There is a lot of debate over how to properly format song titles when you are writing about them. Some people say that you should quote the title, while others say that you should italicize it. Well, the answer depends on which style guide you are using.
Below is the answer according to Grammarly.
When To Quote Or Italicize A Title
You should quote titles of short workpieces such as songs, chapters of a book, and movies, while longer works like books and music albums should be italicized.
Example:
- The song “In the Air Tonight” is one of the songs in the album Face Value by Phil Collins.
- Bruno Mars’ album Doo-Wops & Hooligans includes one of his most popular songs “The Lazy Song”.
As you can see, short works are enclosed in quotation marks while longer ones are italicized. Unless there is a specific style guide that you must follow, stick to the general rule to make things easier for yourself.
Also, St.Louis Community College has delved into the topic as well and abides by the same general rule.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to song titles, there is a lot of debate over how to properly format them. Make sure you know which style guide you should be using, and follow the general rule of thumb to avoid confusion. I hope you learned something today.
