The simple answer to this question is: It depends.
There are two primary style guides used when writing and formatting book titles; the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA).
MLA Style: According to the MLA Handbook (8th edition), italics are used for titles of books, periodicals, and journals. For titles of shorter works (e.g. poems, articles, short stories, chapter titles) use quotation marks.
APA Style: According to the APA Publication Manual (7th edition), titles of books should be italicized, whereas titles of chapters, articles, and other shorter works should be put in quotation marks.
Ultimately, it’s important to consider the style guide being used. If you’re not sure which style guide to use, ask your professor or instructor.
For more information on these styles, please refer to the following articles:
