
When it comes to the proper way to write the title of a painting, there is some variation in style guides. Generally, quotation marks are used for short works such as articles, poems, songs, and essays, while italics are used for larger works like books, movies, and periodicals. According to this rule, the titles of paintings would be italicized, as they are considered major works of art. However, there may be exceptions, such as when the title of a painting includes a quote or speech, in which case quotation marks may be preferred.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Short works | Quotation marks |
| Long works | Italics |
| Larger works | Italics |
| Short works | Quotation marks or Italics |
| Larger works | Italics |
| Individual works of art | Underlined or Italicized |
| Titles of paintings | Italicized |
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What You'll Learn

Quotation marks for short works
Quotation marks are used to indicate the titles of creative works, highlight specific terms or phrases, and emphasise tone. The general rule is to use quotation marks for titles of short works and italics for longer works. Short works include articles, poems, songs, essays, short stories, chapters, lectures, and short-form videos.
For example, the title of a short story would be written as "The Tell-Tale Heart". However, the title of a book would be italicised, such as *Moby Dick*.
When it comes to the titles of paintings, there seems to be some discrepancy. Some sources state that the titles of paintings should be italicised, as they are considered a form of classic art. However, other sources suggest that quotation marks can be used, especially if the title of the painting includes words or phrases that are directly quoted from another source. For instance, if a painting is titled after a phrase on a plaque, it may be written with quotation marks: "Facets".
It is worth noting that different style guides, such as AP and Chicago, have their own guidelines for quotation marks. For instance, AP style uses quotation marks for titles of creative works, while Chicago style uses quotation marks for shorter works and italics for longer works.
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Italics for longer works
When it comes to referencing titles in writing, there are a few conventions to keep in mind. Firstly, it is generally advised that you can use either quotation marks or italics for titles, but not both. This rule applies to titles of artworks, including paintings.
Now, let's focus on the use of italics for longer works. In this context, "longer works" typically refer to standalone or published works that are substantial in length or significance. For example, books are considered longer works and their titles are usually italicized.
Artworks, such as paintings, sculptures, and other created artworks, are often treated similarly to books when it comes to titling conventions. This means that the titles of individual paintings are typically italicized. For instance, when referring to a specific painting, you would italicize its title. This is consistent with the style guides provided by some institutions, which specify that the titles of individual artworks should be italicized.
Additionally, catalogues of artworks, such as exhibition catalogues or collections, are also treated as books and thus their titles are italicized. This is in line with the practice of italicizing published works, as catalogues are often published and distributed.
It is worth noting that some style guides may have specific rules or exceptions for certain types of titles. For example, untitled works are usually written in lowercase letters without the use of italics or quotation marks. However, if an untitled work includes a descriptor in parentheses, it is then treated as a titled work and the descriptor is italicized.
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Quotation marks for speech
Quotation marks, also called inverted commas, talking marks, speech marks, quote marks, quotemarks, or speechmarks, are punctuation marks placed on either side of a word or phrase to indicate direct speech or quotations. They are also used to denote a literal title or name. Single or double quotation marks are used to indicate either speech or a quotation.
The use of single and double quotation marks when quoting differs between US and UK English. In US English, double quotation marks are used, while single quotation marks are used for quotes within quotes. In UK English, it is more common to use single quotation marks, with double quotation marks for quotes within quotes. However, the use of double quotation marks is becoming increasingly common in UK English, and it is acceptable to use them consistently throughout a text.
When a quote is interrupted, such as with the phrase "he said," a closing quotation mark is used before the interruption, and an opening quotation mark is used after. Commas are also often used before and after the interruption, especially for quotations of speech. For example: "Everything", said Hal, "is going extremely well."
Quotation marks are not used for indirect speech, as this is not a direct quote and can be open to interpretation. For example, if Hal says, "All systems are functional," then in indirect speech, it would be incorrect to write, "Hal said that 'everything was going extremely well.'" Instead, it should be written as, "Hal said that everything was going extremely well."
