How To Write Play Titles

The text of the play should be in standard play format, which looks professional, makes reading easy, and provides our readers with an estimation of run-time. If you are using screenwriting software, please note that its default settings are not necessarily standard play format. When writing about plays, as well as all works of literature, it is important to know the guidelines of how to properly write the titles when referring to them in your paper and listing them in the works cited page.

Learn how to punctuate play titles in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles. Our 2026 guide provides clear examples for essays, research papers, and more. The following guidelines are rules set out in the AP Stylebook for AP style book titles, computer game titles, AP Style movie titles, opera titles, play titles, poem titles, album titles, AP Style song titles, radio and television titles, and the titles of lectures, speeches, and work of art.

The plays title is printed in ALL CAPS (4 inches from the left side of the page, 3.5 inches from the left.) Two spaces below the title is an underscore line, which runs the exact spacing length of the title. (Like the title, the underscore line begins 4 inches from the left side of the page.) Master the art of writing play titles in essays with our guide.

Learn proper formatting techniques to enhance your academic writing skills. Learn when to italicize names of plays in writing and the proper formatting rules for titles of theatrical works. Whether you are a drama student writing a critique in MLA, a psychology researcher studying the effects of Greek tragedies in APA, or a historian documenting the Elizabethan era in Chicago, this guide will ensure your punctuation is stage-ready.

With a good vision, a strong format, and a little luck, you'll get to experience the thrill of seeing your finished play performed. Whether you're writing a play for theatre or just for fun, use this guide to start writing your script and bringing it to life. One of the key challenges in formatting play titles is capturing the essence and importance of the title within the body of the text.

While traditional methods often involve underlining or using italics, there are alternative, creative methods that can make play titles stand out even more.