Final answer:
False. The word 'French' is a proper noun and should always be capitalized when referring to the language, the nationality, or things related to France. It is only lowercased when used as a verb in rare contexts. Italics are not typically used for the word unless in specific academic contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether the word French should always be capitalized is rooted in English grammar rules. According to these rules, proper nouns, which include the names of languages such as French, should always begin with a capital letter. This is true for all proper nouns, which include names of people, places, specific items, and languages. Hence, when you write the word French, whether referring to the language, the nationality, or something that comes from France, it should always be capitalized.
There can, however, be some confusion when dealing with the word french when used in a different context. For example, when used as a verb, such as 'to french a cut of meat', lowercasing it is appropriate. It's important to note that this usage is not the norm and that, in most cases, when referring to the language, the nationality, or items or customs from France, the word should be capitalized.
Regarding italics, they are generally not used when writing the word French unless it is being referred to in a linguistic or academic context, like if you were to mention the word within a study on languages.