Short Stories: When to Italicize and When to Use Quotation Marks

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 20 June 2023 5 min read

Whether you're a writer, editor, or an avid reader, knowing how to properly format short story titles can be quite helpful. Are short stories italicized or should they be put in quotation marks? In this blog, we'll provide a clear guide on when to italicize short story titles and when to use quotation marks, as well as some specific examples to help you better understand the rules.

General Guidelines

Here are some general guidelines to follow when deciding whether to italicize or use quotation marks for short story titles:

Italicizing Titles

Typically, longer works like books, plays, and movies are italicized. This also applies to collections of short stories, essays, or poems. So, if you're referencing an anthology that contains multiple short stories, you would italicize the title of the collection, but not the individual short stories within it.

Using Quotation Marks

Shorter works, such as individual short stories, poems, or essays, are usually placed within quotation marks. This helps distinguish them from the larger works they may be a part of, like an anthology or a magazine. So, if you were discussing a specific short story within a collection, you would put the title of the short story in quotation marks.

Exceptions to the Rule

There are some exceptions to these general guidelines. For instance, if you're discussing a short story that is published on its own—meaning it isn't part of a larger collection or magazine—then it can be italicized. This is especially true if the short story has gained significant recognition or has been published as a standalone work.

Now that we've covered the general guidelines, let's take a look at how these rules apply to some specific examples of short stories in anthologies, magazines, and online publications.

Short Stories in Anthologies

Anthologies are collections of short stories, essays, or poems by various authors. When discussing the entire anthology, you would italicize the title. However, when referencing individual short stories within the anthology, you'll use quotation marks. Here are some popular anthologies and how to format their titles.

The Best American Short Stories

The Best American Short Stories is an annual anthology that features a collection of the top short stories published in American literary magazines and journals. In this case, you would italicize the title of the anthology. However, when discussing a specific short story within the anthology, you would use quotation marks, like this: "A Particular Short Story" from The Best American Short Stories.

The Penguin Book of Short Stories

The Penguin Book of Short Stories is another popular anthology featuring works from renowned authors. Similar to the previous example, you would italicize the title of the collection, but use quotation marks when discussing individual stories: "Another Unique Short Story" in The Penguin Book of Short Stories.

The Art of the Short Story

The Art of the Short Story is a collection that not only includes short stories but also essays about the art of writing short stories. When referencing the anthology as a whole, italicize the title. When discussing individual short stories or essays within the collection, place their titles within quotation marks: "A Fascinating Short Story" or "An Insightful Essay" from The Art of the Short Story.

These examples demonstrate how to properly format short story titles within anthologies, but what about short stories published in magazines or online? Let's explore those next.

Short Stories in Magazines

Short stories are often published in magazines, which can lead to some confusion about how to format their titles. The general rule is to italicize the magazine title, while placing the short story title within quotation marks. Let's look at some examples from popular magazines that publish short stories.

The New Yorker

The New Yorker is a well-known magazine that has published countless short stories throughout the years. When referencing a short story published in The New Yorker, you would format the title like this: "An Intriguing Short Story" from The New Yorker. Remember to use quotation marks for the story title and italicize the magazine title.

The Atlantic

Another magazine known for publishing short stories is The Atlantic. Just like with The New Yorker, you would italicize the magazine title and use quotation marks for the short story title: "A Fantastic Short Story" in The Atlantic.

Harper's Magazine

Harper's Magazine is another publication that often features short stories. Apply the same formatting rule as the previous examples: "An Engaging Short Story" from Harper's Magazine.

With these examples in mind, you should now have a better understanding of how to format short story titles in magazines. But what about short stories published online? Let's dive into that next.

Short Stories Online

As the world becomes more digital, short stories are increasingly being published online. Formatting rules for online short stories are quite similar to those found in magazines. Let's explore some popular online platforms that feature short stories and how to format their titles.

Literary Hub

Literary Hub is a popular online platform for readers and writers, featuring a vast collection of short stories. When referencing a short story published on Literary Hub, you would format the title as follows: "An Amazing Short Story" from Literary Hub. Just like with magazines, use quotation marks for the short story title and italicize the website title.

Electric Literature

Electric Literature is another online platform known for publishing short stories. Apply the same formatting rules as mentioned before: "A Captivating Short Story" on Electric Literature.

The Paris Review

Although The Paris Review is a print magazine, it also has an online presence where short stories are published. The formatting is consistent with other examples: "An Entertaining Short Story" from The Paris Review online.

To sum up, when formatting short story titles published online, use quotation marks for the story title and italicize the website or online publication title. Now that we have covered various publication formats, let's wrap up with some final thoughts.

Final Thoughts

Properly formatting short story titles can be a bit tricky, but with these guidelines, you'll have no problem navigating the world of short stories. Let's review some key takeaways:

Consistency is Key

No matter where you encounter short stories—be it anthologies, magazines, or online publications—consistency in formatting is crucial. Remember to use quotation marks for the short story title and italicize the larger work it appears in. For example: "A Short Story" in An Anthology or "A Short Story" on A Website.

Editing and Proofreading

Always double-check your work to ensure you've followed the formatting rules. It's easy to miss small errors, so proofreading is an essential step. Don't forget that you can use tools like Grammarly or Microsoft Word's built-in grammar checker to help you catch any mistakes.

Seeking Advice

When in doubt, don't hesitate to ask for help. Reach out to your teachers, professors, or fellow writers for guidance on short story formatting. Additionally, you can consult style guides like the MLA Handbook or the Chicago Manual of Style for further information.

By following these guidelines and consistently applying the rules, you'll be able to answer the question "are short stories italicized" with confidence. Happy writing!

If you're looking to enhance your skills in visual storytelling, don't miss Arielle Jovellanos' workshop, 'Storytelling in Illustration.' This workshop will provide you with invaluable techniques and insights on how to effectively convey stories through your illustrations. Dive in and unlock your full potential as an illustrator today!