Italics are a style of writing where letters slant to the right. This technique is often used to emphasize certain words or phrases, making them stand out in a sentence. For example, if you want to highlight the title of a book like Pride and Prejudice, you would write it in italics: *Pride and Prejudice*. Italics can also indicate thoughts or internal dialogue in literature, helping readers understand a character's feelings.
In addition to emphasis, italics serve other purposes in writing. They are commonly used for foreign words, scientific names, and the names of ships or artworks. For instance, the name of a famous painting, like The Starry Night, would be italicized: *The Starry Night*. Overall, italics enhance clarity and add