[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":1783},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post:en:\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fbold-italic-strikethrough-underline-markdown":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"category":1750,"date":1751,"description":1752,"extension":1753,"image":1754,"imageAlt":1755,"meta":1756,"navigation":1757,"path":1758,"seo":1759,"stem":1760,"tags":1761,"translationKey":1762,"updatedAt":1751,"__hash__":1763,"html":1764,"bodyMarkdown":1765,"translations":1766,"previous":1773,"next":1778},"blog\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002F8.bold-italic-strikethrough-underline-markdown.md","Bold, Italic, Strikethrough, and Underline in Markdown","Antoine Frankart",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":1710},"minimark",[10,14,23,26,31,34,156,159,194,212,215,219,222,231,237,240,249,254,257,266,271,278,291,296,299,314,317,326,331,335,338,347,353,356,365,370,377,384,387,402,412,415,419,422,431,437,444,448,451,460,467,476,479,488,497,500,509,517,520,523,527,530,539,546,549,552,568,583,593,599,602,611,614,618,621,630,637,640,661,664,669,674,678,681,684,699,708,711,715,722,747,753,759,777,783,786,790,793,827,830,834,837,840,849,852,855,862,881,889,893,910,914,921,924,945,952,960,964,967,973,976,980,988,996,999,1007,1012,1015,1030,1043,1050,1053,1057,1060,1064,1084,1104,1108,1111,1120,1128,1131,1140,1148,1155,1159,1190,1234,1237,1241,1244,1263,1269,1276,1280,1283,1298,1300,1303,1306,1309,1318,1321,1324,1328,1331,1351,1354,1357,1361,1365,1372,1375,1390,1396,1400,1403,1412,1417,1421,1424,1427,1435,1439,1443,1446,1461,1468,1472,1475,1478,1482,1485,1494,1500,1504,1644,1657,1660,1663,1678,1694,1699,1706],[11,12,13],"p",{},"Making a word bold in Markdown takes four asterisks. Italics take two. So far, so good. Then you try to underline a passage with two underscores, get bold text instead, and Markdown's apparent simplicity starts to show a few cracks.",[11,15,16,17,22],{},"If you are still getting familiar with the format itself, start with the guide to ",[18,19,21],"a",{"href":20},"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open\u002F","Markdown files (.md): what they are and how to open them",".",[11,24,25],{},"I will begin with the most useful syntax, then cover its pitfalls, compatibility across GitHub, Obsidian, and Fude, and the most common rendering problems.",[27,28,30],"h2",{"id":29},"_1-choose-the-right-syntax","1. Choose the right syntax",[11,32,33],{},"These are the styles you will use most often:",[35,36,37,56],"table",{},[38,39,40],"thead",{},[41,42,43,47,50,53],"tr",{},[44,45,46],"th",{},"Style",[44,48,49],{},"Recommended syntax",[44,51,52],{},"Alternative syntax",[44,54,55],{},"Compatibility",[57,58,59,82,102,123,142],"tbody",{},[41,60,61,68,74,79],{},[62,63,64],"td",{},[65,66,67],"strong",{},"Bold",[62,69,70],{},[71,72,73],"code",{},"**text**",[62,75,76],{},[71,77,78],{},"__text__",[62,80,81],{},"Standard Markdown",[41,83,84,90,95,100],{},[62,85,86],{},[87,88,89],"em",{},"Italic",[62,91,92],{},[71,93,94],{},"*text*",[62,96,97],{},[71,98,99],{},"_text_",[62,101,81],{},[41,103,104,111,116,121],{},[62,105,106],{},[87,107,108],{},[65,109,110],{},"Bold and italic",[62,112,113],{},[71,114,115],{},"***text***",[62,117,118],{},[71,119,120],{},"___text___",[62,122,81],{},[41,124,125,131,136,139],{},[62,126,127],{},[128,129,130],"del",{},"Strikethrough",[62,132,133],{},[71,134,135],{},"~~text~~",[62,137,138],{},"Varies by tool",[62,140,141],{},"GFM extension",[41,143,144,147,150,153],{},[62,145,146],{},"Underline",[62,148,149],{},"None",[62,151,152],{},"HTML in some tools",[62,154,155],{},"Non-standard",[11,157,158],{},"In practice, I recommend asterisks for bold and italic text:",[160,161,166],"pre",{"className":162,"code":163,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"language-markdown shiki shiki-themes github-light github-dark","**bold text**\n*italic text*\n***bold and italic text***\n~~strikethrough text~~\n","markdown","",[71,167,168,176,182,188],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,170,173],"span",{"class":171,"line":172},"line",1,[169,174,175],{},"**bold text**\n",[169,177,179],{"class":171,"line":178},2,[169,180,181],{},"*italic text*\n",[169,183,185],{"class":171,"line":184},3,[169,186,187],{},"***bold