When italicizing a noun to emphasize, italicize the article or not?

When I want to emphasize a noun by italicizing, do I need to italicize the article of the noun or not? For example, is this correct?

"Is it an apple?"

"No, it is an orange."

Or, is this correct?

"Is it an apple?"

"No, it is an orange."

A similar question for the.

It is called the curse of dimensionality.

Or

It is called the curse of dimensionality.

Answer

Because italicizing for emphasis can select any word as well as parts of words, italicizing an article means that you are emphasizing that article for some purpose. Compare:

"Is it a orange?"

"No, it is an orange." (An emphasized in contrast to "a.")


"Is it an apple?"

"No, it is an orange." (Orange emphasized in contrast to "apple.")

Stylistically, it is better to omit italics if they aren’t necessary for a given purpose, since emphasis is watered down with frequent use. That is one reason why both MLA and APA recommend minimizing the use of italics for emphasis, and why more colloquial guides recommend against overuse ("but don’t overwork this device"). So there’s no strict rule that demands you include the article, and an expectation that you have a deliberate reason for italicizing something. The rest is your decision.

Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : Chang , Answer Author : TaliesinMerlin

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