Non native Italics

Use this script

https://creativepro.com/perfectpreptext-a-smart-way-to-style-local-formatting/

Import the Word file keeping all the styles.

Then run the script.

It will create character styles based on the content of the imported file. If it was Italic in Word it will create that style.

You then need to tweak the styles. 

As mentioned, Word will happily use faux bold and italic formatting. 

If you must use the font in question, create a character style in InDesign and set the Skew to mimic an oblique (italic) style. Use a character style in Word to apply the "italics", import the character style, then change the skew setting.

Hi @ArunM :

I suggest you select a different font, one that has the styles you need for your layout.

Word will happily apply faux-bold and faux-italics to fonts that don't have those styles available because the type designer chose not to design them. They don't read well. A reason to use InDesign is access its myriad type controls, which elevate your design to meet professional standards. 

https://creativepro.com/dont-commit-the-type-crime-of-applying-faux-italic-in-microsoft-word/

~Barb

Can't you change the font and choose one with italics? It would be the best solution.

If your italics in WORD are as a local formatting - you need to create CharacterStyle and apply it in WORD - Search&Replace - to the texts with italics. 

You can / should do the same with bolds, etc. 

If you have access to a PC - I can give you a macro for WORD that will convert all possible combinations into CharStyles - 144 combinations or so I think 😉 

HI, can you confirm that MS Word is using the same font as the one you will use in InDesign?

It is possible that MS Word is 'faking' the italics, it can do that.

If you cannot change the font, I see 2 options:

1.  Fake the italics in InDesign, Save that within a paragraph style with a name that matches the MS Word style name. Going down the XML route seems a bit much. 

2. Even more extreme, you can create your own font, by taking the one you use in InDesign and creating an italic version for it. This might seem crazy, but if it is a font I use all the time, it might be worth the investment.