The following are some examples of the use of italics in GSC reports:

1. for emphasis, as in this Guide to Authors, to indicate the correct use of a word, phrase, or sentence and punctuation:
   
   
   The word greywacke has a number of different definitions.
   
   
   
2. for foreign words and phrases that are not yet established in the English language:
   
   
   Caveat emptor
   fait accompli
   modus operandi
   nostra culpa
   
   
   
   
3. for certain Latin terms:
   
   
   idem
   infra
   vide
   
   
   Many Latin terms (such as versus, ibid, in situ) are now accepted as fully English forms, and are not italicized. Abbreviations for Latin terms (such as ca., cf., etc., e.g., et al., op. cit., viz, vs.) are never italicized.
   
   
   
4. The Latin word sic meaning 'thus, so' is used to inform the reader that an unlikely quotation is, in fact, correctly worded (quoted), and also to indicate that an error in a quotation is not to be attributed to the author(s). The word sic is written in square brackets thus: [sic] immediately after the error:
   
   
   The northwestern Canadian shield [sic]
   
   
   
5. the titles of publications (books, periodicals, plays, newspapers, studies, etc.) in the text, but not in the References list:
   
   
   Although most geologists have heard of Beringer's Lithographiae Wirceburgensis, few have read the book.
   
   
   
6. the names of ships:
   
   
   the submersible Pisces IV
   CSS Baffin CFAV Sackville
   
   
   
7. letters, words, and sentences referred to as such:
   
   
   the letter s
   the words (nouns) abstract and concrete
   the sentence should be rewritten: The fault strikes northeast
   
   
   
8. technical (i.e. scientific Latin) names of genera and species in botany, zoology, and paleontology:
   
   
   Betula glandulosa
   Homo sapiens
   Hildoceras bifrons
   
   
   
9. Italic type is used to indicate that a figure or table has been reproduced from another publication, and also to show that the illustration has been altered:
   
   after indicates that the figure or table is reproduced as it was shown in a previous publication.
   modified from indicates that changes or redrafting have been made to the original figure or table.
   In both cases reference must be made to the original source of publication: modified from Smith (1993).
   
   
   
10. Italic type is used in the text when making reference to figures, tables, plates, maps, or references:
    
    
    (see Fig. 1.5) See Time terms.
    See also Anthropomorphism
    ...in Current Research, Part D; Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 90-1D, p. 55-60.