Day 135: When writing about words, use italics or put the words in quotation marks.

At times, you may need to write about words, not use the words but define, describe, or refer to them. You need to indicate that you are writing about them and not using them. Consider this sentence.

“The term codependency refers to the back-and-forth transition from dependency on another person to control over that person.”

Without identifying the word codependency in some way, you may confuse the reader. Consider this sentence.

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“The main problem is the use of because. You have to avoid it.”

Without marking the word because in some way, the reader may misunderstand these two sentences; “because you have to avoid it” seems like one clause. However, when we write it this way, the reader will not be confused:

“The main problem is the use of because. You have to avoid it.”

Italics vs. quotation marks: Italics are preferred, when possible, but quotation marks are acceptable if italics aren’t possible.