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For example, I want to emphasize the term 'multi-channel non-orthogonal multiple access scheduling problem' in the following statements.

Based on (1), (2), and (3), the multi-channel non-orthogonal multiple access scheduling problem for ~~~~~ is finally formulated as follows.

In the above statements, do I have to italicize "multi-channel non-orthogonal multiple access scheduling problem" or "the multi-channel non-orthogonal multiple access scheduling problem"?

1.

Based on (1), (2), and (3), the multi-channel non-orthogonal multiple access scheduling problem for ~~~~~ is finally formulated as follows.

Based on (1), (2), and (3), the multi-channel non-orthogonal multiple access scheduling problem for ~~~~~ is finally formulated as follows.

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    It is usually a good idea to include the real example, and don't use "variables" like "ABC" What are the actual words that you have replaced by "ABC" and "~~~~~~" ? In particular it is not clear why you would italicise "ABC problem". This is normally to create a contrast with another thing that is unemphasized.
    – James K
    Commented Dec 19, 2020 at 10:59
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    @JamesK I have revised the questionnaire based on your advice.
    – Danny_Kim
    Commented Dec 19, 2020 at 11:41
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    Thanks I think this confirms what I suggest. Probably no italics at all. If you need italics for contrast only italicise the particlar parts that are constrastive, eg "the multi-channel non-orthogonal multiple access scheduling problem" (constasted with "the multi-channel non-orthogonal single access scheduling problem")
    – James K
    Commented Dec 19, 2020 at 14:50
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    In mathematics (which you have tagged), italics may identify terms that are being defined. For example, "Two vectors are orthogonal if their inner product is zero," when the word "orthogonal" has not yet been used and the quoted sentence will be used as the definition of "orthogonal" in the rest of the document. If the quoted passage is your way of defining what the noun phrase "multi-channel non-orthogonal multiple access scheduling problem" means, and you consistently use italics for definitions, italicize that phrase, but don't call it emphasis.
    – David K
    Commented Dec 19, 2020 at 21:03
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    'the [problem of] multi-channel non-orthogonal multiple access scheduling [is] formulated as: (No italics nor emphasis needed, but I'd italicize the name of the formula) XY over Z; Rachet's right-hand rule.'
    – Mazura
    Commented Dec 20, 2020 at 1:04

5 Answers 5

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Generally, don't use italics for emphasis! the APA guide says:

In general, avoid using italics for emphasis. Instead, rewrite your sentence to provide emphasis.

You should only use italics if there is a chance of misreading, or if the emphasis changes the meaning of the sentence.

The APA do, however, recommend italics for the first mention of a term, often followed by its definition.

However, if you do use italics, it is completely up to you whether or not to italicise the article, it is a typographic detail that you readers probably won't even notice.

Based on (1), (2), and (3), the multi-channel non-orthogonal multiple access scheduling problem for ~~~~~ is finally formulated as follows:

If you are emphasising for contrast, then only add italics to the particular element that is contrasted. If you are contrasting the ABC problem with the XYZ problem then you would emphasise ABC (and you don't need to emphasise "problem")

Unlike the problems with fertilizers, the pesticide problem can be formulated in terms of ...

But if you are contrasting the ABC problem with the ABC solution you emphasise "problem"

Pesticides have many uses for modern farms, but the pesticide problem can be formulated as...

Rr in your example, eg "the multi-channel non-orthogonal multiple access scheduling problem" (contrasted with "the multi-channel non-orthogonal single access scheduling problem")

You emphasise the part that you want to contrast.

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  • I think the problem name is quite a long (connection of nouns). Hence, I thought it would be good for readers to write the whole problem name in italics.
    – Danny_Kim
    Commented Dec 19, 2020 at 11:45
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    See the APA style guide. Don't use italics for this.
    – James K
    Commented Dec 19, 2020 at 14:51
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    From the question it is not clear that this is actually emphasis, rather than the defining instance of a specific term. If it is the definition then this use of italics is conventional, including in APA, and whether the article is to be included or not may not be completely up to the author.
    – Michael Homer
    Commented Dec 19, 2020 at 20:19
  • @MichaelHomer Based on your answer, when I pondered more, the expression I was trying to make seems to be the introduction of terms, not emphasis. Thank you.
    – Danny_Kim
    Commented Dec 20, 2020 at 8:43
  • @JamesK, just out of curiosity why APA style? The tag is "mathematics" so a different style may be more appropriate.
    – J W
    Commented Dec 20, 2020 at 14:06
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In my experience, in scholarly papers, when a new concept is defined or introduced, the article is never italicized, and the rest of the noun phrase is usually italicized.

Here are several examples from the book Category Theory by Steve Awodey. In all cases, the italics are quoted exactly as they appear in the original text.

A category consists of the following data: […]

A preorder is a set P equipped with a binary relation […]

Thus, A∗ is a monoid – called the free monoid on the set A.

Your sentence seems like it introduces a new concept, so it should use italics in exactly the same way:

Based on (1), (2), and (3), the multi-channel non-orthogonal multiple access scheduling problem for ~~~~~ is finally formulated as follows.

I don't think I've ever seen the article italicized in these sorts of sentences. If I came across a sentence like this where the article is italicized, I'd find it a little strange, but probably not strange enough to call it an error.

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I do not know of a rule which would advise against any of the two options, but I would definitely italicize THE as well, because it determines your "ABC problem", "the ABC problem" is the complete unit. Even "esthetically" it looks better than separating "the" from the phrase it determines.

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You want to stress a noun phrase (the ABC problem), and an article (the) is a constituent part of it.

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    Ironically, I wouldn't include the articles a or an in both of those links.
    – dbmag9
    Commented Dec 19, 2020 at 20:45
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It depends on whether "the" is part of the actual phrase or just a helper word. In your example, I believe it is just a helper word and would not ordinarily be italicized.

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