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uglyones
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Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 10:24 pm |
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| Is there a consensus on the proper method of emphasizing certain words of dialogue in a working script? It seems that in the published versions, oftentimes italics are used. But would underlining be more easily seen and identified in a working script?
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Edd
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Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 10:35 pm |
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Use italics. In a novel an underline signifies italics, but actual italics are used in a play script for emphasis.
~Edd
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katoagogo
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Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 10:47 pm |
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| Just be sure to hardly ever use it. Only in extreme moments.
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uglyones
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Posted: Sun Mar 9th, 2008 10:57 pm |
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| Thanks much.
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carlblong
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Posted: Mon Mar 10th, 2008 12:57 am |
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I was taught to underline only. (But then again, I was taught for a typewriter, not a word processor, even though everybody was running Windows already.) And personally, underline jumps out at me more. There may have been some instances, too, where it seemed more appropriate to italicize than underline (less stress on the word?). Regardless, use them sparingly.
What I do remember, and do follow, is NEVER CAPITALIZE. It makes people feel like you're YELLING AT THEM, even when you're not.
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katoagogo
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Posted: Mon Mar 10th, 2008 03:35 am |
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There are times when using capitols conveys exactly the tone I seek...
It all depends on what is going to serve the moment and your intent best.
Use the space on the page to help convey your meaning. You can change it up from piece to piece.
Experiment and make note of the results.
--KatoLast edited on Mon Mar 10th, 2008 03:35 am by katoagogo
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in media res
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Posted: Mon Mar 10th, 2008 01:30 pm |
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This sort of continues from a previous discussion. These again are the road signs to language and communication. Use them properly and they will be effective. Use them improperly and they will confuse or frustrate.
If you want to think of it as carpenters' tools: were you ever forced to use pliers to get a screw out of a wall? It is no fun.
"My kingdom for a screwdriver!"
best,
in media res
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uglyones
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Posted: Mon Mar 10th, 2008 05:24 pm |
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| I've raked up a number of replies such as "experimenting" and "properly" and improperly." But I need positive feedback. What do those mean in a positive manner? Some say underline, some say italic. Which direction? I still maintain that italic is indistinct and easily overlooked. I'm talking working scripts, oftentimes under poor light. If a sentence can be interpreted three different ways simply by the emphasis on one of those words, then I say it's mandatory to id the proper word to emphasize.
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in media res
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Posted: Mon Mar 10th, 2008 07:23 pm |
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Personally, in courier 12 font, on computer paper I choose to underline, as I think it shows up better than italics in that particular font size..
But if a reader takes great note when reading a play that the playwright used one over the other, then a play has much worse problems than italics over underline. Essentially, no one who is still breathing with a tenth of a brain is going to care what you do as long as they like the script.
I will say this, if you use a lot of underlines or italics or it appears you are overusing them, you will make the reader feel as if you think they are an idiot.
Choice of how you do it is totally up to you. You yourself just need to know why MUST either of them be used in that situation at that point in the play.
I would say use of either is the last choice you want to make.
in media resLast edited on Mon Mar 10th, 2008 07:24 pm by in media res
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ggf
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Posted: Sat May 3rd, 2008 10:59 pm |
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The book on which words to emphasize -- and what sort of emphasis --
is Will Power by John Basil. I don't know who this author is. . .not here to promote anybody's book. . .but I just know that this is the best book that I ever read on typography. . .
The book is based upon the premise that Shakespesre embedded linguistic and rhetorical clues and cues for actors within the scripts he provided.
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