My first request for a partial!!! Now I have a question.

I've never had this before (I've always sent off full manuscripts; they were shorter in them days), but I've heard that publishers prefer italics to be underlined. For instance, I think they substitute underlines for italics at the final stage, because the reader has to zoom through it to type it out and italics aren't always that easy to see.

Hope that helped.

I'd simply highlight everything and change the font.

I doubt whether it's underlined or in italics will worry the Agent at all.

Use whichever you think looks best.

Good luck.

Whether it's underlined or in italics is not going to make a difference. If the agent likes what he/she sees, they'll ask for the full, and if the italics vs. underlining is a problem for them, they'll tell you.

Congrats on the request for the partial!

If they don't specify within their guidelines they'll be used to getting it both ways. If you're writing speculative fiction, very generally speaking they expect underlining, but as with all generalizations your mileage may vary. I wouldn't sweat the details and revel in your success! I know, easier said than done. If it were me I'd want everything perfect.

I highly doubt that if an agent loves your ms, they will reject simply because you underlined instead of italicized, or vice versa. Worry about that later. Now, get that partial out and woo hoo!!!

Just get it out. Underlined versus Italics doesn't really matter. (I must say though I have never underlined anything in a novel.)

Congrats, Alpha. Since I've started planning for the start of school, my writing is going to limited, so my second novel sits in limbo.

Good on you!

Leave it underlined. They will have seen it before and know what you mean. They just want to read your words.

Heck, when I send in a MS I will underline AND use italics, just so there's no doubt!

I doubt very seriously that the agent will care about the italics issue. If she cared much, I'm sure she would have specified.

I use TNR and italics unless someone specifically requests otherwise.

The belief that "the industry standard" is Courier plus underlining is a bit outdated, and, as you have seen, plenty of folks nowadays specifically ask for TNR--including some publishing houses.

There really isn't a standard these days. Courier will make you more popular with really old people and with aspiring screenwriters. (It will also make you more popular with copyeditors--but copyeditors don't sell your book to publishers or acquire your book.) TNR will make you more popular with people who grew up with e-mail and who have never used an actual typewriter.

Get away from TNR or Courier, though, and you are liable to draw unwanted attention to your format. And the only important part is that your format is supposed to be invisible.