I seem to have got into the habit of occassionally putting a word in italics in dialogue, ie, where I feel the character would have stressed a word within a sentence, but I'm wondering if it's really necessary:
eg:

‘No, Barry,’ I deliberately used his real name with the aim of slapping some sense into him, ‘I don’t want this. That was all in the past. You can’t use me again-’
‘Use?!’ The olive skin turned a mahogany red. ‘When did I ever use you, Edward? It was mutual affection-’
‘Not love?’ I cut in. Now it was my turn to be angry. ‘Affection? what do you mean by affection? It was a love affair – first love - not some dirty little fling’.

Is there a right or wrong way to use italics? Is it one of those things one can use, so long as it is used sparingly? Or should I simply leave it to the reader to interpret the tone of the dialogue?


- NaomiM




<Added>

- the italicized words in this example are use and affection.

Apart from adding extra text, like 'She emphasised the word "use"', which is horribly clunky, I can't think of any better method than using italics. That's what I do myself, but I think it's important to do so sparingly.

As to whether it's necessary, there are certainly many cases when it can be. In dialogue we rely on emphasis to convey the meaning. So somebody saying

Just put the green plastic rings on the table

could indicate
Just put them there - don't stick them
Use only the green ones
Use only the plastic ones
Use only the rings, not the cubes
Put them only on the table, not on the floor

Without the use of italics there's no way of knowing which meaning was intended. Probably it needs to be reserved for this type of sentence ( a silly example, I know) where the absence of emphasis either loses the meaning or causes confusion. Either that or write the sentence differently!

Chris

<Added>

P S Meant to say - in your example, I reckon you could get away without the italics because you have already highlighted the importance of 'use' and 'affection' by having the characters query them just before the sentences in which they are emphasised. C.

in your example, I reckon you could get away without the italics because you have already highlighted the importance of 'use' and 'affection' by having the characters query them just before the sentences in which they are emphasised. C.

Many thanks Chris. Yes, I will try to use them sparingly in future, but I had overlooked that fact that repetition of the word can also help to emphasis it, so thanks again.


- NaomiM

Yes, I agree with Chris that there's no reason not to use them occasionally - I certainly do - but recasting the sentence can work better. The risk is that you always appear terribly SURPRISED and, well... SHRIEKY!!!!!

eMMA

Lol, Emma, you're right, I definately wouldn't want my characters to appear shrill.

I think it's fine as long as it's not overused. Also there are some other ways you can create emphasis - if your 2nd example you could say

Affection? What do you mean by 'affection'?

for eg.

Affection? What do you mean by 'affection'?

Funny you should say that, Jess. The original version had use in tiallicas and 'affection' in quotes, but I thought that since I was after the same effect for each - emphasis in the tone of voice - I should use one or the other.


- NaomiM