Yes, the title of a full-length play should be italicized. This is the standard rule in MLA, APA, and Chicago styles, and it applies whether you are writing an essay, a review, or a program note. Shorter works, such as a one-act play published as part of a collection or a single episode of a serial drama, are placed in quotation marks instead.
Why Italics for Plays?
The convention of italics for long works dates back to the era of print typesetting, when titles of books, journals, and other standalone publications were set in a distinct typeface to set them apart from the surrounding text. A play, when published as a book or performed as a complete theatrical event, is considered a major work, so it receives the same treatment as a novel. This helps readers instantly recognize that a title refers to a complete, independent creation rather than a part of one.
When to Use Italics vs. Quotation Marks
The key distinction is between a standalone work and a segment of a larger work. Use italics for:
- Full-length plays, whether published individually or in a collection (e.g., Hamlet, A Streetcar Named Desire).
- Musicals and operas (e.g., Hamilton, La Bohème).
- Screenplays and teleplays when referred to by title (e.g., Casablanca).
Use quotation marks for:
- Short one-act plays that appear in a collection (e.g., “The Dumb Waiter” within Plays for the Theatre).
- Individual episodes of a television series (e.g., “The Suitcase” of Mad Men).
- Unpublished short sketches or monologues in a workshop setting.
If you are unsure whether a play is “full-length,” a general rule of thumb is that it has an intermission or runs longer than an hour. However, when a one-act is published as a standalone book, it is italicized because it is now a free-standing publication.
Handling Plays Within a Larger Collection
When you cite a play that appears in an anthology, the play’s title is italicized, but the collection’s title is also italicized, which can look confusing. For example, in a works-cited list you might write: Shakespeare, William. King Lear. The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, W.W. Norton, 2015. The play’s title is italicized because it is a major work, and the anthology title is italicized because it is a book. In prose, you can avoid ambiguity by saying “Shakespeare’s King Lear, in The Norton Shakespeare.”
Special Cases: Ancient Plays, Translations, and Musical Numbers
Ancient Greek and Roman plays, such as Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex or Plautus’ Menaechmi, follow the same rule: italicize the title. When a play is known by an English translation of its title, italicize the translated title (e.g., The Trojan Women for Euripides’ play). For a musical, italicize the show’s title, but put individual song titles in quotation marks (e.g., “Seasons of Love” from Rent). This mirrors the rule for books and chapters.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
One frequent error is underlining instead of italics. Underlining is a leftover from typewriter days and is only acceptable if you are handwriting an essay and cannot produce italics. In digital text, always use italics. Another mistake is italicizing a play title inside a headline that is already italicized or in a citation where the title is part of a larger italicized element. In such cases, you can use quotation marks for the play title or reverse the italics (e.g., Hamlet is never correct; instead, use Hamlet or “Hamlet” depending on the style guide).
Style Guide Variations (MLA, APA, Chicago)
All major style guides agree on italicizing play titles, but they differ in how you format the surrounding citation. In MLA, you italicize the play title and place the author’s name first in the works-cited entry. In APA, which is more common for social sciences, the same rule applies: italicize the title of a play when you mention it in text, and in the reference list, italicize the title if the play is a standalone book. Chicago style, used in history and the arts, also calls for italics. The only variation is in how you cite a play that is part of a collection: MLA uses quotation marks for the individual play and italics for the collection, while Chicago may use italics for both if the play is a major division. Always check the specific style guide your institution requires.
Formatting in Digital and Social Media Contexts
In plain-text environments like email or social media, where italics are not available, style guides recommend using quotation marks or asterisks to indicate a title. For example, you might write: *Hamlet* or “Hamlet.” On platforms that support Markdown, you can use asterisks to create italics. In a tweet, it is acceptable to use quotation marks for a play title if you cannot format it otherwise, but for formal writing, always use italics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I italicize a play title in an essay?
Yes. In an essay, italicize the title of a full-length play. For example, write Death of a Salesman not “Death of a Salesman.” The only exception is if you are writing by hand and cannot italicize; then you may underline.
What about a one-act play?
If the one-act play is published as a standalone book, italicize it. If it appears in a collection or an anthology, put the title in quotation marks. For example, “The Stronger” is in a collection, but The Stronger would be italicized if published alone.
Should I italicize the title of a play in a tweet or text message?
Since most social media platforms do not support italics, you can use quotation marks or asterisks. For example, *Hamilton* or “Hamilton” is acceptable in informal contexts. For professional communication, try to use italics if the platform allows it.
Do I italicize the title of a play in a bibliography?
Yes, in a bibliography or works-cited list, italicize the title of a play if it is a standalone work. If it is part of a collection, follow the style guide: MLA uses quotation marks for the play and italics for the collection.
What if the play is in a foreign language?
Italicize the title in the original language, and if you provide a translation, put the translated title in quotation marks or parentheses. For example, La Casa de Bernarda Alba (The House of Bernarda Alba). The rule is the same regardless of language.
Is it okay to use underlining instead of italics?
Only if you are writing by hand and cannot produce italics. In any typed or digital document, use italics. Underlining is an obsolete convention from the typewriter era.
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