1. Italic writing originally meant a form of cursive handwriting that sloped to the right (15th Century). However, it now refers to the contrastive type style that allows writers in print to show emphasis within their writing. (That was the real reason for his resignation.) Therefore, it is one of the main punctuational devices utilised in ‘expressive’ punctuation, i.e. to convey a writer’s attitude, emphasis or tone when read aloud. It can also show expressive effects in quoted speech ("I would never do that," said the crocodile), including the possibilities of contrastive stress in relation to meaning (Did John arrive yesterday? Did John arrive yesterday? Did John arrive yesterday? Did John arrive yesterday?)
2. Italic type is also used for the titles of books, plays, films etc.; for the names of aircraft, ships etc.; for words and phrases borrowed from other languages that have not been fully assimilated into English; and for quotations of over 100 words. Conventions for italics in published material, however, depend on publishers’ house rules.
3. For the child developing a command of reading and writing in the modern world, italic type provides a range of ways in which meaning can be communicated expressively in written text and in which at least some of the resources of the spoken mode can be utilised within the reading process. The increasing prevalence of word-processed print means that children must now become fully aware of both the conventional uses and the potential of italic type, together with a wide range of typographical effects readily available to most writers via computer.
4. Pupils can be made aware of the force of italics in stories they are reading, from the earliest stages of primaryHistorical changes in usage in the typography of written texts.
How far italics and other punctuation devices enable the writer to represent speech.
