Support for Indie Authors discussion

Hi!
I'm including some made-up words in my YA fantasy. I read somewhere that these should be italicized. Even though I don't have too many, they're starting to bog down the look (and flow, I think) of the script.

Would you italicize every time the foreign/made-up word is mentioned, or just the first time...or at all?!

Thanks in advance for your input!

I have the same situation in a book I'm working on and what I've decided to do is italicize the words only until the word is explained. If it has an explanation, it becomes a regular word.

I agree that would look disruptive. I think italics are best left for thoughts or emphasis and I've read and edited plenty of books where made-up words are left in roman, so that would be my inclination.

For every rule/advice there is, there will be something to contradict it, and at least one author who defies the rules/advice. Go with what you think is best. You can always ask betas/editors later.

Christina wrote: "I have the same situation in a book I'm working on and what I've decided to do is italicize the words only until the word is explained. If it has an explanation, it becomes a regular word."

I like that idea, Christina...thanks!

Roughseasinthemed wrote: "I agree that would look disruptive. I think italics are best left for thoughts or emphasis and I've read and edited plenty of books where made-up words are left in roman, so that would be my inclin..."

Thanks - good to have input from someone who has edited and focused on these things...and the reminder that we can change the rules :-)

I use made up swear words quite a lot. Never italicised as it would make it even clearer I'm trying to avoid the f-bomb.

I'm with the majority here in not using italics too much. It breaks the flow of reading.

If you think you need some explanation for your invented words, why not a glossary?

Something like

'The meaning of those words taken directly from the Crumblish'

Lara wrote: "Hi!
I'm including some made-up words in my YA fantasy. I read somewhere that these should be italicized. Even though I don't have too many, they're starting to bog down the look (and flow, I think..."

I agree with Christina that once it's been explained, the italics should go away. I've read a book where the word was italicized throughout and found it distracting.

I think it would depend on what the made up words are supposed to be. If they are different language, I would say they should be italicized always. If the swear words are made up of English words then I don't think they need to be italicized at all.

e.g. calling someone a baktag in Klingon vs saying they're a filthy garbage-eater.

I think it would be confusing (and look like an editing error) if the words were italicized at first and then no longer italicized later on in the book.

Just my two cents as both a reader and a writer.

Lisa wrote: "I think it would depend on what the made up words are supposed to be. If they are different language, I would say they should be italicized always. If the swear words are made up of English words t..."

Thanks Lisa - your example is a good one. It may just come down to how frequently I use the words and how weird (or not) they look.

Susan wrote: "Lara wrote: "Hi!
I'm including some made-up words in my YA fantasy. I read somewhere that these should be italicized. Even though I don't have too many, they're starting to bog down the look (and ..."

Thank you Susan. I added this post when I realised some words were popping up too often - through necessity - and even I was getting distracted with the italics!

Jane wrote: "I use made up swear words quite a lot. Never italicised as it would make it even clearer I'm trying to avoid the f-bomb.

I'm with the majority here in not using italics too much. It breaks the flo..."

Ha, ha - thanks Jane. My made up swear words were one of my issues!! You make a good point!

This is an area where, to the extent there were conventions, they seem to have evolved over time. But they main things is that if you feel italics are getting in the way, don't do it.

We tend to adhere to Christina's practice of putting a word or phrase in italics on first use and not thereafter. That [in theory] calls the reader's attention to the fact this is a new word and once they are acquainted with it, italicizing becomes unnecessary.

However, we tend to not italicize invented words in dialog because we prefer to reserve italics for emphasis there, and it can read strangely when italics serve two different purposes in dialog.

That said, I recently helped an author format a historical novel set in Poland. The guidelines from the publisher were that all Polish words were to be italicized, in both narration and dialog, even if they were words that like pierogi and kielbasa, which have entered English and aren't considered foreign terms at this point.

So in the end, I'd say use the convention that generates the least confusion and the best readability, and apply it consistently.

Christina wrote: "I have the same situation in a book I'm working on and what I've decided to do is italicize the words only until the word is explained. If it has an explanation, it becomes a regular word."

