Comments on: Titles of Books, Plays, Articles, etc.: Underline? Italics? Quotation Marks?

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 00:19:39 +0000

If it is a published manual or handbook, it should go by the same rule. The title is written Drainage Design Manual. If the specific volume or table has a title, the title is enclosed in quotation marks. If it has a number, it would be referred to as vol. 1, table 3, “Parking Lot Drainage Requirements,” for example.

By: Erica

Erica — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:19:31 +0000

Do manuals and handbooks go by this rule as well? The name of the manual is Drainage Design Manual.

What if I wanted to write about a specific volume and mention a specific table? How would it look like within the text?

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:34:29 +0000

Yes, both sentences are punctuated incorrectly but there is another error as well. According to The Chicago Manual of Style (8.185), "Titles of movies and of television and radio programs and series are italicized. A single episode in a television or radio series is set in roman and enclosed in quotation marks." Therefore, italics are used instead of quotation marks in reference to the movies Captain America and Inception. Using quotation marks to delineate the two words in question in the second sentence is acceptable. To clarify the proper position of the exclamation point, The Chicago Manual of Style's rule (6.74) regarding exclamation points with quotation marks says, "An exclamation point should be placed inside quotation marks, parentheses, or brackets only when it is part of the quoted or parenthetical matter." Since the exclamation point in the second sentence is not part of the quoted material, it is placed outside the quotation marks. While watching Captain America, I noted each of the cliches that passed before my eyes. I couldn’t believe that she said in the same sentence “cheesy” and “Inception"!

By: Logan

Logan — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:16:12 +0000

Thanks for this article! It’s very helpful.

Just to confirm, are the following sentences wrongly punctuated?

While watching “Captain America”, I noted each of the cliches that passed before my eyes.

I couldn’t believe that she said in the same sentence “cheesy” and “Inception!”

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:38:28 +0000

Our blog “How to Reference Books and Articles in Text” addresses this issue. Current style manuals recommend italicizing book titles and magazine names and using quotation marks around articles and chapters.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:52:47 +0000

Thank you for your insight Jane. Grammar Ericson, I have never seen a period placed after quotation marks nor have I ever seen a semicolon follow the word also.

By: Adrianne

Adrianne — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:45:48 +0000

If I’m stating the title of a chapter within a book, would I need to italicize, underline, or put quotation marks around it?

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:57:25 +0000

It can be very deflating to find out that a rule that we had once studied hard to learn is no longer valid. This may even result in outrage and “shooting the messenger.” Note that the period is inside the quotation marks. Languages evolve over time; rules governing grammar and punctuation change. That’s why we consult our “professional resources” before advising readers on the rules. Here is a typical entry from just one such respected source, The Associated Press Stylebook:
“Follow these long-established printers’ rules:
–The period and the comma always go within the quotation marks.
–The dash, the semicolon, the question mark and the exclamation point go within the quotation marks when they apply to the quoted matter only. They go outside when they apply to the whole sentence.”

By: Grammar Ericson

Grammar Ericson — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:25:48 +0000

I stumbled over this site when looking for the rule on puntuation of titles. As usual, when the site isn’t directly related to professional resources, I discovered an error. Jane said to put the comma and /or the period INSIDE the quotes. How WRONG! Now really, do you think the comma – or the period – is PART of the quote?!? Jane must not have been paying attention in her grammar classes. Also; since when does the use of computers change the rules of anything? They are merely tools of people. People need to learn what has been established as correct, especially when they turn to self-proclaimed experts for advice.

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:20:31 +0000

Quotation marks are fine; however, place the period inside the final quotation mark: “Spirited Away.”