1. bluetiger1941

    bluetiger1941 New Member

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    Another Question about use of Italics

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by bluetiger1941, May 27, 2011.

    My WIP is partially set in the Cajun country of south Louisiana. In introducing one of the families I have drafted this:

    This event caused only minimal damage; the most tragic result of the storm was the death of several members of the prominent Billeaud family (pronounced bee-o in Cajun French).

    Is this a correct use of italics? Or maybe only italicize "bee-o"? Or maybe no italics at all?

    Thanks
     
  2. Laura Mae.

    Laura Mae. New Member

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    From reading stories that have this kind of reference mid-prose, its usually just the bee-o bit in italics, emphasizing how its said in French dialect. Best to get some other opinions first though.
     
  3. Gigi_GNR

    Gigi_GNR Guys, come on. WAFFLE-O. Contributor

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    I think only the word itself (bee-o) should be italicized.
     
  4. MatthewR

    MatthewR New Member

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    I'm going to tack this one into this thread even though it's another train of thought.

    Past tense memories when writing from the 1st person. Basically switching midchapter to a memory of a conversation or a past occurence and switching to italics.
     
  5. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    nothing there should be in italics!

    while words in other languages are italicized, this is a name, not a word... and the pronunciation in ( ) should not also be in italics...
     
  6. penhobby

    penhobby New Member

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    What are you writing? If this is a novel, then have your character/'s describe the proper pronunciation, via dialogue. Your current method is a distraction to the reader. IMHO
     

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