italics: identifying matter

Italicize letters referring to lines of verse (rhyme schemes):

• The Shakespearean sonnet has an abab, cdcd, efef, gg rhyme scheme.

Italicize letter symbols or words used within the body of the text or in legends to illustrations, drawings, photographs, etc., to identify parts of the item concerned.  Words and phrases such as top, bottom, left, right, above, below, left to right and clockwise from left are frequently used in this way:

• United States envoy Holbrook, left, greets his Russian counterpart, Vitaly Churkin, in the Serbian capital.

Note: It used to be the practice to italicize letters referring to paragraphs in a statute or other regulatory document:

• Paragraph 42(2)(e) of the Canada Business Corporations Act
• In accordance with paragraph (f) of CFAO 19-27/H …

However, in 2016, the Department of Justice changed its guideline and is now using regular font for letters referring to paragraphs:

• Paragraph 42(2)(e) of the Canada Business Corporations Act
• In accordance with paragraph (f) of CFAO 19-27/H …