Should made-up words be underlined? If yes, how often?

[peakbeach]

At least I know they shouldn't be set in italics. That's a no no for screenplays!

Now, should I underline my made-up words every time they appear in my story?

I'm building a glossary for my futuristic story...and some of my made-up words appear a dozen times or more. :eek

Edited to re-phrase the question a bit without changing its meaning

[ComicBent]

Tough question to answer in a general sense.

I would favor not underlining at all. I would mention early in the script, in an action/description paragraph, that the characters use fabricated words in their speeches, and let it go at that.

You might check "A Clockwork Orange" (sceenplay by Stanley Kubrick). I can't remember, but I don't think he underlined his many made-up words.

[Deus Ex Machine]

I wouldn't underline (which indicates emphasis) words unless you want to emphasis them because it is a style not commonly used in screenplays.

My advice is to write the dialogue the way the characters talk and explain it organically in your story through how the characters react and interact.

[peakbeach]

My recent web research assured me that underlining, as opposed to italizing, was okay. So my concern was how often should I underline a made-up word in my story? Twelve times if it appears 12 times...or just the first time?

Another thing is that I'm still naively struggling with my novel-writing background...thinking that my audience will be book readers, not film goers. So bear with me...


ComicBent:

So unless fabricated words are used by characters in their speeches (your point) or they're shown cinematically (visually or audibly) on screen, there's no reason to have them in the first place, right?

For example, nobody will know that the Yastral Yunda (made-up words, not really in my story) is a part of the Coliseum unless the cinematographer focus his camera on these words or Bob, Ted, and Alice talk about it somewhere, sometime. Right?

Deus Ex Machine:

I agree with what you say, but what are first readers (film industry) going to say when they see some strange words appearing now and then in the action/description area without warning?

Early on they're going to think they're misspelled or the writer is lazy or reckless or crazy - just a good reason to toss the script. Or will they have the patience to continue reading...and discover that they were just facing a carefully crafted and exciting new language organically connected to the story?

:D

[Deus Ex Machine]

Invented words are fine for dialogue and should be avoided in the action unless the context makes it obvious what the word means, even then I'd still avoid it in the action.

No need to underline the invented words in dialogue, reveal what they mean by the context and the way the characters react and interact.

Impress the reader with your ability to tell a story he/she can understand and enjoy, not your ability to invent a new language.

My 2 cents.

[peakbeach]

ComicBent, Deus Ex Machine:

My story is social satire using sci-fi, myth, and fantasy as vehicles to accomplish my job. So I do have a certain freedom to make up words and situations that do not conform nicely to rigid standards. :lol

But I take your suggestions very seriously, especially when they relate to screenwriting format. |I

My research on the net told me that foreign words should be underlined, not set in italics. I’m assuming that made-up words also fall in this category, although I may be wrong.

But checking on the following screenplays (joblo site) – A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (unknown draft version), BLADE RUNNER (unknown draft version), LOGAN’S RUN (rev. shooting script), STAR TRECK, FIRST CONTACT (1st draft shooting script), STAR TRECK, INSURRECTION (rev. final draft shooting script), and STAR WARS, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (4th draft shooting script) – I see no word (foreign or made-up) ever underlined or set in italics. So f’ck my research >: and kudos to you guys!

:D :D :D