🚀 go-pugleaf

Ian Molton wrote:
> 
> > > >_Cambridge encyclopedia of language_
> > > Now is it all supposed to be in Title Case or are we in e e cummings
> > > territory here? BTW since when did _ replace " in English punctuation?
> > > I presume that you mean "The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language" by
> > > David Crystal?
> >
> > The symbol _        _ is a common indicator of italic type. Thus it is
> > correct for the title of a book. The symbol "         " is used for the
> > titles of articles, poems, short stories, and unpublished materials like
> > dissertations. The symbol *          * is also used for book titles.
> 
> Actually, thats incorrect on usenet - /.../ is italic, _..._ is
> underline, and *...* is bold.

Well, now, I've only been doing this for two and a half years, but I
have NEVER seen /      / used for anything except (in linguistics) its
usual meaning in linguistics, namely, a phonemic transcription.

Underline is the usual indication for italic type when you don't have
italic type available, as on a typewriter or in handwriting. Thus
_        _ indicates italic.

Bold type doesn't have any specific significance outside particular
contexts; I'd say *       * is used for emphasis in general. It would
often be printed as italics (as with book titles).
-- 
Peter T. Daniels     grammatim@worldnet.att.net