It is often acceptable to use EITHER underlining OR italics.

• the latest version of MLA suggests using italics

Whichever you choose, remain consistent throughout your work.

• in the body of your paper

• on your Works Cited page

Use italics to highlight foreign words or expressions:

• in medias res

• déjà vu

• Deus ex machina

• Aristotle’s  katharsis, hamartia, peripeteia

Use italics to highlight words referred to as words:

• Writers often confuse the homophones too and to and two.

Use italics to highlight word used for emphasis:

• Then the cop was arrested.

Use italics to highlight genus and species names of living creatures (biology):

• Most are familiar with the species term Homo sapiens.