter works like short stories or poems? A: Shorter works, such as short stories, poems, or chapters, should be put in quotation marks. For instance, “The Tell-Tale Heart” is the title of a short story by Edgar Allan Poe.

Q: What if the book title already contains quotation marks or italics? A: If the book title you’re referencing already contains quotation marks, you should use single quotation marks to set it off. In case the title is already in italics, you should leave it unaltered and not add any additional formatting.

Q: How should I format a book title when writing a bibliography or a reference page? A: In a bibliography or reference page, you should list book titles in italics or underlining, depending on your writing style guide’s specifications. Make sure to be consistent throughout your entire bibliography.

Q: Are there any additional formatting guidelines for book titles? A: Yes, there are a few additional guidelines to keep in mind. Capitalize the first letter of the first and last word in the title, as well as any important words in between. Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or), or prepositions unless they are the first word of the title.

Q: Is it necessary to format book titles correctly in every instance? A: Yes, it is best to maintain consistent and correct formatting of book titles in all instances. Whether you’re writing an academic paper, an article, or even a casual blog post , correctly formatting book titles demonstrates attention to detail and respect for the author’s work.

In conclusion, following the correct formatting rules for book titles is crucial. This step-by-step guide will help you avoid any confusion and present your writing in a professional and polished manner.

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How to Write a Book Title in MLA Formatting

by Joe Bunting | 0 comments

You're writing a paper for school and suddenly you stop in the middle of the sentence. You have to write a book title, but you don't how to format it. How do you format a book title in MLA style? Good news: you're in the write place (sorry, I had to).

In this post, we'll talk about MLA style and formatting, whether it's appropriate for your project, and most importantly, how to write a book title in MLA style.

What Is MLA?

MLA stands for Modern Language Association, a society primarily based in the United States but with international standing, that has a mission to “strengthen the study and teaching of language and literature”. Founded in the late 1800s by an American novelist and professor, MLA publishes a set of resources used by students and teachers, including the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers .

The MLA handbook is one of the main style manuals for students and scholars in the world, especially for anyone studying literature, film, or theater.

Should You Format Based on MLA Style?

If you're writing a paper for a class in literature, theater, or film, absolutely use MLA style. Outside of that, it depends. Here are the most frequent style guides associated with various disciplines:

• Literature, Film, Theater:   MLA
• Psychology:   APA
• Science (Physics, Biology, Chemistry): CSE or APA
• Journalism:   AP
• Mathematics:   AMA
• Publishing:   Chicago

You can find a full list of international style guides here .

Now that you know if you should be using MLA style, how do you format a book title with it?

How to Format a Book Title in MLA Style: Example

In MLA style, book titles are italicized, as so:

Henry Thorough argues in Walden  that the best life is lived in deliberate simplicity so as to discover what life truly is about.

In fact, most style guides, including MLA and   Chicago style, require book titles to be italicized , not underlined.

If the book title has a subtitle, the subtitle should be italicized as well and separated by a colon to be formatted correctly for MLA style, as in:

Natural History of the Intellect: the last lectures of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Should You Underline Book Titles in MLA Style?

If you are using MLA style, you should not underline book titles. Instead, italicize the titles.

However, AP style, the guide used by journalists, suggests putting titles in quotation marks, not italicization.

Still, I wouldn't recommend underlining a book's title. In fact, I couldn't find a single style guide that requires book titles to be underlined, but if you know of one that does, let me know in the comments!

Which style guide do you use most? MLA? Chicago? APA? AP? Or do you just write based on your own rules?!  Let me know in the comments .

Let's cement this formatting lesson in our minds by putting it to use right away with the following writing exercise .

What are your favorite books of all time? Write about what you love about them and why they are your favorites for fifteen minutes . Make sure to use the correct formatting for each title!

When your time is up, post your practice in the comments section . And if you post, please be sure to read a few practices by other writers and share your feedback with them.

Happy writing!

