When citing creative work in academic or professional writing, a persistent question arises regarding the treatment of a poem’s title. Are poems underlined or quoted? The answer depends on the specific style guide you are following and the medium in which the text is being produced. Generally, the title of a poem is set apart from the surrounding text to signal to the reader that it is a distinct artistic work, rather than a topic spoken in passing.
The Standard Rule: Quotation Marks
In most modern style guides, including the MLA (Modern Language Association) and APA (American Psychological Association), the title of a poem is enclosed in quotation marks. This method is the standard practice for publishing and academic writing when the poem is published within a larger collection, an anthology, or a journal. The quotation marks function visually, telling the reader, "This is a specific piece of work." For example, you would reference the work as "The Road Not Taken" rather than underlining or italicizing the title.
The Historical Context of Underlining
Before the widespread adoption of word processors, typewriters were the primary tool for creating manuscripts. On these machines, it was impossible to apply italics to text. To indicate that a title referred to a published work, such as a book, play, or poem, writers would physically underline the text. Therefore, the act of underlining a poem title was a practical solution to meet the italics requirement of the time. While digital writing has largely eliminated this technical limitation, the habit persists in some older academic circles or among writers who were trained under those specific conventions.
When Underlining is Still Acceptable
Handwritten essays or exams where digital formatting is not available.
Specific institutional style guides that have not been updated to digital standards.
Emphasis intended to distinguish the title from the body text in very specific contexts.
It is important to note that if you are submitting work to a publisher or academic institution, you should defer to their specific style guide. Most contemporary guides now prefer quotation marks for poetry and italics for books, but always verify the requirements before finalizing your document.
The Role of Italics in Digital Writing
With the advent of word processing software, a third option emerged: italics. For longer works, such as books, movies, or plays, italics are the preferred method to denote the title. However, for poetry, quotation marks remain the standard. Italics are generally reserved for the titles of larger containers that hold the poem, rather than the poem itself. You would italicize the name of the book or journal where the poem is found, but the poem's title inside that book would still be in quotation marks.
Navigating Style Guides
The specific formatting you use—whether quotation marks, italics, or underlining—is dictated by the style guide required by your instructor, editor, or organization. Consistency is the most critical rule in academic and professional writing. Mixing quotation marks and italics for poems within the same text can appear unprofessional and distract the reader. Ensure you are familiar with the nuances of the guide you are using to avoid losing marks on technicalities.
Practical Application and Examples
To visualize the correct application, imagine you are writing a paper about Robert Frost's work. You would write: "The Road Not Taken" is a poem that explores themes of indecision. If you were citing a collection, you would italicize the collection: The Collected Poems of Robert Frost . However, if you were handwriting a title on paper today, underlining might be the only way to visually represent italics, though quotation marks are still the typographically correct choice for published work.
