Does one BOLD and underline?

I REFUSE to underline. Seriously. I have had more than one semi-conflict with a client because I won't do it.

If I can't emphasize your text without falling back onto a Microsoft Word crutch, then I need to find another job. I certainly wouldn't agree with both bold and underlined, unless you get to make the text hot pink also. Then it would really "POP".

They want it bold, italic and underlined!

'Garbage in, Garbage out"

Search for "Too Much Emphasis" on this page:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/08/11/top-ten-web-typography-sins/

Basically, use only one emphasis (italic, bold, underline) at a time. More is overkill.

The underlining ruins the descenders on the fonts as well. Not that they care since they want to bastardize their text with POPITUDE (and ignore you, their designer, whom they are PAYING FOR SERVICES). Dumb.
----
Natobasso
dirtandrust.com
"Powerpoint is not a design application"

Correct. You should only use one of them at a time.

and don't forget that *color* is included as another form of emphasis.

we just acquired another architecture firm and it seems like one of their fave things to do is to italicize huge blocks of text. not because it's different from anything, it's the only text on the page. they just like the look when it's italicized. and gray.

you know, i know that people get set in their ways, but it does get annoying when people argue that the designer doesn't know what he/she is talking about when they say, "don't underline, that's a typewriter convention." or "you don't need double spaces after a period in proportionally spaced type." people will argue til they're blue in the face about things like that. even after i ask them how many semesters of typography they had in their accounting degree program, they still think that what their high school keyboarding teacher told them is the be all and end all to what's right.

I hardly even use underlining in links online. It just has a certain "tackiness" to me. I usually just change the font colour. Maybe I'm a little picky. /shrug

------------
My Portfolio

Underlining is so Smith-Corona, as a now-long-outdated substitute for italics (for book titles and other things that a publisher would set in italic type).

I wouldn't use bold-faced type for emphasis in blocks of text. Use italics instead, but sparingly. Your writing style should do your shouting for you.

There are certain times when you need to break these rules. As most of you probably know, all kinds of typesetting rules are purposely broken in those multi-page fund-raising letters. The idea is they want recipients of the letters to think they were done in gushing, heartfelt earnest by slobs just like themselves, not sophisticated million-buck-a-year ad execs. For the same reason, they often also use fonts that look like dirty typewriter keys. Take from that insight what you will about when/whether to use any kind of emphasis in your text.

Forgot to ask: What font are you committing all of these atrocities to? And please don't say it's Comic Sans or some sort of bubble font!

But if it is....POST IT!

"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible."
— Frank Zappa