and italic text***\n",[169,189,191],{"class":171,"line":190},4,[169,192,193],{},"~~strikethrough text~~\n",[11,195,196,197,200,201,200,204,200,209],{},"Rendered: ",[65,198,199],{},"bold text"," · ",[87,202,203],{},"italic text",[87,205,206],{},[65,207,208],{},"bold and italic text",[128,210,211],{},"strikethrough text",[11,213,214],{},"These forms are readable, portable, and avoid confusion with underscores in filenames, identifiers, and code.",[27,216,218],{"id":217},"_2-make-text-bold","2. Make text bold",[11,220,221],{},"To make a word or sentence bold, place two asterisks before and after the text:",[160,223,225],{"className":162,"code":224,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"This decision is **important**.\n",[71,226,227],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,228,229],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,230,224],{},[11,232,233,234,22],{},"Rendered: This decision is ",[65,235,236],{},"important",[11,238,239],{},"You can format several words:",[160,241,243],{"className":162,"code":242,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"**Do not delete this file before the migration.**\n",[71,244,245],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,246,247],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,248,242],{},[11,250,196,251],{},[65,252,253],{},"Do not delete this file before the migration.",[11,255,256],{},"The alternative syntax uses two underscores:",[160,258,260],{"className":162,"code":259,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"This decision is __important__.\n",[71,261,262],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,263,264],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,265,259],{},[11,267,268,269,22],{},"The result is identical: This decision is ",[65,270,236],{},[11,272,273,274,277],{},"Both forms are valid. They usually produce a ",[71,275,276],{},"\u003Cstrong>"," HTML element, which expresses strong importance rather than a purely visual choice.",[11,279,280,281,283,284,287,288,22],{},"I still prefer ",[71,282,73],{},". Asterisks are easier to spot in the source, especially in a paragraph that contains names such as ",[71,285,286],{},"user_profile"," or ",[71,289,290],{},"release_notes",[292,293,295],"h3",{"id":294},"do-not-leave-spaces-inside-the-markers","Do not leave spaces inside the markers",[11,297,298],{},"The markers must touch the text:",[160,300,302],{"className":162,"code":301,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"**bold text**    ← correct\n** bold text **  ← incorrect\n",[71,303,304,309],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,305,306],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,307,308],{},"**bold text**    ← correct\n",[169,310,311],{"class":171,"line":178},[169,312,313],{},"** bold text **  ← incorrect\n",[11,315,316],{},"Depending on the renderer, the second line may remain visible exactly as written. You can include spaces and punctuation inside the passage, but not immediately after the opening asterisks or before the closing asterisks.",[160,318,320],{"className":162,"code":319,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"**Warning: this action is permanent.**\n",[71,321,322],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,323,324],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,325,319],{},[11,327,196,328],{},[65,329,330],{},"Warning: this action is permanent.",[27,332,334],{"id":333},"_3-make-text-italic","3. Make text italic",[11,336,337],{},"To write italic text, use one asterisk on each side:",[160,339,341],{"className":162,"code":340,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"This setting is *optional*.\n",[71,342,343],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,344,345],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,346,340],{},[11,348,349,350,22],{},"Rendered: This setting is ",[87,351,352],{},"optional",[11,354,355],{},"You can also use an underscore:",[160,357,359],{"className":162,"code":358,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"This setting is _optional_.