Writing about music involves more than just describing the songs you love and how they inspire you. To be taken seriously as a music critic, content creator, or copywriter, you also need to understand how to properly format song titles. For example, are song titles italicized or put between quotation marks? Is there a best time to use one format over the other? 

Are Song Titles Italicized or Quoted?

In most cases, song titles should be quoted and not italicized. I believe that most people think that they should use italics because the song is viewed as a work of its own. For example, many writing style guides say you should put movie titles in italics because they are standalone works of art. Aren’t songs the same?

However, this rule is precisely why song titles are typically placed within quotation marks! Songs are usually not works of their own but songs within an album. For this reason, song titles should be quoted and not italicized. 

• “Jolene” by Dolly Parton
• “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones
• “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” by Shania Twain

If you are struggling with this concept, think about how you would put short story names within quotation marks but italicize their anthology title. It’s the same thing with song titles and their albums!

• “Shake It Off” was part of Taylor Swift’s album 1989.
• “Enter Sandman” was a popular song from Metallica’s self-titled album, Metallica, also known as “The Black Album.”
• “Shape of You” became a hit single from Ed Sheeran’s album ÷ (Divide).

So, whether you have a short title like “Bad” by Michael Jackson or a long one like “I’ve Got A Dark Alley and a Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth” by Fall Out Boy, be sure that your song titles are inside quotation marks! 

Does the Song Title’s Punctuation Go Inside the Quotation Marks?

If a song title has any punctuation at the end of it, that punctuation should also go within the quotation marks:

• “Chop Suey!” by System of a Down
• “Isn’t She Lovely?” by Stevie Wonder
• “S.O.S.” by ABBA

Are Song Titles Italicized in MLA?

Should song titles be italicized at any point due to exceptions to the rule? Yes! 

One exception to the rule of putting song titles in quotations is when you’re citing the song as a source in MLA format. In these instances, you would still use quotation marks when the song is part of a larger work.

• The Beatles. “Come Together.” Abbey Road, 1969. Vinyl Record. 

So are names of songs italicized if they aren’t part of an album or a larger work? Yes! 

According to MLA, the song title, in this case, would be italicized. 

• Francis Scott Key. The Star-Spangled Banner, 1814. CD. 

👉BUY – MLA Handbook (Official)

Do You Italicize a Song Title in AP Style?

The AP Stylebook follows the standard rules for formatting song titles by putting the title inside quotation marks:

• “Ocean Eyes” by Billie Eilish
• “Let It Be” by The Beatles
• “Rocket Man” by Elton John

👉BUY – The Associated Press Stylebook: 2024-2026

How Do You Format Song Albums?

When it comes to any form of media, the general rule is that short-form media, like a song title, should be put inside quotation marks. However, long-form media, such as album titles, should be italicized.

For example, if you’re writing about Lady Gaga’s album The Fame Monster, you would use italics. 

Both of these rules apply if you’re writing about a song title and album in the same sentence: 

• “Bad Romance” was the lead single of Lady Gaga’s album The Fame Monster.

What should you do if the song title and the album title are identical? Again, the same rules apply! 

• Michael Jackson’s smash-hit album Bad had five number-one singles, but the most iconic songs from that album are “Man in the Mirror” and “Bad.”

Note how I made sure to use the terms “album” and “song” to distinguish between the two. This approach ensures that readers clearly understand whether I’m referring to an entire album or a specific song within it.

Properly Punctuating Song Titles Is Easy

If you write about music (or want to get started), then understanding when to italicize song titles can add professionalism and clarity to your writing. We hope these tips have helped clear up any confusion so you can confidently format song titles with ease.

In general, the rules of punctuation can be tricky, but GrammarMill has you covered. Our certified editors are here to help you master the trickiest punctuation tips we can think of so you can confidently use dashes, ellipses and everything in between!