Italics in Formal Essays?

Question

I want to say this quote in my essay: "Jefferson is in every view less dangerous than Burr". I want to emphasize the word "every", so can I italicize it?

Answer 1

If you want to alter a quotation using italics, MLA convention is to add "(emphasis added)" at the end of the sentence, in secondary position within the parenthetical citation of your reference source if applicable.

"Jefferson was in every view less dangerous than Burr" (emphasis added).

"Jefferson was in every view less dangerous than Burr" (Author Last Name page number; emphasis added).