Italics for emphasis in writing

What is the main reason a writer uses italics for a word in a sentence?

• To make the word look fancy

• To show it's a difficult word to spell

• To give that word special importance or stress

• To mark the title of a short story

Answer explanation

Italics are a tool writers use to guide the reader, showing them which word or phrase carries extra stress or meaning. The other options are incorrect uses of italics for emphasis.

If you are writing by hand and can't type in italics, what should you do to show that a word needs emphasis?

• Write the word in all capital letters

• Put quotation marks around the word

• Circle the word

• Underline the word

Answer explanation

The standard convention for indicating italics in handwritten work is to underline the text. The other methods are not standard for this purpose.

True or False: It's a good idea to use italics for many words in every sentence to make your writing more exciting.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Overusing italics makes them lose their power and can make the text hard to read. Emphasis should be used sparingly for the most important words only.

In the sentence, "I specifically told you to get the chocolate ice cream, not vanilla," why is the word 'specifically' in italics?

• It's a foreign word.

• It's the title of a book.

• To emphasize the instruction was very clear.

• It is a spelling error.

Answer explanation

The italics on 'specifically' add stress to show the speaker's frustration and highlight how clear their original instruction was. It's not a title, foreign word, or error.

Complete the sentence to show a contrast: My brother likes playing video games, but I prefer reading _____.

• books.

• books.

• reading books.

• My brother likes.

Answer explanation

To create a clear contrast with 'video games,' emphasizing the word 'books' with italics is the most effective choice. Italicizing the whole phrase is too much.

True or False: In the sentence "Do you really think that's a good idea?", the question mark should also be in italics.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Punctuation next to an italicized word is only italicized if it's part of the emphasized material itself. Here, the question mark applies to the whole sentence, not just the word 'really'.

Which sentence uses italics for emphasis, and NOT for a title or a foreign term?

• I just finished reading the book The Hunger Games.

• In France, you would say bonjour to greet someone.

• No, I'm the one who is supposed to clean the garage today.

• The ship was named the Queen Anne's Revenge.

Answer explanation

This sentence uses italics to stress the word 'I'm' for emphasis and contrast. The other sentences use italics for a book title, a foreign word, and a ship's name.

Complete the sentence: When you see an italicized word like in "That was not what I meant," it signals that you should read that word with extra _____.

• speed

• volume

• stress

• confusion

Answer explanation

Italics for emphasis are a visual cue for the reader to place vocal stress on a word, which helps to convey the intended tone and meaning.

Which option correctly emphasizes the key contrast in the sentence? "I didn't say he stole the cookie; I said he ate it."

• I didn't say he stole the cookie; I said he ate it.

• I didn't say he stole the cookie; I said he ate it.

• I didn't say he stole the cookie; I said he ate it.

• I didn't say he stole the cookie; I said he ate it.

Answer explanation

This sentence creates a contrast between two specific actions. Italicizing both 'stole' and 'ate' highlights this contrast most effectively and precisely.

Complete the dialogue to show the character's surprise: "Wait," Sarah said, "You're telling me you found the _____ key?"

• actual

• actual

• "actual"

• found the actual

Answer explanation

Placing italics on 'actual' adds a tone of disbelief or surprise to Sarah's dialogue, emphasizing how incredible she finds the news.