italicize
C1formal, technical
Definition
Meaning
to print or write text in italics, a typeface where letters slope to the right
to emphasize or draw special attention to something, either literally through typography or figuratively
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in written/editorial contexts. The figurative use ('to emphasize') is an extension from the literal typographic action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'italicise' is the preferred British spelling, 'italicize' is American. Both are understood in both varieties.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
The word is moderately common in both varieties, with slightly higher frequency in American English due to the '-ize' spelling being standard.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] italicizes [Object][Object] is italicized (by [Agent])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “italicize the point”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in report writing or presentations to highlight key figures or terms.
Academic
Common in style guides for citing titles of works, emphasizing key terms in papers, or denoting foreign words.
Everyday
Rare in speech; mostly used when discussing document formatting (e.g., 'How do I italicize this?').
Technical
Central term in publishing, typography, and word processing software.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Please italicise all book titles in the manuscript.
- The editor chose to italicise the foreign phrases.
American English
- You should italicize the scientific names of species.
- The designer italicized the pull quote for effect.
adjective
British English
- The italicised text was difficult to read at length.
- An italicised version of the font is available.
American English
- The italicized headings stood out clearly.
- She preferred the italicized typeface for captions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Can you italicize the title for me?
- I learned how to italicize text in class today.
- The teacher asked us to italicize any new vocabulary in our essays.
- You need to italicize the names of ships in this style guide.
- Most academic journals require you to italicize the titles of longer published works.
- The author tends to italicize key concepts to steer the reader's attention.
- While the convention is to italicize foreign words not yet assimilated into English, this practice is gradually declining.
- The critic argued that the director's use of slow motion effectively italicized the protagonist's moment of decision.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ITALIC letters lean like the Leaning Tower of Pisa in ITALY. ITALIC-IZE means to make text look like that.'
Conceptual Metaphor
EMPHASIS IS VISUAL PROMINENCE / ATTENTION IS A TYPOGRAPHICAL EFFECT
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как 'делать итальянским'.
- В русском 'выделить курсивом' — более длинная, но точная фраза.
- Не путать с 'подчёркивать' (underline).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'italic' as a verb (incorrect: 'I will italic the title').
- Misspelling as 'italisize' or 'italize'.
- Overusing figurative sense in formal writing.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'italicize' used figuratively?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can be used figuratively to mean 'give special emphasis to' in non-typographic contexts.
'Italicization' (US) / 'Italicisation' (UK).
Not always. 'Italicize' is more specific to visual/textual emphasis, while 'emphasize' is broader and can apply to speech, ideas, or actions.
No, 'italicize' is understood and used, but 'italicise' (with 's') is the standard spelling in most UK style guides.