Italicize neologisms?
- Thread starter tresshort
- Start date
- Status
- Joined
- May 19, 2007
- Messages
- 1,316
- Reaction score
- 417
- Location
- In the midst of 1000 Oaks
- Website
- www.daviddepalo.com
I'm not sure, but I'd italicize it the first time only:
"This is here stangublix is in fine condition." He tried to lift it, but the stangublix was too heavy.
(But maybe I'm not really understanding what a neologism is.)
"This is here stangublix is in fine condition." He tried to lift it, but the stangublix was too heavy.
(But maybe I'm not really understanding what a neologism is.)
Last edited:
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2007
- Messages
- 6,449
- Reaction score
- 1,321
Only if they're meant to be in a different language. If you're writing an article in which you declare that the best name for a "person who is constantly bragging about their latest computer gadget" is a "pixeltit" then you shouldn't italicize it.
If you're writing a science fiction story, and the residents of Andromeda-9 drink a lethal cocktail known as qrblpzzg, italicize it.
Pixeltit.... I like that. My environment is full of those.
I'm writing fiction, and while we're on the subject of italics, what about journal entries? Italics or quotes?
Example:
Dear Journal, I prefer sugartits to pixeltits[...]
VS
Thanks
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2008
- Messages
- 13,979
- Reaction score
- 1,533
- Location
- Wisconsin's (sore) thumb
- Website
- www.firefromthesky.org
ROFL I prefer pixeltits.
I think the journal entry is a matter of taste and/or context. If journal entries are interspersed with other normal narrative, I would italicize. If a character is reading short passages, quotes might be all right.
I think the journal entry is a matter of taste and/or context. If journal entries are interspersed with other normal narrative, I would italicize. If a character is reading short passages, quotes might be all right.
- Status