When discussing television episodes or standalone stories, a common question arises regarding are shows italicized or in quotes, particularly when referencing specific episodes within a larger series. The answer depends entirely on the type of title being referenced and the style guide being followed, such as AP or Chicago. Generally, the titles of complete shows are italicized, while the titles of individual episodes are placed inside quotation marks to distinguish them.
The Standard Rule for Television and Film
For the main titles of visual media, the standard convention is to italicize them. This applies to full-length movies, television series, and albums. Italicizing these titles provides emphasis and sets them apart as distinct creative works. When you are referencing the overarching narrative or brand, such as *Stranger Things* or *The Crown*, you are using italics to signify the complete product.
Episode Titles Require Quotation Marks
The specific answer to "are shows italicized or in quotes" changes when you zoom in on the individual components. Episodes of a television series are treated differently than the series itself. The title of a single episode should always be enclosed in quotation marks rather than italics. For example, you would write "The One Where No One Proposes," not *The One Where No One Proposes*. This distinction helps the episode title stand out against the backdrop of the entire series.
Navigating Style Guides and Exceptions
While the italicization and quotation mark rule is widely accepted, specific style guides can introduce variations. The Associated Press (AP) style, often used in journalism, generally adheres to the rule of italicizing shows and placing episodes in quotes. However, AP style typically does not use italics at all in plain text, instead using quotation marks for both show titles and episode titles. The Chicago Manual of Style, commonly used in publishing, strongly favors italics for the main show and quotes for the episodes.
Use italics for the main show title: Breaking Bad .
Use quotes for the specific episode: "ABQ".
Note the punctuation: The closing quotation mark for the episode goes before the closing comma or period.
The Logic Behind the Distinction
The reasoning behind treating full shows differently from their constituent episodes is rooted in hierarchy. A television series is a singular, complete body of work, much like a book. An episode is a chapter within that book. Just as book titles are italicized or underlined, series titles are italicized. Chapter titles, being smaller parts of the whole, are enclosed in quotation marks. This structure clarifies the relationship between the part and the whole for the reader.
Handling Anthologies and Miniseries
Things can become slightly more complex with anthology series or miniseries, where each episode functions as a distinct story. In these cases, the series title is still italicized, but the individual episode titles follow the standard rule and are placed in quotation marks. For example, the series *American Horror Story* uses this format, with episodes like "Murder House" and "Asylum" correctly appearing in quotes to denote their self-contained narratives within the larger franchise.
Understanding the difference between are shows italicized or in quotes ensures your writing adheres to professional standards of grammar and style. By applying italics to the broad series and quotation marks to the specific episodes, you create clear and polished content that respects the integrity of both the medium and the written language.
