Writing & StyleStyle guide
Are Book Titles Italicized?
Book titles are normally italicized in MLA-style prose because books are independent long-form works. Other style systems may have their own conventions, so follow the required style for the document.
In MLA-style prose, italicize book titles. Follow a different required house or publication style if it specifies another convention.
Key details
Core Issuehow to style a book title when it is mentioned in prose
Registeracademic and edited writing
RuleIn MLA-style prose, titles of books and other long-form independent works are normally italicized.
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
Title styling is a style convention rather than a universal grammar law. Follow the required publication, academic, or house style when it differs.
Further guidance
Recommendation
Italicize a book title when you are following MLA-style conventions for titles of independent long-form works.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- If I mention the title of a fictional work in my text, how do I style it? (opens in a new tab)Modern Language Association · MLA guidance that book and other long-form work titles are normally italicized, while shorter works are normally placed in quotation marks.