Ah, the sneaky little article. Do you italicize “The” in The Guardian? Yes, you do—if it’s part of the official name. Most newspapers include “The” in their masthead, so treat it like a VIP. But if you’re writing casually and say “the Washington Post,” that lowercase “the” gets no italics. See? Grammar is just a party with weird dress codes.
Here’s a fun test: say the name out loud. If you’d feel weird dropping the “The” (like with The New Yorker), keep it italicized. If it sounds fine without it (like “USA Today”), feel free to skip.
What about old, dead newspapers?
Great question, coffee buddy! Yes, even defunct papers like The Brooklyn Daily Eagle get the italic treatment. They’re dead, but their names deserve respect. It’s like putting a nice frame on a photo of your grandpa—he’s gone, but he still looks sharp.
Are Names of Newspapers Italicized in Writing? Explained
And what about online-only news sites? BuzzFeed News or The Huffington Post? Yep, same rule. Italics don’t care if you’re print or digital. They’re equal-opportunity flourishers.
