formatting, small commands, and writing shortcuts
Text formatting
*text* / _text_- italic
**text** / __text__- bold
***text*** / ___text___- bold + italic
++text++- underline
~~text~~- strikethrough
x^2^- superscript
H~2~O- subscript
`literal text`- inline code
\*text\*- literal markers
Asterisks and underscores mean the same emphasis. Keep markers next to the text, without spaces inside. Underline uses ++.
A backslash escapes a marker. Commands inside code stay literal.
Blocks & alignment
# through ######- headings 1–6
- Item / * Item / + Item- bullet list
1. Item / 1) Item- numbered list
- [ ] / - [x]- unchecked / done
> text / >> text- quote / nested quote
--- / *** / ___- divider
- Shift + Enter
- hard line break
- blank line
- new paragraph
Indent nested list items under their parent’s text. Put a blank line before a divider: --- directly under text makes a heading, as does ===.
A single newline wraps within the same paragraph. Two trailing spaces or a backslash before Enter make a hard break. Extra blank lines do not add gaps.
centering & alignment
<center>
**Centered text**
</center>
<div align="right">
Right-aligned text
</div>
Use left, center, right, or justify. style="text-align: center" also works. Keep containers on their own lines for multiple paragraphs, lists, or images inside.
code blocks
```js
const answer = 42;
```
Three tildes also make a fence; the language label is optional. Four spaces of indentation make an indented code block.
tables
| Left | Center | Right |
| :--- | :---: | ---: |
| A | B | C |
Colons set column alignment. Use \| for a literal pipe inside a cell.
Links & images
[label](url)- link
[label][ref]- reference link
<https://example.com>- automatic link
<name@example.com>- email link
[jump](#my-heading)- jump to a heading
- image
Define a reference on a separate line:
[ref]: https://example.com
## My heading becomes #my-heading. Repeated headings add -1, -2, and so on.
image paths & sizing
Use HTTPS image URLs or existing blog paths. The quoted hover title is optional.
<img src="/assets/image.webp"
alt="Description" class="img-sm">
img-sm / img-md- small / medium
img-lg / img-full- large / full width
Raw HTML and entities such as & work too. Use backticks to show HTML as an example.
Keyboard & writing helpers
Use Ctrl on Windows/Linux or Cmd on Mac.
- Ctrl/Cmd + B
- bold
- Ctrl/Cmd + I
- italic
- Ctrl/Cmd + U
- underline
- Ctrl/Cmd + Enter
- toggle current task
- Ctrl/Cmd + P
- toggle preview
- Ctrl/Cmd + S
- download .md
- Ctrl/Cmd + E
- spell check
- Ctrl/Cmd + F
- find
- Ctrl/Cmd + H
- find & replace
- Ctrl/Cmd + \
- draft sidebar
- Ctrl/Cmd + M
- new draft
- Ctrl/Cmd + G
- feedback
- Tab / Esc
- accept / ignore suggestion
- Enter in a list
- next item
- Enter on an empty item
- leave list
- Backspace after autocorrect
- undo correction
In find, Enter moves forward and Shift + Enter moves back. Select text and paste a URL to turn it into a link.
Desktop typing pairs brackets and formatting markers. Prose gets smart quotes, dashes, arrows, ellipses, fractions, and autocorrection; code stays literal.