\n",[71,360,361],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,362,363],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,364,358],{},[11,366,367,368,22],{},"The result is identical: This setting is ",[87,369,352],{},[11,371,372,373,376],{},"Both forms usually produce an ",[71,374,375],{},"\u003Cem>"," HTML element. Italics can indicate emphasis, a term introduced for the first time, the title of a work, or a subtle change in tone.",[11,378,379,380,383],{},"Again, I generally choose asterisks. Underscores follow a special rule inside words. The restriction prevents identifiers such as ",[71,381,382],{},"my_final_file"," from becoming partly italic, but it can also create surprising differences between renderers.",[11,385,386],{},"Compare these two lines:",[160,388,390],{"className":162,"code":389,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"extra*ordinary*ly\nextra_ordinary_ly\n",[71,391,392,397],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,393,394],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,395,396],{},"extra*ordinary*ly\n",[169,398,399],{"class":171,"line":178},[169,400,401],{},"extra_ordinary_ly\n",[11,403,404,405,408,409,22],{},"In Fude, only “ordinary” becomes italic: extra",[87,406,407],{},"ordinary","ly. The second form remains unchanged: ",[71,410,411],{},"extra_ordinary_ly",[11,413,414],{},"Asterisks can therefore mark part of a word. In Fude and most modern renderers, underscores inside an identifier remain ordinary characters. For portable documentation, format a complete word or phrase instead.",[292,416,418],{"id":417},"do-not-confuse-italics-with-underscores","Do not confuse italics with underscores",[11,420,421],{},"A single underscore does not create an underline:",[160,423,425],{"className":162,"code":424,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"_italic_\n",[71,426,427],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,428,429],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,430,424],{},[11,432,196,433,436],{},[87,434,435],{},"italic",". The text is not underlined.",[11,438,439,440,443],{},"The confusion makes sense: in a word processor, the “U” button usually means ",[87,441,442],{},"underline",". In Markdown, an underscore is only an alternative to an asterisk for emphasis.",[27,445,447],{"id":446},"_4-combine-bold-and-italic-text","4. Combine bold and italic text",[11,449,450],{},"To apply both styles to an entire passage, use three asterisks:",[160,452,454],{"className":162,"code":453,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"***This information is extremely important.***\n",[71,455,456],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,457,458],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,459,453],{},[11,461,196,462],{},[87,463,464],{},[65,465,466],{},"This information is extremely important.",[11,468,469,470,472,473,475],{},"The renderer nests bold and italic formatting. You will usually get a ",[71,471,276],{}," element containing an ",[71,474,375],{}," element, or the other way around.",[11,477,478],{},"You can also make only part of a bold passage italic:",[160,480,482],{"className":162,"code":481,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"**This step is _especially_ important.**\n",[71,483,484],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,485,486],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,487,481],{},[11,489,196,490],{},[65,491,492,493,496],{},"This step is ",[87,494,495],{},"especially"," important.",[11,498,499],{},"Or add bold text inside an italic sentence:",[160,501,503],{"className":162,"code":502,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"*This option is still **experimental**.*\n",[71,504,505],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,506,507],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,508,502],{},[11,510,196,511],{},[87,512,513,514,22],{},"This option is still ",[65,515,516],{},"experimental",[11,518,519],{},"Modern renderers support these forms, but nested markers quickly become difficult to read in the source. If you need to count the asterisks several times to understand the sentence, the formatting is probably too complex.",[11,521,522],{},"My rule is to use three asterisks for a short expression and explicit nesting when only part of the text needs a different level of emphasis.",[27,524,526],{"id":525},"_5-add-strikethrough-in-markdown","5. Add strikethrough in Markdown",[11,528,529],{},"To strike out a passage, surround it with two tildes:",[160,531,533],{"className":162,"code":532,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"Version ~~2.3~~ 2.4 fixes this problem.