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

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• MLA Style Manual

How to Write Book Titles in MLA

Last Updated: March 21, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Annaliese Dunne and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Annaliese Dunne is a Middle School English Teacher. With over 10 years of teaching experience, her areas of expertise include writing and grammar instruction, as well as teaching reading comprehension. She is also an experienced freelance writer. She received her Bachelor's degree in English. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 47,114 times.

If you're writing a research paper, you may want to include the title of a book in the text of your paper. The handbook for the Modern Language Association (MLA) provides specific rules for how to set off the title of a book from the rest of your text. Generally, titles of books are set apart from the rest of the text following particular formatting, capitalization, and punctuation rules.

Formatting Titles

• Music album titles and film titles are also italicized.
• In earlier editions, the MLA Handbook also permitted titles to be underlined. The 8th edition confirms that underlining is no longer appropriate.

Exception : Religious texts, such as the Bible or the Quran, are not italicized.

• For example, you might write: "In The Great Gatsby in the Classroom: Searching for the American Dream , David Dowling promotes the use of art and film to improve literacy."

• For example, if you were talking about the Nancy Drew series, you would not italicize "Nancy Drew" because the name does not appear in the titles of any of the individual books. In contrast, Harry Potter would be italicized, because the name appears at the beginning of the title of every book in the series.

• For example, if you were writing a paper on The Great Gatsby , you would need to include the full title in your text at least once. If you mentioned the novel more than once, you could use Gatsby as a shortened title.
• How you shorten the title generally depends on your own judgment. Use a word or words that evoke the title easily in the mind of the reader, without any ambiguity.

Capitalizing Titles

• For example, you might write: "Comedian Steve Martin takes on the art world in his novel An Object of Beauty . Note that the word "an" is capitalized because it is the first word. Otherwise, it would be in lowercase.
• If the book also has a subtitle, capitalize the first word of the subtitle just as you did the first word of the title.

• Articles include words such as "a," "an," and "the." Words such as "against," "in," and "to." Note that these words remain in lowercase regardless of their length.

• Coordinating conjunctions include words such as "and," "but," "for," and "nor."
• Subordinating conjunctions include words such as "after," "although," because," "unless," and "until."

• Example: Storytelling and Mythmaking: Images from Film and Literature

Tip: If you have doubts about the parts of speech of the words in a title, you can check your capitalization using free capitalization checkers available online.

• Capitalize all words that would be capitalized in the language the title is written in. For example, since all nouns are capitalized in German, you would capitalize all nouns in a German book title.

Punctuating Titles

• For example, if a title ends in an exclamation point or a question mark, you would include that punctuation mark at the end of the title. The punctuation mark should be italicized so that your readers understand that it's part of the title, not part of your punctuation.
• If the book title ends in a question mark or an exclamation point, it's typically not a good idea to use that title at the end of a sentence, because then the punctuation mark at the end of the book title effectively becomes the punctuation mark for the end of your sentence. Recast your sentence so that the book title doesn't fall at the end of the sentence.

• There is an exception if the book title includes another book title, and the included book title ends in a question mark or exclamation point. Since that punctuation mark belongs to the included book title, you would follow that punctuation mark with a colon. For example: Moby Dick and Absalom, Absalom! : Two American Masterpieces Note that the colon is italicized.

• For example, you might write: "In the 1980s sitcom When Harry Met Sally. . . , the characters examined whether heterosexual cisgender men and women could be friends without ever becoming romantically or sexually involved."
• Note that you'll have to form your sentence so that either a comma or a period is appropriate following the ellipsis or a dash.

Tip: Although it might be difficult for the average person to tell whether a punctuation mark such as a comma or period is italicized, technically any punctuation added to the end of the title should not be italicized.

• For example: England's Monitor; or, The History of Separation . Note that the "or" and all punctuation are also italicized.
• Generally, list the original or oldest title first, followed by any later title.

• For example, since the book Everything Is Nothing: The Poetry of the Great War, Revolution and the Transformation of Europe was published in London, the serial comma would not be added. However, if the book were published in the US, you would add a comma after the word "Revolution."

