Non-Designer’s Type Book, The, Second Edition

But you can do this

You have other options for emphasizing type that will create a more sophisticated or exciting typographic look, as well as help in the organization of information.

Using italic instead of an underline, where appropriate, is one way you can emphasize text in a subtle way, of course. For a stronger emphasis, use the boldest version of the typeface, or perhaps the bold italic.

For a more dramatic emphasis, use a different typeface altogether, one that has a strong contrast to the rest of the text. For instance, if your text is a classic oldstyle face (like what you’re reading right now), use a very bold sans serif for emphasis.

But don’t use a weight that is similar to the other text, especially for headlines— notice how much ...