--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Italics are like a rash -- you never know…" description: "\"“Italics are like a rash -- you never know whether to ignore them entirely or whether the more you attention you give the more they spread.”\" — Zanesh ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/zanesh-catkin-58549_humour_italics-are-like-a-rash-you-never-know-w_11934.jpg" --- # Italics are like a rash -- you never know whether to… ![“Italics are like a rash -- you never know whether to ignore them entirely or whether the more you attention you give the more they spread.” quote by Zanesh Catkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/zanesh-catkin-58549_humour_italics-are-like-a-rash-you-never-know-w_11934.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/zanesh-catkin-58549_humour_italics-are-like-a-rash-you-never-know-w_11934.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/zanesh-catkin-58549_humour_italics-are-like-a-rash-you-never-know-w_11934.jpg) > ““Italics are like a rash -- you never know whether to ignore them entirely or whether the more you attention you give the more they spread.”” [Zanesh Catkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zanesh-catkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Italics can become overwhelming if overused, yet ignoring them may miss nuance; balance is key. **In simple terms:** Balance emphasis and readability. Key Takeaway Use italics sparingly for impact. Themes communication style visual hierarchy clarity attention Mood thoughtful cautious Type advice observation When to use this quote - editing drafts - writing essays - creating marketing copy - designing presentations Key Concepts emphasis design reading flow Practical Applications - highlight key terms - guide reader focus Questions to Reflect On - How can I decide when italics add value? - What alternatives exist for emphasis? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) ## Related quotes > [I really am a thinker. I don't do things rash. I know some of the things I've said or the way I act seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bode-miller/i-really-am-a-thinker-i-don-t-do-things-rash-i-know-some-of-the/) [Bode Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bode-miller/) > [“My first wife was like the rash you get from poison ivy. I couldn't stand her, but I couldn't keep my hands off her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/my-first-wife-was-like-the-rash-you-get-from-poison-ivy-i-couldn-t/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [Yes, he’s like a rash for which there’s no cure. It only goes away for a bit before returning unexpectedly to ruin every pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/yes-he-s-like-a-rash-for-which-there-s-no-cure-it-only-goes-away-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The man irritated her just like a rash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/the-man-irritated-her-just-like-a-rash/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [“blush so pink like learn what your face is good for everyone is nauseous blush so pink like rash, infection so pink like itch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-gatwood/blush-so-pink-like-learn-what-your-face-is-good-for-everyone-is/) [Olivia Gatwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-gatwood/) > [It feels like a rash. It suddenly seems like I've got a contagion of diseases, I mean awards. But it's nice, it's a nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helena-bonham-carter/it-feels-like-a-rash-it-suddenly-seems-like-i-ve-got-a-contagion-of/) [Helena Bonham Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helena-bonham-carter/) > [Rilla was fond of italics, as most girls of fifteen are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rilla-was-fond-of-italics-as-most-girls-of-fifteen-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I adore italics, don't you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-firbank/i-adore-italics-don-t-you/) [Ronald Firbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-firbank/) > [She feels in italics and thinks in CAPITALS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/she-feels-in-italics-and-thinks-in-capitals/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [You can't have many exclamation points left,' thought Anne, 'but no doubt the supply of italics is inexhaustible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-have-many-exclamation-points-left-thought-anne-but-no-doubt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“ "What?" The italics just flew out past the alcohol's guard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cantero/what-the-italics-just-flew-out-past-the-alcohol-s-guard/) [Edgar Cantero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cantero/) > [I don't even use italics or boldface; that's clutter, not clarity. Fancy fonts are fine for blogs, just as calligraphy is fine for diaries.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/i-don-t-even-use-italics-or-boldface-that-s-clutter-not-clarity-fancy/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [“When the Jews wanted to make something emphatic, instead of adding an exclamation point or using italics, they would simply repeat it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/when-the-jews-wanted-to-make-something-emphatic-instead-of-adding-an/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [Italics provide a wonderful advantage: you see, right away, that the words are in a rush. When something exists at a slant, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/italics-provide-a-wonderful-advantage-you-see-right-away-that-the/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [“Fate's book, but my italics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-paterson/fate-s-book-but-my-italics/) [Don Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-paterson/) ## More by Zanesh Catkin > [“If a book falls open in a library and no one sees it, is it still writing? Or is it simply a page bearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zanesh-catkin/if-a-book-falls-open-in-a-library-and-no-one-sees-it-is-it-still/) [Zanesh Catkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zanesh-catkin/) > [“Some travel to find themselves—I was travelling to get lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zanesh-catkin/some-travel-to-find-themselves-i-was-travelling-to-get-lost/) [Zanesh Catkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zanesh-catkin/) > [“Travel broadens the mind. Travel shrinks the wallet. Travel shrivels the testicles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zanesh-catkin/travel-broadens-the-mind-travel-shrinks-the-wallet-travel-shrivels/) [Zanesh Catkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zanesh-catkin/) > [“She had her head in a book. Like me she preferred reading about travel to actually traveling; it was so much more comfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zanesh-catkin/she-had-her-head-in-a-book-like-me-she-preferred-reading-about-travel/) [Zanesh Catkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zanesh-catkin/) [Explore all 5 Zanesh Catkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zanesh-catkin/) ## More Humour quotes > [“law that stated you didn't advertise any event you hadn't attended, any place you'd never been, or any band you didn't really listen to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mhairi-mcfarlane/law-that-stated-you-didn-t-advertise-any-event-you-hadn-t-attended/) [Mhairi McFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mhairi-mcfarlane/) > [To refer even in passing to unpublished or struggling authors and their problems is to put oneself at some risk, so I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/to-refer-even-in-passing-to-unpublished-or-struggling-authors-and/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [“Wish in one hand, shit in the other, see which one fills up faster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-oxenhandler/wish-in-one-hand-shit-in-the-other-see-which-one-fills-up-faster/) Noelle Oxenhandler > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [“What if," replied Inspector Fry in the same maddeningly curteous tone, "we were all to construct daisy chains and drape them so as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndsay-faye/what-if-replied-inspector-fry-in-the-same-maddeningly-curteous-tone/) [Lyndsay Faye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndsay-faye/) > [You owe me a drink, you're so ugly I dropped mine when I saw you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-owe-me-a-drink-you-re-so-ugly-i-dropped-mine-when-i-saw-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No woman ever yet either reasoned or acted long together consequentially; but some little thing, some love, some resentment, somepresent momentary interest, some supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/no-woman-ever-yet-either-reasoned-or-acted-long-together/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“Holy shit," somebody muttered in the dark. "A virgin," sputtered another. "I didn't know they still made them." "He just did.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-kramer/holy-shit-somebody-muttered-in-the-dark-a-virgin-sputtered-another-i/) [Larry Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-kramer/) > [“True, science has conquered many diseases, broken the genetic code, and even placed human beings on the moon, and yet when a man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/true-science-has-conquered-many-diseases-broken-the-genetic-code-and/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“John, let me make one thing clear,” Jim said, cutting me off in his most stern, evangelical voice. “Every man is blessed with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/john-let-me-make-one-thing-clear-jim-said-cutting-me-off-in-his-most/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [Self-deprecating humour is a common form of comedy and it helps get the audience on side because you're being vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-brooker/self-deprecating-humour-is-a-common-form-of-comedy-and-it-helps-get/) [Alex Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-brooker/) > [“Life is like yoga; the only way you can enjoy it is by relaxing into any position you happen to find yourself in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-wakeham/life-is-like-yoga-the-only-way-you-can-enjoy-it-is-by-relaxing-into/) Jon Wakeham > [“Charlotte Richmond says of herself: “I have few ladylike accomplishments. I cannot sing, I cannot draw, I cannot play the pianoforte or the harp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-slade/charlotte-richmond-says-of-herself-i-have-few-ladylike/) Nicola Slade > [“But even if they could go home it would be difficult for me to tell you what the moral of the story is. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/but-even-if-they-could-go-home-it-would-be-difficult-for-me-to-tell/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) [Browse all 3,815 Humour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Italics are like a rash -- you never know whether to ignore them entirely or whether the more you attention you give the more they spread.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zanesh Catkin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zanesh-catkin/italics-are-like-a-rash-you-never-know-whether-to-ignore-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Humour" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zanesh-catkin/italics-are-like-a-rash-you-never-know-whether-to-ignore-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/zanesh-catkin-58549_humour_italics-are-like-a-rash-you-never-know-w_11934.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/zanesh-catkin-58549_humour_italics-are-like-a-rash-you-never-know-w_11934.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/zanesh-catkin-58549_humour_italics-are-like-a-rash-you-never-know-w_11934.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Italics are like a rash -- you never know whether to ignore them entirely or whether the more you attention…” — Zanesh Catkin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Zanesh Catkin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zanesh-catkin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Italics are like a rash --...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zanesh-catkin/italics-are-like-a-rash-you-never-know-whether-to-ignore-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zanesh-catkin/italics-are-like-a-rash-you-never-know-whether-to-ignore-them/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```