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_literature/formatting.html
• ↑ https://style.mla.org/punctuation-with-titles/
• ↑ https://style.mla.org/trilogy-titles/
• ↑ https://style.mla.org/full-names-titles-in-each-chapter/
• ↑ https://secondary.oslis.org/cite-sources/mla/how-to-capitalize-and-punctuate-titles
• ↑ https://style.mla.org/capitalization-of-titles/
• ↑ https://irsc.libguides.com/c.php?g=483085&p=3303403
• ↑ https://morningside.libguides.com/MLA8/title

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How to Write the Title of a Book in an Essay

• by Lesley V.
• November 21, 2023

If you want to know how to cite books in essays properly, here’s my guide on the top three citation styles.

You’ll learn to cite the title of books in essay in APA, MLA, and Chicago.

Get ready to remember formatting guidelines and consider examples.

Book Titles: Formatting Guide  

How to write a book title in an essay: apa .

I’ll focus on the latest version, APA’s 7th edition [1]. For this format, you provide the author’s surname, initials, the publishing year (use round brackets), the italicized title, the publisher, and DOI if the manual has it.

If the book has several authors, place surnames in the alphabetic order, with “&” before the last surname. If it’s an edited work without an author, put the editor’s surname and initials at the beginning. In the case of several editors, add “Ed.” or “Eds.” after the initials.

If the copy has both an author and an editor, place the author’s surname initials in the beginning and add the editor’s surname and initials in brackets between the book title and the name of its publisher.

•  Shakespeare, W. (1954).  The tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark . The Folio Society. 
•  Black S. (1981).  How to live this life . (White A. & Brown L., Eds.) Scale University Press. 

How to Write a Book Title in an Essay: MLA 

I provide the rules according to MLA’s 8th edition [2]. 

Provide the author’s full name, italicize the book title, the publishing place (for works older than 1900), the publisher, and the publication date.

If the  copy has several authors , you write the first author’s surname and their name after a comma and then name other authors in the usual name-surname order. Add “and” before the last author in the list. 

In the case of books with no authors, the MLA format doesn’t require you to note the editors. You can skip the part with authorship and start with the title in italics. 

Examples to correctly cite books in MLA:

• Shakespeare, William.  The tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark . The Folio Society. 1954.
• Encyclopedia of Montana . Summerset, 1993.

How to Write Book Titles in Essays: Chicago

The fine points of the Chicago style are the fine points for the footnotes and endnotes as in-text references: 

In the footnote, you provide the author’s first and last name, italicize the book title, specify the place of publication, publisher, and year in round brackets, and write the page number. 

The difference between the footnote and source in the bibliography is not so big. In the bibliography, you provide the author’s surname, not the name first. Also, don’t use round brackets and page numbers. 

Writing Author Names in Paper Bodies 

Authors’ surnames in the bodies of papers go in capital letters. Depending on the citation style, it might or might not require a personal name. 

For example, APA 7 or MLA 8 doesn’t require the author’s name. In-text citations in APA will be  “As Shakespeare (1954) writes, ” while Chicago, as you can see from above, requires both first and last names in footnotes.

In Lieu of a Conclusion: FAQs

• Are books italicized? 

Yes, the titles of the books go in italics in the references. 

• Do you underline book titles? 

No, you don’t need to underline the book titles. The exception might be if you write an essay by hand. It’s hard to italicize titles when handwriting, so you underline the name to specify it.

• How do you write book titles with subtitles in an essay? 

Italicize the title, start with a capital letter, and place the subtitle after the colon, also capitalized.  For example :  I am Malala: The story of the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban.

• How to write a short story title in an essay?

A story, poem, essay, or any other short genre represented as a book part must go in quotation marks. For example:   “The Intruder.”  It’s a short story in Andre Dubus’s collection,  Dancing After Hours .

• Why properly cite books in essays?

The title of the books in the essay is critical for a reader to understand what kind of source this is.

References:

• https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/index.html

2. https://libguides.southernct.edu/mla/core/title

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Critic’s Notebook

Like My Book Title? Thanks, I Borrowed It.

Literary allusions are everywhere. What are they good for?

