Yes, the name of a newsletter should be italicized when you refer to it as a publication title, following the same rule used for newspapers, magazines, and journals. This is the standard guidance from major style guides like The Chicago Manual of Style and APA, which treat newsletters as periodicals and set their titles in italics. However, there is a common exception: if the newsletter name is also the name of a website or a product with its own distinct branding, many writers and editors switch to roman type (no italics) to match how the publisher presents it.
Why Italics for Periodicals?
The convention of italicizing periodical titles dates back to the early days of print typography, when italics were used to set off titles of larger, standalone works from smaller parts within them. A newsletter, like a newspaper or magazine, is a standalone publication that is issued repeatedly, so it qualifies as a “larger work.” Its individual articles, by contrast, are treated as parts of that whole and are placed in quotation marks. For example, in a sentence you would write: The Book Club Weekly featured an article called “How to Read More.”
This rule is consistent across the most widely used style guides in the United States. The Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed., section 8.181) lists newsletters under “periodicals” and instructs italicizing their titles. The APA Style guide (7th ed., section 9.25) does the same for newsletters that are “periodically published.” The MLA Handbook also follows this pattern. If you are writing for a specific publication or academic institution, that organization’s style guide may override this, but the default is italics.
When Not to Italicize
There are two main situations where you should not italicize a newsletter name. First, if the newsletter is part of a larger website or platform and its name is not a separate publication but a section or feature, then it is often treated as a component of the larger site. For example, if a website called TechDaily has a newsletter called “The Morning Brief,” the newsletter name might be placed in quotation marks or left in roman type, because it is a section of the site rather than an independent periodical. Many digital publications follow this logic, though it is not universal.
Second, if the newsletter name is also a brand or product name that is legally or stylistically presented without italics, you should follow the owner’s preference. For instance, The Hustle is a well-known business newsletter, and its own website and marketing materials display the name in bold or roman type, not italics. When a brand has a distinct visual identity, it is common practice to respect that and not italicize. However, if you are writing in a formal academic or journalistic context, the style guide may still insist on italics regardless of the brand’s preference. When in doubt, check the guide you are using.
How to Apply the Rule in Practice
Applying the rule correctly involves a few simple steps:
- Identify whether the newsletter is a standalone periodical or a section of a larger site. If it is standalone, italicize.
- Check if the publisher or brand uses a specific formatting. If they consistently use roman type, follow that for consistency.
- If you are writing for a class or a specific publication, consult the required style guide (Chicago, APA, MLA, AP). AP style, notably, does not italicize any titles, so if you are following AP, you would use quotation marks or roman type.
- When in doubt, italicize the name the first time you mention it, and then be consistent throughout the document.
For example, in a blog post about marketing newsletters, you might write: “I subscribe to Marketing Brew and The Skimm.” Both are independent newsletters, so italics are appropriate. If you were writing a sentence about a newsletter that is a feature of a larger site, you might write: “The website Business Insider offers a daily newsletter called ‘Insider Today.’” Here, the newsletter is a component, so quotation marks are used.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
A frequent error is italicizing the name of a newsletter that is actually a blog or a podcast. Blogs are typically treated as websites, and their names are not italicized unless they are also published as a print periodical. Podcasts, on the other hand, are usually italicized as series titles, but individual episodes go in quotation marks. Another misconception is that all newsletter names must be italicized because they are “titles.” In fact, the rule applies only to periodicals; a one-off report or a white paper is not a periodical and would follow different rules.
Another common issue is over-italicizing. Some writers italicize the word “newsletter” itself, which is incorrect. Only the proper name of the publication is italicized, not the generic noun. For example, write “the newsletter Weekly Roundup” not “the newsletter Weekly Roundup.” Also, do not italicize the word “the” at the beginning of a name unless it is part of the official title. For instance, The New Yorker includes “The” in its title, but most newsletters do not.
Comparisons with Other Media Titles
Understanding how newsletters compare to other media types helps clarify the rule. Newspapers, magazines, and journals are all italicized, and newsletters are treated the same because they are periodicals. However, articles within those periodicals are in quotation marks, as are individual episodes of a podcast. Websites are not italicized; they are set in roman type. For example, you would write “I read an article on The New York Times website” but “I read the article ‘How to Bake Bread’ in The New York Times.”
In the digital age, many newsletters are delivered via email or platforms like Substack, but that does not change their status as periodicals. A Substack publication is still a newsletter, so its name is italicized. However, if the newsletter is published as a section of a larger site, like a column, then it may be treated as a component. The key is whether it is an independent publication with its own title and regular issue schedule.
Practical Tips for Writers and Editors
If you are writing content that mentions many newsletters, create a style sheet to keep track of which names are italicized and which are not. This is especially useful in team settings. When you introduce a newsletter name, italicize it the first time, and then use the same formatting every time it appears. If you are linking to the newsletter, the link text should be the name in italics, but the surrounding punctuation should not be italicized.
For self-published authors or bloggers, there is more flexibility, but consistency is still important. If you choose to italicize all newsletter names, do so throughout. If you prefer to use roman type for digital brands, apply that consistently. The goal is to avoid confusing the reader with erratic formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I italicize a newsletter name in an email signature?
In an email signature, it is common to use roman type for the name of a newsletter, especially if it is part of a company name or product. However, if you are writing a formal document or a press release, you should follow the standard rule and italicize. For personal correspondence, either is acceptable, but consistency with your other written materials is best.
What if the newsletter name is also a website domain?
If the newsletter name is exactly the same as the website domain, such as “TechCrunch” or “The Verge,” you do not italicize the domain itself (e.g., techcrunch.com), but you do italicize the name when referring to the publication. For example, “I read TechCrunch at techcrunch.com.” The domain is roman, the publication name is italic.
Does AP style italicize newsletter names?
No. AP style (Associated Press) does not use italics for any titles. Instead, it uses quotation marks for most titles, including periodicals. If you are writing for a news outlet that follows AP style, you would put the newsletter name in quotes, not italics. This is a notable exception to the Chicago and APA rules.
How do I format a newsletter name in a bibliography or citation?
In a bibliography, the newsletter name is italicized, just like a journal or magazine. For example, in APA style, you would list the newsletter as a periodical, with the title in italics. In MLA, the same applies. The specific format depends on the citation style, but the title of the newsletter is always italicized in the reference list.
Should I italicize a newsletter name if it’s a brand like “Morning Brew”?
Yes, if you are following Chicago or APA style, you should italicize “Morning Brew” because it is a periodical. Even if the brand uses roman type in its logo, the style guide takes precedence in formal writing. In casual writing, you can match the brand’s presentation, but be aware that some readers may expect italics.
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