Dave, you wrote "To close italics, use "/i" instead of "i" within the brackets". And then you wrote "To close italics, use "/i" instead of "i" within the brackets".

I vaguely recall PMB's instructions saying something about a \ dash being use to open italics-and also something about the brackets. Then I seem to recall PMB's post-wherever it is-mentioning something about using brackets and the / thingy at the end.

Am I understanding you correctly that brackets aren't used at the end of the HTML italic command? I think it's that "instead" word that is confusing me.

Following your directions, I'd write:

Rhode Island's full name is 'The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation'

Will this work? Let's see.