My Go-To Markdown Cheat Sheet: Simplifying Online Writing 🖊️
As a writer who spends a lot of time creating content for the web, I’m always looking for ways to streamline my process and make formatting a breeze. That’s where markdown comes in – it’s a simple, intuitive way to style text without having to fiddle with complex HTML or rich text editors. And the best part? Once you learn a few basic syntax rules, you can use markdown just about anywhere, from your favorite note-taking app to content management systems like WordPress.
Over the years, I’ve compiled my own markdown “cheat sheet” with the formatting options I use most. It’s been an indispensable reference that I come back to again and again. Today, I want to share that cheat sheet with you, along with some of my top tips for making the most of markdown in your own writing. Trust me, this will make your life so much easier! 😉
Headings and Subheadings 🔥
One of the most important elements of any online content is clear organization with headings and subheadings. Luckily, this couldn’t be simpler with markdown. Just put a # symbol before your heading text. The number of # indicates the heading level:
# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
I tend to use Heading 2 for my main content sections and Heading 3 for any subsections or points underneath those. Consistent heading structure makes a big difference in readability.
Emphasis and Bolding ✨
Want to add some emphasis to key phrases? Use a single asterisk * or underscore _ before and after the text to make it italic. Use double asterisks ** or underscores __ for bolding:
*This text will be italic*
_This will also be italic_
**This text will be bold**
__This will also be bold__
I love using emphasis to draw attention to important points or just to add some visual variety and flair to my writing. Don’t overdo it though – too much emphasis will lose its impact.
Lists and Bullets 🎯
Bullet lists are another great way to organize information in a scannable, user-friendly way. To create an unordered list, simply use a – , * , or + before each line. For an ordered list, use numbers:
Unordered:
– Item 1
– Item 2
* Item 3
+ Item 4
Ordered:
1. First item
2. Second item
3. Third item
I use unordered lists for most things, but if I’m listing out steps in a how-to post, an ordered list is the way to go. You can also do nested lists by indenting lines with 4 spaces or a tab.
Links and Images 🔗🖼️
Of course, no online content would be complete without links! To create a link in markdown, put the linked text in brackets [] followed immediately by the URL in parentheses ():
[Link to my website](https://www.mywebsite.com)
For images, the format is similar, just add an exclamation point ! before the brackets:
Always, always include descriptive alt text for your images. It’s essential for accessibility and will show up even if the image can’t load for some reason. And be sure to optimize your images for fast loading!
Code Blocks ⌨️
If you ever write about programming or development, you’ll definitely want to use code blocks. There are a couple ways to do this in markdown. For inline code bits, surround the code with backticks ` :
This is an `inline code` example.
For longer code blocks or snippets, indent each line with 4 spaces or use triple backticks “` before and after the block:
function myFunction() {
console.log(“Hello World!”);
}
“`
def python_function():
print(“Hello World!”)
“`
This will preserve your code formatting and make it stand out visually from the rest of your text. As a bonus, many markdown editors will color-code the syntax for you!
Horizontal Rules and Line Breaks 〰️
To add a horizontal rule, use three or more hyphens — , asterisks *** , or underscores ___ alone on a line:
—
***
___
All three will render the same standard horizontal rule. I like to use these to break up sections of longer posts.
For a simple line break, add two or more spaces at the end of the line before hitting return. This is useful for keeping certain chunks of text together on their own lines.
Markdown For the Win 🏆
So there you have it – a quick tour of my most-used markdown syntax, with a few pro tips sprinkled in. I hope this cheat sheet will be as handy a reference for you as it continues to be for me!
Once you get the hang of markdown, I think you’ll find that it’s an incredibly efficient way to write for the web. You can keep your hands on the keyboard instead of reaching for the mouse to click formatting buttons. You’ll be able to dash off a draft quickly without getting bogged down in the appearance. And when you move that draft into your CMS or publishing platform, the styles will come along for the ride.
I love that markdown lets me focus on my words, knowing that a well-structured, easy-to-read page is just a few simple characters away. For anyone who writes online content regularly, it’s well worth taking an hour or two to master the basics of this amazing shorthand. Pretty soon you’ll be typing asterisks and brackets without a second thought!
Happy writing, markdown mavens. 😄 Here’s to many more well-formatted posts in your future! Let me know in the comments if you have any markdown tricks to add to the list.
Leave a Reply