\n",[71,534,535],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,536,537],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,538,532],{},[11,540,541,542,545],{},"Rendered: Version ",[128,543,544],{},"2.3"," 2.4 fixes this problem.",[11,547,548],{},"The old value remains readable, but the line through it shows that it is no longer valid.",[11,550,551],{},"Strikethrough is useful when you want to:",[553,554,555,559,562,565],"ul",{},[556,557,558],"li",{},"show a correction without deleting the previous information;",[556,560,561],{},"mark an abandoned option;",[556,563,564],{},"preserve a lightweight history of a decision;",[556,566,567],{},"display a cancelled task without removing it.",[160,569,571],{"className":162,"code":570,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"- ~~Use a remote database~~\n- Keep SQLite as the local source of truth\n",[71,572,573,578],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,574,575],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,576,577],{},"- ~~Use a remote database~~\n",[169,579,580],{"class":171,"line":178},[169,581,582],{},"- Keep SQLite as the local source of truth\n",[553,584,585,590],{},[556,586,587],{},[128,588,589],{},"Use a remote database",[556,591,592],{},"Keep SQLite as the local source of truth",[11,594,595,596,598],{},"Unlike bold and italic text, ",[71,597,135],{}," is not part of core CommonMark. Strikethrough is an extension of GitHub Flavored Markdown, usually shortened to GFM. GFM renderers and many modern editors support it, but a minimal Markdown parser may display the tildes instead of striking out the text.",[11,600,601],{},"Some tools accept a single tilde:",[160,603,605],{"className":162,"code":604,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"~strikethrough text~\n",[71,606,607],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,608,609],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,610,604],{},[11,612,613],{},"Fude also renders this form as strikethrough. I still do not recommend it: it is less portable, and the tilde already has other meanings in some systems. Two tildes on each side remain the safest convention.",[292,615,617],{"id":616},"strikethrough-does-not-work-inside-code","Strikethrough does not work inside code",[11,619,620],{},"Markdown does not interpret formatting inside inline code or code blocks:",[160,622,624],{"className":162,"code":623,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"`~~oldCommand~~`\n",[71,625,626],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,627,628],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,629,623],{},[11,631,632,633,636],{},"The reader displays ",[71,634,635],{},"~~oldCommand~~"," literally. This is intentional: code must remain exact, without typographic transformations.",[11,638,639],{},"If a command is obsolete, strike out the sentence around it instead of the code itself:",[160,641,643],{"className":162,"code":642,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"~~Use the following command:~~\n\n`old-command`\n",[71,644,645,650,656],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,646,647],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,648,649],{},"~~Use the following command:~~\n",[169,651,652],{"class":171,"line":178},[169,653,655],{"emptyLinePlaceholder":654},true,"\n",[169,657,658],{"class":171,"line":184},[169,659,660],{},"`old-command`\n",[11,662,663],{},"Rendered:",[11,665,666],{},[128,667,668],{},"Use the following command:",[11,670,671],{},[71,672,673],{},"old-command",[27,675,677],{"id":676},"_6-underline-text-in-markdown","6. Underline text in Markdown",[11,679,680],{},"Standard Markdown has no syntax for underlining text.",[11,682,683],{},"Neither of these forms creates an underline:",[160,685,687],{"className":162,"code":686,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"_text_     ← italic\n__text__   ← bold\n",[71,688,689,694],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,690,691],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,692,693],{},"_text_     ← italic\n",[169,695,696],{"class":171,"line":178},[169,697,698],{},"__text__   ← bold\n",[11,700,196,701,704,705,707],{},[87,702,703],{},"text"," and ",[65,706,703],{},". Neither is underlined.",[11,709,710],{},"There is a reason for this choice: on the web, underlined text traditionally looks like a link. Adding a decorative underline in the middle of a document can make readers think that a passage is clickable.",[292,712,714],{"id":713},"use-html-when-the-renderer-allows-it","Use HTML when the renderer allows it",[11,716,717,718,721],{},"When a renderer accepts raw HTML, you may encounter the ",[71,719,720],{},"\u003Cins>"," element:",[160,723,727],{"className":724,"code":725,"language":726,"meta":165,"style":165},"language-html shiki shiki-themes github-light github-dark","This passage is \u003Cins>underlined\u003C\u002Fins>.\n","html",[71,728,729],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,730,731,735,739,742,744],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,732,734],{"class":733},"sVt8B","This passage is \u003C",[169,736,738],{"class":737},"s9eBZ","ins",[169,740,741],{"class":733},">underlined\u003C\u002F",[169,743,738],{"class":737},[169,745,746],{"class":733},">.\n",[11,748,749,750,752],{},"Semantically, ",[71,751,720],{}," means that the text was inserted into the document. Browsers underline it by default, but it is not a neutral equivalent of “draw a line under this word.”",[11,754,755,756,721],{},"You may also encounter the ",[71,757,758],{},"\u003Cu>",[160,760,762],{"className":724,"code":761,"language":726,"meta":165,"style":165},"This passage is \u003Cu>underlined\u003C\u002Fu>.\n",[71,763,764],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,765,766,768,771,773,775],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,767,734],{"class":733},[169,769,770],{"class":737},"u",[169,772,741],{"class":733},[169,774,770],{"class":737},[169,776,746],{"class":733},[11,778,779,780,782],{},"It often produces a visual underline in renderers that accept raw HTML. In modern HTML, however, ",[71,781,758],{}," represents a non-textual annotation, such as a spelling error marked with a line. Using it only to decorate a word is not always the best semantic choice.",[11,784,785],{},"More importantly, neither solution is portable. Some readers allow HTML, others filter it for security reasons, and others preserve the text but remove its underline.",[292,787,789],{"id":788},"choose-a-clearer-alternative","Choose a clearer alternative",[11,791,792],{},"Before adding HTML, decide what the underline is meant to communicate:",[553,794,795,802,808,814,821],{},[556,796,797,798,801],{},"important information: use ",[65,799,800],{},"bold",";",[556,803,804,805,801],{},"light emphasis: use ",[87,806,807],{},"italics",[556,809,810,811,801],{},"information that is no longer true: use ",[128,812,813],{},"strikethrough",[556,815,816,817,801],{},"a link: create a real ",[18,818,820],{"href":819},"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-create-links-in-markdown\u002F","Markdown link",[556,822,823,824,826],{},"an addition in a revision: use ",[71,825,720],{}," only when your platform supports it.",[11,828,829],{},"In most Markdown documents, bold is a better replacement for underline. It remains visible, semantic, and portable.",[27,831,833],{"id":832},"_7-do-not-confuse-underlining-with-highlighting","7. Do not confuse underlining with highlighting",[11,835,836],{},"Underlining adds a line below the text. Highlighting adds a colored background, like a fluorescent marker.",[11,838,839],{},"Some tools use two equals signs for highlighting:",[160,841,843],{"className":162,"code":842,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"==highlighted text==\n",[71,844,845],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,846,847],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,848,842],{},[11,850,851],{},"In a reader that follows GFM without an additional extension, the result remains literal: ==highlighted text==.",[11,853,854],{},"This syntax is available in several note-taking apps, but it is not part of CommonMark or GitHub Flavored Markdown.",[11,856,857,858,861],{},"HTML also provides ",[71,859,860],{},"\u003Cmark>",":",[160,863,865],{"className":724,"code":864,"language":726,"meta":165,"style":165},"This passage is \u003Cmark>highlighted\u003C\u002Fmark>.