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By A.O. Scott

You see it everywhere, even if you don’t always recognize it: the literary allusion. Quick! Which two big novels of the past two years borrowed their titles from “Macbeth”? Nailing the answer — “ Birnam Wood ” and “ Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow ” — might make you feel a little smug.

Perhaps the frisson of cleverness ( I know where that’s from!), or the flip-side cringe of ignorance ( I should know where that’s from! ), is enough to spur you to buy a book, the way a search-optimized headline compels you to click a link. After all, titles are especially fertile ground for allusion-mongering. The name of a book becomes more memorable when it echoes something you might have heard — or think you should have heard — before.

This kind of appropriation seems to be a relatively modern phenomenon. Before the turn of the 20th century, titles were more descriptive than allusive. The books themselves may have been stuffed with learning, but the words on the covers were largely content to give the prospective reader the who (“Pamela,” “Robinson Crusoe,” “Frankenstein”), where (“Wuthering Heights,” “The Mill on the Floss,” “Treasure Island”) or what (“The Scarlet Letter,” “War and Peace,” “The Way We Live Now”) of the book.

Somehow, by the middle of the 20th century, literature had become an echo chamber. Look homeward, angel! Ask not for whom the sound and the fury slouches toward Bethlehem in dubious battle. When Marcel Proust was first translated into English, he was made to quote Shakespeare, and “In Search of Lost Time” (the literal, plainly descriptive French title) became “Remembrance of Things Past,” a line from Sonnet 30 .

Recent Proust translators have erased the Shakespearean reference in fidelity to the original, but the habit of dressing up new books in secondhand clothing persists, in fiction and nonfiction alike. Last year, in addition to “Birnam Wood,” there were Jonathan Rosen’s “ The Best Minds ,” with its whisper of Allen Ginsberg’s “ Howl ,” Paul Harding’s “ This Other Eden ” (“ Richard II ”), and William Egginton’s “ The Rigor of Angels ” (Borges). The best-seller lists and publishers’ catalogs contain multitudes ( Walt Whitman ). Here comes everybody! (James Joyce).

If you must write prose and poems, the words you use should be your own. I didn’t say that: Morrissey did, in a deepish Smiths cut (“ Cemetry Gates , ” from 1986), which misquotes Shakespeare and name-checks John Keats, William Butler Yeats and Oscar Wilde — possibly the most reliably recycled writers (along with John Milton and the authors of the King James Bible) in the English language.

Not that any of them would have minded. When Keats wrote that “ a thing of beauty is a joy forever ,” he surely hoped that at least that much of “ Endymion ” would outlive him. It’s a beautiful sentiment! And he may have been right. Does anyone read his four-part, 4,000-line elegy for Thomas Chatterton outside a college English class, or even for that matter inside one? Nonetheless, that opening line may ring a bell if you remember it from the movies “ Mary Poppins ,” “Yellow Submarine” or “ White Men Can’t Jump .”

Wilde’s witticism and bons mots have survived even as some of his longer works have languished. If it’s true (as he said) that only superficial people do not judge by appearances, maybe it follows that shallow gleaning is the deepest kind of reading. Or maybe, to paraphrase Yeats, devoted readers of poetry lack all conviction , while reckless quoters are full of passionate intensity .

Like everything else, this is the fault of the internet, which has cannibalized our reading time while offering facile, often spurious, pseudo-erudition to anyone with the wit to conduct a search. As Mark Twain once said to Winston Churchill, if you Google, you don’t have to remember anything.

Seriously though: I come not to bury the practice of allusion, but to praise it. (“ Julius Caesar ”) And also to ask, in all earnestness and with due credit to Edwin Starr , “ Seinfeld” and Leo Tolstoy : What is it good for?

The language centers of our brains are dynamos of originality. A competent speaker of any language is capable of generating intelligible, coherent sentences that nobody has uttered before. That central insight of modern linguistics, advanced by Noam Chomsky in the 1950s and ’60s, is wonderfully democratic. Every one of us is a poet in our daily speech, an inglorious Milton ( Thomas Gray ), a Shakespeare minting new coins of eloquence.

