Which editing method is advised for highlighting key terms in a sentence?

The recommended method for highlighting key terms in a sentence is to italicize them. Italicizing key terms serves as an effective way to emphasize important concepts without disrupting the flow of the text. This approach is widely accepted in academic writing, including APA format, as it distinguishes specific terms and phrases from the rest of the content, aiding in clarity and reader comprehension.

Using quotation marks around terms typically implies that the terms are being quoted directly from a source, which is not the intention when you are simply highlighting key concepts. Leaving the sentence as is does not provide any emphasis, making it hard for the reader to identify important information. Similarly, while bolding can draw attention to specific words, it is less commonly used in APA style for emphasizing key terms and can lead to visual clutter in a document. Thus, italicizing remains the preferred method for effectively highlighting key terms.