italicized

Italicized refers to text set in italics, a style that is typically slanted to the right and may use distinct letterforms from the regular type. In many fonts, italic is a separate typeface variant; in others, it is an oblique style that simply tilts the letters without redesign.

Common uses include emphasis in prose, marking foreign words and technical terms, and styling the titles of longer works such as books, films, and newspapers. In scientific naming, genus and species are usually written in italics. Italics are also used for variables and symbols in mathematics and science, and for terms being defined or discussed as terms rather than as part of the narrative.

Historically, italic type originated in Renaissance Italy and was developed for printing by designers such as Aldus Manutius around the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The goal was to save space and to introduce a distinct, elegant alternative to roman text. Early italics often had different letterforms and features that influenced later type design.

In digital typography and markup, italics are commonly produced with font-style: italic in CSS, or with the i element and em element in HTML. The em element also conveys semantic emphasis, which screen readers may interpret as important. In word processing and publishing, italics are typically toggled with a formatting command, often labeled italics or a keyboard shortcut. Italicization remains a versatile tool for presenting emphasis, distinction, and stylistic nuance across languages and media.