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by Wowfunhappy 961 days ago
> A sentence with italics or any other emphasis should read exactly the same without that emphasis.

But it doesn't, that's the thing! The word you italicize can alter the meaning of a sentence. For instance:

> "I didn't steal Sally's necklace!"

> "I didn't steal Sally's necklace!"

> "I didn't steal Sally's necklace!"

2 comments

As of this writing my parent comment is downvoted, so maybe the difference between the three sentences is less obvious than I thought. While all three sentences assert that I didn't steal Sally's necklace:

• The first version implies that I acquired Sally's necklace via other means.

• The second version implies that I stole someone else's necklace.

• The last version implies that I stole something else from Sally.

One of my favorites:

I didn’t say I took the money.

I didn’t say I took the money.

I didn’t say I took the money.

I didn’t say I took the money.

I didn’t say I took the money.

I didn’t say I took the money.