Of course, actual poets are congenital thieves (as T.S. Eliot or someone like him may have said), plucking words and phrases from the pages of their peers and precursors. The rest of us are poets in that sense, too. If our brains are foundries, they are also warehouses, crammed full of clichés, advertising slogans, movie catchphrases, song lyrics, garbled proverbs and jokes we heard on the playground at recess in third grade. Also great works of literature.

There are those who sift through this profusion with the fanatical care of mushroom hunters, collecting only the most palatable and succulent specimens. Others crash through the thickets, words latching onto us like burrs on a sweater. If we tried to remove them, the whole garment — our consciousness, in this unruly metaphor — might come unraveled.

That may also be true collectively. If we were somehow able to purge our language of its hand-me-down elements, we might lose language itself. What happens if nobody reads anymore, or if everyone reads different things? Does the practice of literary quotation depend on a stable set of common references? Or does it function as a kind of substitute for a shared body of knowledge that may never have existed at all?

The old literary canon — that dead white men’s club of star-bellied sneetches ( Dr. Seuss ) — may have lost some of its luster in recent decades, but it has shown impressive staying power as a cornucopia of quotes. Not the only one, by any means (or memes). Television, popular music, advertising and social media all provide abundant fodder, and the way we read now (or don’t) has a way of rendering it all equivalent. The soul selects her own society ( Emily Dickinson ).

When I was young, my parents had a fat anthology of mid-20th-century New Yorker cartoons , a book I pored over with obsessive zeal. One drawing that baffled me enough to stick in my head featured a caption with the following words: “It’s quips and cranks and wanton wiles, nods and becks and wreathed smiles.” What on earth was that? It wasn’t until I was in graduate school, cramming for an oral exam in Renaissance literature, that I found the answer in “ L’Allegro, ” an early poem by Milton, more often quoted as the author of “Paradise Lost.”

Not that having the citation necessarily helps. The cartoon, by George Booth, depicts a woman in her living room, addressing members of a multigenerational, multispecies household. There are cats, codgers, a child with a yo-yo, a bird in a cage and a dog chained to the sofa. Through the front window, the family patriarch can be seen coming up the walk, a fedora on his head and a briefcase in his right hand. His arrival — “Here comes Poppa” — is the occasion for the woman’s Miltonic pep talk.

Who is she? Why is she quoting “L’Allegro”? Part of the charm, I now suspect, lies in the absurdity of those questions. But I also find myself wondering: Were New Yorker readers in the early 1970s, when the cartoon was first published, expected to get the allusion right off the bat? They couldn’t Google it. Or would they have laughed at the incongruous eruption of an old piece of poetry they couldn’t quite place?

Maybe what’s funny is that most people wouldn’t know what that lady was talking about. And maybe the same comic conceit animates an earlier James Thurber drawing reprinted in the same book. In this one, a wild-eyed woman bursts into a room, wearing a floppy hat and wielding a basket of meadow flowers. “I come from haunts of coot and hern!” she exclaims to the baffled company, disturbing their cocktail party.

That’s it. That’s the gag.

Were readers also baffled? It turns out that Thurber’s would-be nature goddess is quoting “ The Brook ,” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. (I’ve never read it either.) Is it necessary to get the reference to get the joke? If you chuckle in recognition, and complete the stanza without missing a beat — “I make a sudden sally/And sparkle out among the fern,/To bicker down a valley” — is the joke on you?

It’s possible, from the standpoint of the present, to assimilate these old pictures to the familiar story about the decline of a civilization based in part on common cultural knowledge. Sure. Whatever. Things fall apart ( Yeats ). In the cartoons’ own terms, though, spouting snippets of poetry is an unmistakable sign of eccentricity — the pastime of kooky women and the male illustrators who commit them to paper. This is less a civilization than a sodality of weirdos, a visionary company ( Hart Crane ) of misfits. But don’t quote me on that.

A.O. Scott is a critic at large for The Times’s Book Review, writing about literature and ideas. He joined The Times in 2000 and was a film critic until early 2023. More about A.O. Scott

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