Are Television Shows Italicized?
Titles of movies, television shows, and radio programs should be italicized. A single episode, however, is enclosed in quotation marks. This applies whether you’re writing an essay, a research paper, or even a casual blog post. Consistency in formatting ensures clarity and professionalism in your writing.
Formal names of broadcast channels and networks are capitalized, such as The Discovery Channel or HBO. This distinguishes them from generic terms like “television channel” or “network.” For instance, you would write: “She often watches programs on The History Channel.”
When referencing musical works, the rule changes slightly. The titles of operas and musicals are italicized, much like television shows. However, individual songs and arias are enclosed in quotation marks. For example, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a song from the album A Night at the Opera.
Album and CD recording names also follow the italicization rule. For example, you would italicize Thriller by Michael Jackson. As mentioned previously, individual song titles from the album would be in quotation marks.
Instrumental music titles that include a number or key signature are capitalized but not italicized. For example, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, also known as the Choral Symphony. The descriptive title, Choral Symphony, is italicized because it’s a nickname or alternative title.
When citing websites, treat them as you would any other authoritative source: italicize the name of the website. For example, The New York Times or National Geographic. It’s important to omit “https://” for cleaner text. However, always use secure “https” links when referencing online sources.
For works of art, titles of paintings, sculptures, and statues are italicized. This includes famous works such as Michelangelo’s David or Van Gogh’s Starry Night. However, photographs are enclosed in quotation marks, differentiating them from other visual art forms. Finally, cartoon and comic strip titles are italicized, like Calvin and Hobbes or The Far Side.
