itálicas

Itálicas are italic typefaces or letterforms used in typography to set apart text. They are typically characterized by a rightward slope and, in many faces, distinctive, calligraphic letter shapes. Italics serve functions such as emphasis, marking titles of works, indicating foreign words or technical terms, and providing stylistic contrast within a text.

Originating in Renaissance Italy, the first italic type was created around 1500 for Aldus Manutius by the punchcutter Francesco Griffo to imitate the scribal cursive of Italian handwriting. The design was intended to be compact and economical, enabling more words per line while offering a readable alternative to roman. Over time, italics were formalized as a separate font variant within typefaces and adopted across European printing and, later, digital typography.

Usage varies by language and style guide. In English, Spanish, and Portuguese, italics are commonly used for emphasis, to indicate titles of books, films, or artworks, and to include foreign words or technical terms. Some fonts provide true italics with distinct letterforms; others use oblique styles that merely slant the roman. In web design, italics are selected with the CSS property font-style: italic; the text remains the same characters, just a different font face.

Considerations include avoiding excessive use, ensuring legibility, and respecting language-specific rules for emphasis and foreign terms. Italics are a key element of typographic hierarchy and a standard tool for signaling nuance in printed and digital text.