Song titles, those catchy phrases that stick in our heads, often find their way into our writing. But how do you quote them correctly? It's a question that trips up many writers, but thankfully, there's a simple rule to remember. This guide will clarify the best way to quote song titles, helping you avoid grammatical faux pas and ensuring your writing remains polished and professional.
Should Song Titles Be Italicized or in Quotation Marks?
The generally accepted rule is to italicize song titles. This applies whether you're writing a formal essay, a casual blog post, or anything in between. Think of song titles as similar to the titles of books, movies, plays, and albums—they all deserve the italics treatment.
Example: My favorite song from Rumours is "Go Your Own Way."
This example perfectly illustrates the rule: the album title (Rumours) is italicized, while the song title ("Go Your Own Way") is enclosed in quotation marks.
What About Short Song Titles? Do They Still Need Italics?
Yes, even short song titles should be italicized. There's no exception based on length. Consistency is key in maintaining a professional tone and avoiding any confusion.
Example: I listened to Yesterday on repeat all afternoon.
How to Quote Song Titles Within a Larger Work?
When quoting a lyric from a song, you should follow standard quotation practices. This means enclosing the lyric in double quotation marks, and placing the song title (italicized) in parentheses after the quote.
Example: The lyrics, "It's the end of the world as we know it," from R.E.M.'s It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine), are instantly recognizable.
Notice that even though the song title is long and appears again in the sentence, we still italicize it and keep it in parentheses to clearly differentiate it from the lyric quote.
What if the song title is already in a larger work (like a musical)?
In the case of songs within musicals or larger theatrical works, the song title would typically be italicized, similar to the treatment of the larger work. For instance, "Memory" from Cats would be styled consistently.
Do I always need quotation marks around the song title if it's italicized?
No, you only use quotation marks if you are referring to the song title within the context of a larger work, as shown in the first and third examples. If you're simply mentioning the song title itself, then italics alone are sufficient.
How to Cite Song Titles in a Bibliography?
When creating a bibliography or works cited page, consistent formatting is crucial. Check your style guide (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) for the precise formatting requirements, but generally, song titles are italicized. Be sure to include the artist, album, and release year for complete information.
Conclusion: Maintaining Consistency and Clarity
Quoting song titles correctly may seem like a minor detail, but maintaining consistency demonstrates attention to detail and reinforces your credibility as a writer. By consistently applying the rule of italicizing song titles, you create clearer, more professional writing. Remember to always check your style guide for specific guidelines depending on your context and the required citation style.