When quotations are nested, the style of quotation marks is alternated for the inner quotation. For example: 'Hal said, "Good morning, Dave,"' recalled Frank. "Hal said, 'Good morning, Dave,'" recalled Frank.
In summary, quotation marks are used to indicate direct speech and quotations. The style of quotation marks used depends on the regional convention, with double quotation marks preferred in US English and single quotation marks more common in UK English. Quotation marks are also used for nested quotations and to indicate interruptions within a quote. However, they are not used for indirect speech.
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Quotation marks for verbatim passages
Quotation marks are a type of punctuation that sets words and passages apart from the rest of the text. They are used to quote a source directly, show dialogue, signal the titles of short works, doubt the validity of a word, discuss a word without its intended meaning, or differentiate a nickname.
The general rule is to use quotation marks for titles of short works such as articles, poems, songs, essays, or short stories. By contrast, use italics for larger works such as books, movies, and the names of periodicals. This distinction between short and long works is a simple rule of thumb to keep in mind when deciding whether to use quotation marks or italics.
However, there are some exceptions and variations depending on the style guide being followed. For instance, the APA format uses quotation marks for all types of work, including books and movies, while the MLA and Chicago styles reserve quotation marks for shorter works.
When using quotation marks for verbatim passages, it is important to ensure that the quoted material is an exact reproduction of the original source. Anything that is not part of the original quote should be placed outside the quotation marks. This includes any interruptions or insertions that are necessary for clarity or to correct a mistake in the original passage, which can be indicated with square brackets.
Additionally, there are different conventions for the placement of other punctuation marks in relation to quotation marks. The logical view holds that only punctuation marks that are part of the quotation should be placed inside the quotation marks, while all other punctuation should be placed outside. On the other hand, the conventional view insists on placing most other punctuation marks inside the closing quote, regardless of whether they are part of the original quotation.
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Italics for titles of books, movies, periodicals
When writing, it is important to know how to format titles correctly. This includes knowing when to use italics and when to use quotation marks. The general rule is that titles of longer works like books, movies, music albums, periodicals, and plays should be italicized, while shorter works like articles, poems, songs, essays, or short stories take quotation marks.
For example, when referring to a book, you would italicize the title, such as *To Kill a Mockingbird*. However, if you are referring to a chapter within that book, you would use quotation marks, for example, "Part One: The Capulets and Montagues". The same rule applies to movies and TV shows. If you are referencing a movie, you would italicize the title, such as *The Wizard of Oz*, but if you are discussing a specific episode within a TV series, you would use quotation marks, for example, "Winter Is Coming".
Periodicals, such as magazines and newspapers, also fall into the category of longer works and therefore take italics. So, for instance, *The New York Times* or *National Geographic*. Additionally, if you are referencing a specific article within a periodical, you would use quotation marks for the article title and italics for the periodical title, for example, "The Unbearable Weight of Authenticity: Zora Neale Hurston's 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' and Theory of 'Touristic Reading'".
It is worth noting that different style guides have different standards for italics and quotation marks. The Associated Press (AP) style, for instance, typically used in news writing, dictates that titles of books and movies should be placed in quotation marks. On the other hand, the Chicago Manual of Style, followed by book and magazine publishers, specifies that titles of books, movies, and periodicals should be italicized.
Ultimately, the way you format titles is a matter of style and consistency. While certain style guides may be prescribed by specific publications or institutions, there is flexibility in choosing your preferred style, and it is generally acceptable to choose one style (either italics or quotation marks) and apply it consistently throughout your writing.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of a painting should be in italics.
The names of paintings, drawings, photographs, statues, and other works of art are italicized whether the titles are original, added by someone other than the artist, or translated.
Quotes should be used for the names of short works such as articles, poems, songs, essays, or short stories.
No, it is generally advised to use either quotes or italics, but not both.











































