Should the comma be in italics? [closed]

Consider the following two sentences:

Statement 1:

The parameters were calculated a priori, and the other variables were calculated iteratively.

Statement 2:

The parameters were calculated a priori, and the other variables were calculated iteratively.

This may seem trivial, but the only difference between the two sentences is the way in which the , has been formatted. In the first statement the , is in italics. In the second, the , is not in italics. Does it depend on the writer whether or not to italicize the punctuation marks adjoining the affected words? Or is there a definite rule governing this? The same question can be extended to other types of formatting, e.g. bold.

Solution 1:

Here's one style manual's answer to that question:

Italics do not include punctuation marks (end marks or parentheses, for instance) next to the words being italicized unless those punctuation marks are meant to be considered as part of what is being italicized: "Have you read Stephen King's Pet Semetary?" (The question mark is not italicized here.) Also, do not italicize the apostrophe-s which creates the possessive of a title: "What is the Courant's position on this issue?"

This is really a style-manual problem, not an English usage or grammar problem. Each publication has its house style. Newspapers have their own style manuals, academic fields have theirs, and technical fields have theirs. There is no definite rule.

Solution 2:

English isn't a matter of rules on tablets of stone so much as a matter of communication, so really you should follow house style or whatever your readers find easiest.. But as a matter of logic, the comma should not be in italics; the phrase you want to italicise is 'a priori', which does not include the comma. On the other hand, 'i.e.', assuming you wish to italicise it, does include punctuation, so the full stops should also be in italics.