Markdown Formatting Every Rule, Ready to Copy
Copy-ready syntax for headings, bold, links, lists, tables, and code, plus the rules GitHub, Discord, Slack, and Reddit each bend. Look it up, click copy, get back to writing.
Markdown Formatting Basics
The syntax you will reach for most. Each row links to a guide with copy-ready examples, the mistakes that break it, and how GitHub, Discord, Slack, and Reddit differ.
| To get | Type | Full guide |
|---|---|---|
| Heading | # Heading | Headings |
| Bold | **bold text** | Bold |
| Italic | *italic text* | Italic |
| Strikethrough | ~~deleted~~ | Strikethrough |
| Link | [text](https://example.com) | Links |
| Image |  | Images |
| List | - item or 1. item | Lists |
| Quote | > quoted text | Quotes |
| Inline code | `code` | Code blocks |
| Code block | ``` on the line above and below | Code blocks |
| Table | | a | b | then |---|---| | Tables |
| New line | end the line with \ | Line breaks |
Tables, task lists, and strikethrough come from GitHub Flavored Markdown, so they do not render everywhere. See every syntax in the cheat sheet
Quick Start
Pick a category and jump straight to the syntax you need.
Popular guides
The pages readers visit most right now.
Discord
Underline, subtext, block quotes, spoilers, ANSI colored text, timestamps, and mentions.
Reddit
Quotes, spoilers, superscript, tables, and which Reddit composers still render Markdown.
Cheat Sheet
Basic, extended, and GitHub syntax on one page, each row labeled by where it renders, with copy buttons and previews.
Slack
Slack's *bold* and shortcuts, mrkdwn for apps, and markdown blocks that render real Markdown and tables.
Tables
Pipe table syntax, alignment, escaping pipes (even in code), line breaks in cells, and platform support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Markdown formatting?
Markdown formatting means styling plain text with symbols instead of buttons: # for a heading, **text** for bold, *text* for italic, - for a list item, and backticks for code. An app that supports Markdown, such as GitHub, Obsidian, Discord, or a docs site, turns those symbols into formatted text.
Why is my Markdown formatting not working?
Most often the app does not parse that syntax: Slack's classic format uses *single* asterisks for bold, Reddit's rich text editor ignores typed Markdown, and tables only render where GitHub Flavored Markdown is supported. The other usual causes are a missing space (#Heading) and expecting a single Enter to start a new line.
How do I print or save a Markdown file as a PDF?
Open the file in something that renders it, then print to PDF. The free Markdown to PDF converter on this site does it in the browser with selectable text and working links, and the Markdown viewer can print any .md file you open in it.
What is the difference between Markdown and a Word document?
A Markdown file is plain text with visible formatting symbols, so any editor can open it and Git can diff it. A Word .docx file is a zipped XML package that needs Word or a compatible app and hides its formatting. Markdown trades page-layout control for portability.
New to all of this? Start with what Markdown is and what a .md file contains.