I do the same thing. Italicize until there's some sort of explanation/translation. I found that if I left every instance of special words italicized, it broke immersion to a degree. Not story-breaking, but enough that a beta reader pointed it out after reading.

I agree with Christina. You should italicize the word while it's not familiar to a new reader. While it's unknown or foggy at best, keep it that way. When it gains meaning, turn it into a normal word without italics.

Another possibility, especially if you use italics for emphasis or thoughts as well, is to quote or double quote them. It's more obvious where to leave the latter ones.

Owen wrote: "This is an area where, to the extent there were conventions, they seem to have evolved over time. But they main things is that if you feel italics are getting in the way, don't do it.

We tend to ..."

I agree with this. As a spanish speaker, i was taught that spanish words are to be italicized, especially when writing Spanglish. When I read books with made up words or something, every so often they're italicized but not really. Most times they aren't. I guess it just depends on the author and their preferences I guess.

I've seen it italicized when it first appears and then not after that. You italicize foreign words, but not necessarily made up words, unless they are foreign to your people. Maybe?

Thanks for all the helpful comments - much appreciated. Going to go with what most have suggested and italicize until the words are explained / familiar and then stop...back to the 'find and replace' button!

Lara wrote: "Hi!
I'm including some made-up words in my YA fantasy. I read somewhere that these should be italicized. Even though I don't have too many, they're starting to bog down the look (and flow, I think..."

I think it has to do with whether the word you italicize should be emphasized. I do the same with almost every word in my writing.

Lisa wrote: "If they are different language, I would say they should be italicized always
..........
I think it would be confusing (and look like an editing error) if the words were italicized at first and then no longer italicized later on in the book.

Just my two cents as both a reader and a writer. "

That's what I think. Plus, if the reader is supposed to be in the head of the character, the character isn't thinking about how interesting and emphasized this word is (usually). It's just a word. Calling undue attention to it slows things down. Readers are smart. They/we will figure out most things from context anyway.

I italicized mine the first time mentioned, or should I always? Sci-fi has a lot of made-up words, but 90% of them are obvious.
Btw, why is energeous\ energous not a word?! :( Energetic doesn't describe what I want to say... can I "make it up" ?

I know what you mean Ajla!

I would try to find the word that means what you mean... if it doesn't exist, give it a try. Especially in dialogue it's okay, but if you use it in narrative, people might think you don't know English. :(

:( It's a mineral that tends to continuously absorb\release radiation which is energy. I have no idea how to call it, because it has to be mentioned often, and most names sound cliché, and it's not magical... Flux something? Idk anymore. xD

I've had similar thoughts with fantasy and historical fiction. I tend to over-italicize anyway, and I also don't usually get distracted by reading italics either, so that complicates things. But in one of my series I only keep specific titles/ceremonious phrases italicized throughout (they're not used commonly), but pretty much all of the made up words are left unitalicized. Like someone said, if it's not a foreign word for the character, why draw attention to it?

But I've also seen historical fiction novels where the historic terms for things are italicized, and the first time they're used they are (in the ebook version) linked to a glossary, which I think is kind of neat. But it might be less distracting even then to only italicize it that first time.

I make up a lot of words, but I don't ever italicize them (and I italicize a lot of things).
I always explain them right away though, so there isn't an issue.

ie: "We need more Dilithium Crystals!" Said the engineer while he looked at the fuel gauge.

I think the general convention in writing is to italicize foreign words and phrases unless the same words/phrases are used often enough to become familiar. (Or if the word/phrase has become common enough in ordinary speech that it needs no explanation ... like etc. or et. al., bona fide, en masse, faux pas and so forth.)

Toward that end if you intend to often use a particular word/phrase in a language foreign to the characters in your story, it should be italicized, then explained, then not italicized thereafter.

Words you make up which are intimately familiar to the characters ... say, a plant called ekontoberry or a machine called a frapper ... they should not be italicized ever. If they're important you'll explain them either explicitly, or through context.

I would avoid italicizing even foreign words used in conversations because in that case italicization is used for emphasis.

I don't worry about confusing readers with things like italicization, though. Might wake 'em up a bit, the lazy louts!