Emphasis: Italics are the most common way to emphasize a word or phrase, drawing the reader's attention to it. For example: *This is the most important point.*
Titles of works: Titles of books, movies, plays, songs, etc. are typically written in italics. This applies to longer works, not articles or short stories. For example: *The Great Gatsby* or *The Lord of the Rings*.
Foreign words: Words borrowed from other languages that aren't commonly used in English are often italicized. This helps to distinguish them from regular English words. For example: *schadenfreude* or *dolce vita*.
Scientific names: The scientific names of plants and animals are written in italics. For example: *Homo sapiens*.
Legal terms: Some legal terms are italicized. For example: *et al.* (meaning "and others").
Words as words: When referring to a word as a word itself, it's often italicized. For example: "The word *love* can have many meanings."
Other uses: Italics can also be used to indicate a specific style or tone in writing, such as sarcasm or irony.
Important Note: The use of italics can vary depending on the style guide being followed. For example, the Chicago Manual of Style has different rules than the MLA style guide.
It's always best to check the relevant style guide for specific instructions on using italics.