Italics

[donny48]

What function do words in italics have in a cryptic clue ?
Clue : His paper beat stone.
Ans : anagram of "his paper" gives the answer sapphire.
The words paper and stone are in italics.

[dannyk13]

I didn't know off hand, so checked with my Telegraph contact. Apparently in Telegraph crosswords and words in italics usually link up to form a phrase or saying.I suppose here it might be stone, paper, scissors.Hope this helps.

[donny48]

Thanks again for your assistance in all things cryptic.

[dannyk13]

Not sure if this standard setter's practice, or just confined to the Telegraph.