Are Play Titles Italicized?
MLA treats plays as independent works and normally styles their titles in italics. The convention applies even to short plays; other publication styles can specify different treatment.
In MLA-style prose, italicize the title of a play.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
This is a style convention, not a universal grammar law. Follow the publication or house style required for your document when it differs.
Further guidance
Example
MLA-style invented example: *The Quiet Room* is the title of a play and is italicized.
Practical Application
In MLA-style prose, italicize the title of a play because the play is treated as an independent work.
Reader Check
Do not switch to quotation marks merely because a play is short. The cited MLA treatment classifies plays as works whose titles are italicized.
Recommendation
In MLA-style prose, italicize the title of a play.
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.
- How do I style the title of a work published online? (opens in a new tab)Modern Language Association · Style guidance distinguishing italicized titles of independent works such as movies and television series from quoted episode titles