Are Product Names Italicized?
Product and brand names are normally names rather than titles of works. MLA specifically says trademarked brand names are capitalized but not italicized, while genericized brand words may be styled as lowercase common nouns.
Do not italicize a product or brand name merely because it is a brand; MLA styles trademarked brand names with capitalization but without italics.
Key details
Important caveats
Brand Boundary
If a former brand name has become an ordinary common noun in the relevant dictionary/style context, it can be lowercase and still remains nonitalic.
Scope Boundary
This rule covers brand/product names as names. A separately titled creative work, publication, software title, or other work associated with a product can follow the title rule for that work instead.
Further guidance
Example
Invented example: Northstar Pro is a product name and would not be italicized merely because it is branded. A separately titled manual or game bundled with the product would follow the title rule for that work.
Practical Application
Treat a brand or product name as a name, not automatically as the title of a creative work. Under the cited MLA guidance, capitalize a trademarked brand name as appropriate but do not italicize it merely for being a brand.
Reader Check
Ask whether the words identify the product/brand itself or a separately titled work associated with it. A named device and a titled game, publication, or creative work can require different treatment.
Recommendation
Do not italicize a product or brand name merely because it is a brand; MLA styles trademarked brand names with capitalization but without italics.
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.
- How should I style brand names? — MLA Style Center (opens in a new tab)Modern Language Association · MLA guidance that trademarked brand names are capitalized but not italicized, with genericized brands styled as common nouns