Italics for emphasis in writing

What is the main reason a writer uses italics for emphasis?

• To make a word look fancy.

• To signal that a word is from another language.

• To make a specific word or phrase stand out as important.

• To show the title of a short story.

Answer explanation

The primary purpose of using italics for emphasis is to draw the reader's attention to a particular word or phrase, indicating it has special importance, stress, or a strong emotional tone.

True or False: When you are writing an essay by hand, the correct way to show that a word should be in italics is to underline it.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Underlining is the standard convention for indicating italics in handwritten or typewritten work where an italic font is not available. It serves the same purpose of adding emphasis or indicating a title.

Complete the sentence: Using italics for emphasis should be done _____, so it doesn't lose its effect.

• frequently

• sparingly

• randomly

• always

Answer explanation

Emphasis is most effective when used sparingly. Overusing italics can make a text difficult to read and diminishes the impact of the emphasized words.

In which sentence are italics used correctly for emphasis, not for a title?

• My favorite movie is Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

• I am so tired of doing chores.

• We are reading the novel The Giver in class.

• The ship was named The Sea Serpent.

Answer explanation

In this sentence, 'so' is italicized to add stress and emphasize the speaker's feeling of being very tired. The other options use italics correctly for titles of a movie, novel, and ship, not for emphasis.

Which word in the following sentence should be italicized to show a contrast with what someone else thinks? 'He thinks the movie is boring, but I think it's exciting.'

• boring

• He

• I

• movie

Answer explanation

Italicizing 'I' creates a direct contrast between 'his' opinion and 'my' opinion. The emphasis clarifies that the speaker's viewpoint is different.

Complete the sentence to create a contrast: My brother wanted the blue controller, but I wanted the _____ one.

• new

• red

• game's

• other

Answer explanation

Using italics for 'red' creates a clear contrast with the word 'blue' mentioned earlier in the sentence, highlighting the difference in preference.

True or False: To emphasize how much you like pizza, you should write: 'I love love love pizza!'

• True

• False

Answer explanation

While you can italicize a word for emphasis, good writing would use stronger vocabulary instead of repeating and italicizing the same word. It's better to say, 'I absolutely love pizza!'

Read the dialogue: 'Are you sure you locked the door?' What does the italicized word suggest?

• The speaker is angry.

• The speaker is asking for confirmation or expressing doubt.

• The speaker is making a joke.

• The speaker is bored.

Answer explanation

Italicizing 'sure' places stress on the word, which indicates that the speaker wants to double-check or is questioning whether the action was actually completed.

Complete the sentence to show surprise: I can't believe you _____ ate the whole pizza by yourself!

• actually

• quickly

• pizza

• whole

Answer explanation

Italicizing 'actually' emphasizes the speaker's disbelief or surprise that the event truly happened, which fits the context of the sentence.

Which sentence correctly applies italics to imply that someone *else* took the cookie? 'I did not take the last cookie.'

• I did not take the last cookie.

• I did not take the last cookie.

• I did not take the last cookie.

• I did not take the last cookie.

Answer explanation

By emphasizing 'I', the speaker is denying their personal involvement, which strongly implies that someone else is responsible for taking the cookie.