Column italics

Don't know if this has been addressed anywhere else (I looked, didn't see it, but I've been wrong before), but is there anything wrong with not italicizing column headlines? Unless I'm mistaken, I thought italics were used to separate columns from news, but the paper I'm at doesn't use them. I only mention it because people email and call me in reference to my "articles" as though they were news stories, when in actuality they are columns. Thoughts?

 

Most readers do not understand the difference between stories and columns, and won't even if you attach a neon sign to it. Most papers do something to differentiate, whether it's a different headline font, a snazzy column sig or "This is a column of opinion by 0-fer. He/she can be reached at 555-5555.", but the washed masses don't understand that.

 

So essentially there's no reason for concern. Thanks Del

 

Hopefully your paper has a design that allows differentiation of columns from the rest of copy. We use a drop cap, ragged right, and a big honkin' column bug on the cover. Our readership is not exactly Algonquinian, but it usually gets the job done.

 

Ragged-right copy is the best possible tool for making something "look" like a column.

On this I cannot be moved. I think.

 

In case it isn't obvious, I'm a rookie in this business, and I don't know what ragged-right means. I know we don't use a dropped cap. As far as I can tell the only thing we use to differentiate is a mug and a line at the end that says, "0-fer is the Rag's ASE. He can be emailed at xxxxx@blah.com" I guess that's probably enough. Just curious I guess.

 

O-fer.. here's a lesson for you:

Readers will always refer to what you write a "your article" whether it's a column, a gamer, or a feature.

Don't worry about it.

 

Just like it sounds, it means the type is justified on the left (a straight line up and down) but that the words on the right don't follow a straight up-and-down line so the type is, well, ragged. The type you see on the Web is kind of ragged right.

 

Quoted for truth. The local metro helps out by putting "Commentary" under the column writer's mugshot in addition to the ragged-right typeset, but some people still don't get the difference.

 

... and "news" copy is justified on the left and right (straight lines on each side).

 

Columns and articles? Heck, a lot of my readers don't understand the difference between an article and an ad.

 

Don't take it personally if readers confuse columns with stories and articles with ads. Just explain the differences as pleasantly as possible, without making them feel like idiots.

Even the ones who are.