\n",[71,866,867],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,868,869,871,874,877,879],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,870,734],{"class":733},[169,872,873],{"class":737},"mark",[169,875,876],{"class":733},">highlighted\u003C\u002F",[169,878,873],{"class":737},[169,880,746],{"class":733},[11,882,883,884,704,886,888],{},"You still face the same portability problem as with ",[71,885,758],{},[71,887,720],{},". If your file needs to move between different tools, do not make important information depend only on underlining or proprietary highlighting.",[27,890,892],{"id":891},"_8-compare-rendering-in-github-obsidian-and-fude","8. Compare rendering in GitHub, Obsidian, and Fude",[11,894,895,896,898,899,898,901,906,907,909],{},"All three tools render ",[65,897,800],{},", ",[87,900,435],{},[87,902,903],{},[65,904,905],{},"combined bold and italic",", and ",[128,908,813],{}," without major differences. The gaps appear mainly with HTML and extensions outside GFM.",[292,911,913],{"id":912},"on-github","On GitHub",[11,915,916,917,920],{},"GitHub supports these styles in ",[71,918,919],{},".md"," files, issues, pull requests, and comments.",[11,922,923],{},"The usual shortcuts work in the web editor:",[553,925,926,936],{},[556,927,928,931,932,935],{},[71,929,930],{},"Cmd + B"," on Mac or ",[71,933,934],{},"Ctrl + B"," on Windows and Linux for bold;",[556,937,938,931,941,944],{},[71,939,940],{},"Cmd + I",[71,942,943],{},"Ctrl + I"," on Windows and Linux for italics.",[11,946,947,948,951],{},"GitHub also accepts ",[71,949,950],{},"\u003Cins>text\u003C\u002Fins>"," to produce underlined text. Remember that this is HTML supported by GitHub, not a new Markdown syntax. The same file may lose the underline elsewhere.",[11,953,954,955,959],{},"Formatting also works inside table cells. If you work with structured data, the ",[18,956,958],{"href":957},"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fmarkdown-table-complete-guide-with-examples\u002F","complete guide to Markdown tables"," covers cell limitations, characters that need escaping, and rendering differences.",[292,961,963],{"id":962},"in-obsidian","In Obsidian",[11,965,966],{},"In reading mode, the markers disappear and the text is rendered. In editing mode, their visibility depends on the selected mode and the cursor position.",[11,968,969,970,972],{},"Obsidian also accepts some raw HTML, so ",[71,971,758],{}," works in many cases. This solution remains tied to Obsidian and other renderers that allow the same element. If you export your notes or open them in a stricter app, the underline may disappear.",[11,974,975],{},"For a durable note collection, I keep HTML out of the content whenever possible. Standard Markdown travels better.",[292,977,979],{"id":978},"in-fude","In Fude",[11,981,982,983,987],{},"Fude uses GFM. The common syntax shown above works both in the app and in the ",[18,984,986],{"href":985},"\u002Fen\u002Fmarkdown-viewer\u002F","free Markdown reader on Fude.md",". The renderer produces semantic output for bold, italic, and strikethrough text.",[11,989,990,991,287,993,995],{},"Fude does not render ",[71,992,758],{},[71,994,720],{}," as underlined HTML. It preserves the text but filters unsupported HTML elements. This prevents an arbitrary Markdown file from injecting HTML into the reading interface.",[11,997,998],{},"I prefer to be explicit about that limitation: if your document depends on HTML underlining, it will not keep that appearance in Fude. Use bold or italics for information that must remain emphasized everywhere.",[11,1000,1001,1002,22],{},"You can paste the examples from this article into the online reader to compare the source and rendered output immediately, without creating a ",[18,1003,1004,1006],{"href":20},[71,1005,919],{}," file",[1008,1009,1011],"h4",{"id":1010},"highlight-without-changing-the-file","Highlight without changing the file",[11,1013,1014],{},"The desktop app also provides highlighting at the reader level:",[1016,1017,1018,1021,1024],"ol",{},[556,1019,1020],{},"select a passage in a document from your library;",[556,1022,1023],{},"right-click the selection;",[556,1025,1026,1027,22],{},"choose ",[65,1028,1029],{},"Highlight",[11,1031,1032,1033,1036,1037,1039,1040,1042],{},"Fude stores the annotation separately from