Priya Kapoor
When writing about a painting, the general rule is to italicize or underline the title of the work. This is similar to how we treat book titles, which are also typically italicized or underlined. However, it's worth noting that the specific style may vary depending on the context and the chosen referencing system. For example, some publications or universities may prefer the use of single or double quotation marks around titles, especially in news stories or blog writing, following AP style guidelines. Additionally, it's essential to consider whether the painting's title is original or added by someone other than the artist, as this may impact the chosen punctuation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Style | MLA, AP, Chicago Manual of Style, etc. |
| Format | Italicize, Underline, Use Quotation Marks, or Capitalize |
| Medium | Depends on audience/format/publication/medium |
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What You'll Learn
Italics for standalone works
When writing about a painting, it is generally acceptable to either italicise or underline the title of the work. This is the case when the work is considered a standalone piece.
According to the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, titles of standalone works are italicised. This includes books, albums, movies, and other works that are considered "big" enough to stand on their own. Conversely, chapters or parts of a larger work are put into quotation marks. For example, a poem, which is typically part of a collection, would be put into quotation marks, whereas an epic poem, often published on its own, would be italicised.
The Chicago Manual of Style also recommends italicising titles of major works of art, including paintings, drawings, photographs, and statues, whether the titles are original or not.
However, it is important to note that different style guides may have varying recommendations. For instance, the AP Stylebook, the preferred style for newspapers and blogs, recommends using quotation marks for book titles, movie titles, and other works of art.
Ultimately, the specific formatting may depend on the requirements of your instructor, publication, or audience. It is always a good idea to consult a style guide or your instructor for the most appropriate way to format titles in your writing.
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Quotation marks for parts of a larger work
Quotation marks are used to indicate direct quotations and speech. They primarily set apart certain words, usually to indicate direct quotes, and to signify the titles of certain works or that a phrase does not use a word's intended meaning. For example, "The only emperor", writes Wallace Stevens, "is the emperor of ice cream." Note that what is enclosed in quotes must be the exact words of the person being quoted.
Quotation marks are also used to indicate a direct quote, transcribe speech to text, signify titles of small works like poems, show that the validity of a word is in doubt, discuss words as words without referencing their intended meaning, and set apart nicknames from formal names. For instance, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson can't escape his origins as a wrestler.
In academic writing, quotation marks are used around words taken directly from the original speaker or author. For example, "He found the exercises frustrating," said one participant. They are also used to indicate indirect quotations, where the writer is skeptical about a term, or when referring to controversial terms.
In UK English, all punctuation marks are placed outside the quotation marks unless they are part of the original quotation. For example, "How long can this quotation continue?" asks Smith. However, a question mark appears inside the quotation marks when the person quoted was asking a question.
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MLA style guidelines
When writing about a painting in MLA format, there are specific style guidelines to follow. Firstly, it is important to note that the title of the painting should be italicized, not underlined. For example, when referencing Vincent van Gogh's famous work, you would write it as *Starry Night*. Paintings are considered longer works, so they do not use quotation marks.
Additionally, you should provide the artist's name and the year the painting was created, with a comma after the artist's last name, followed by their first name and middle initial (if available). For example: "Goya, Vincent van. Starry Night. 1889."
If the painting is untitled, simply move on to the next element of the citation. You do not need to use the word "Untitled." However, if you wish to provide a description, write it in plain text, not italics. For example, "Goya, Vincent van. [Description of woman with flowers]. 1890."
You can also include additional information about the artwork, such as the medium, by including a description of the material used in square brackets immediately following the title. For example: "Starry Night [oil on canvas]."
When citing a painting you have viewed in person at a museum or gallery, follow this format:
> Artist's Last Name, Artist's First Name. Title of Artwork. Year of Creation, Museum or Gallery, City.
For example:
> Leutze, Emmanuel. Washington Crossing the Delaware. 1851, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
If you viewed the painting on a museum's website, treat the website name as the container (or "book") and include the URL at the end of the citation. The format would be:
> Artist's Last Name, Artist's First Name. Title of Artwork. Year of Creation, Museum, City, Name of Website, URL.
For example:
> Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV. 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid, museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74.
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AP style guidelines
When it comes to writing about a painting, the AP style is to use quotation marks for the title of the painting. For example, "The Starry Night" by Vincent van Gogh is written with the title in quotation marks, following AP style guidelines.
It is important to note that some publications may have their own style guides that differ from AP style. For example, The Chicago Manual of Style recommends italicizing titles of paintings, drawings, photographs, and other works of art. Additionally, some publications may prefer to use italics or single quotation marks for titles, depending on the chosen referencing system or publication style.
In general, when writing about a painting or any work of art, it is advisable to consult the specific style guide of the publication or medium for which the article is intended. This ensures consistency and adherence to the appropriate style guidelines.
To summarise, when writing about a painting in AP style, use quotation marks for the title, but be mindful of exceptions and variations that may exist across different publications and referencing systems.
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British vs American style tendencies
When writing about a painting, you should italicize or underline the title. Alternatively, you can write the title in capital letters. The specific formatting you use may depend on the style guide you are adhering to. For example, the Chicago Manual of Style is often used for American English, while Oxford Style is used for British English.
Speaking of which, here is an overview of British vs. American style tendencies:
Spelling
One of the most well-known differences between British and American English is the addition of the letter "u" in words ending in "-or" in British English. For example, "color" and "colorful" in American English become "colour" and "colourful" in British English. This pattern doesn't always hold, though; "honorary" drops the "u" in both variants, becoming "honourary" only in British English.
Another spelling difference is seen in derivatives of words ending in "-ize." The "-ize" spelling comes from Greek, while "-ise" is French. British English tends to use the French spelling in words like "organise" and "authorise," while American English sticks with the Greek "-ize" in "organize" and "authorize."
Punctuation
American English uses "double quotation marks" for dialogue, quotations, irony, and other purposes in a sentence. On the other hand, British English typically uses ‘single quotation marks’ for these purposes. However, some British style guides do use double quotation marks, so it's important to follow specific instructions or a particular style guide if provided.
When it comes to punctuation within quotation marks, American English places the period (or full stop, as it's called in British English) and the comma inside the quotation marks at all times. In British English, periods and commas are placed outside the quotation marks if they are not part of the original quote. Colons and semicolons go outside the quotation marks in both variants.
Numbers and Time
In British English, a period is used between hours and minutes when writing time (e.g., 6.00 p.m.), while American English uses a colon (e.g., 6:00 p.m.).
When using courtesy titles such as "Ms." or "Mr.," American English uses a period (e.g., "Mr."), while British English does not (e.g., "Mr").
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the style guide you are following. For example, the MLA style guide suggests that stand-alone works are italicized, whereas the AP style guide suggests that titles are enclosed in quotation marks.
The Modern Language Association style guide is often used for research papers and essays covering language arts, cultural studies, and the humanities.
The AP style guide is the preferred style for newspapers and blogs. It recommends quotation marks for titles of paintings, books, computer games, movies, operas, plays, poems, songs, and television programs.