the content. It adds neither ",[71,1034,1035],{},"==text=="," nor a ",[71,1038,860],{}," element to the source, so the ",[71,1041,919],{}," file on disk remains unchanged.",[11,1044,1045,1046,1049],{},"To remove the annotation, right-click the passage and choose ",[65,1047,1048],{},"Remove highlight",". The same menu can copy the passage with its context for use with an AI.",[11,1051,1052],{},"This feature belongs to Fude. The highlight remains visible in the app, but not in another Markdown reader.",[27,1054,1056],{"id":1055},"_9-use-formatting-inside-other-elements","9. Use formatting inside other elements",[11,1058,1059],{},"Inline formatting works in most paragraphs, headings, lists, blockquotes, links, and tables.",[292,1061,1063],{"id":1062},"inside-a-list","Inside a list",[160,1065,1067],{"className":162,"code":1066,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"- **High priority**: fix the data loss\n- *Optional*: review the colors\n- ~~Removed~~: add a second button\n",[71,1068,1069,1074,1079],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,1070,1071],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,1072,1073],{},"- **High priority**: fix the data loss\n",[169,1075,1076],{"class":171,"line":178},[169,1077,1078],{},"- *Optional*: review the colors\n",[169,1080,1081],{"class":171,"line":184},[169,1082,1083],{},"- ~~Removed~~: add a second button\n",[553,1085,1086,1092,1098],{},[556,1087,1088,1091],{},[65,1089,1090],{},"High priority",": fix the data loss",[556,1093,1094,1097],{},[87,1095,1096],{},"Optional",": review the colors",[556,1099,1100,1103],{},[128,1101,1102],{},"Removed",": add a second button",[292,1105,1107],{"id":1106},"inside-a-link","Inside a link",[11,1109,1110],{},"You can format the visible text of a link:",[160,1112,1114],{"className":162,"code":1113,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"[Read the **complete guide**](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open)\n",[71,1115,1116],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,1117,1118],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,1119,1113],{},[11,1121,196,1122],{},[18,1123,1124,1125],{"href":20},"Read the ",[65,1126,1127],{},"complete guide",[11,1129,1130],{},"The exact result can vary between parsers when markers are nested inside brackets. For maximum compatibility, keep the link text plain and place the emphasis around the sentence:",[160,1132,1134],{"className":162,"code":1133,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"**Important:** read the [complete guide](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open).\n",[71,1135,1136],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,1137,1138],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,1139,1133],{},[11,1141,196,1142,1145,1146,22],{},[65,1143,1144],{},"Important:"," read the ",[18,1147,1127],{"href":20},[11,1149,1150,1151,1154],{},"The guide to ",[18,1152,1153],{"href":819},"Markdown links"," covers inline links, reference links, anchors, and relative paths.",[292,1156,1158],{"id":1157},"inside-a-table","Inside a table",[160,1160,1162],{"className":162,"code":1161,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"| Status | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| **Active** | Feature available |\n| *Experimental* | Behavior may change |\n| ~~Abandoned~~ | Option removed |\n",[71,1163,1164,1169,1174,1179,1184],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,1165,1166],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,1167,1168],{},"| Status | Description |\n",[169,1170,1171],{"class":171,"line":178},[169,1172,1173],{},"| --- | --- |\n",[169,1175,1176],{"class":171,"line":184},[169,1177,1178],{},"| **Active** | Feature available |\n",[169,1180,1181],{"class":171,"line":190},[169,1182,1183],{},"| *Experimental* | Behavior may change |\n",[169,1185,1187],{"class":171,"line":1186},5,[169,1188,1189],{},"| ~~Abandoned~~ | Option removed |\n",[35,1191,1192,1202],{},[38,1193,1194],{},[41,1195,1196,1199],{},[44,1197,1198],{},"Status",[44,1200,1201],{},"Description",[57,1203,1204,1214,1224],{},[41,1205,1206,1211],{},[62,1207,1208],{},[65,1209,1210],{},"Active",[62,1212,1213],{},"Feature available",[41,1215,1216,1221],{},[62,1217,1218],{},[87,1219,1220],{},"Experimental",[62,1222,1223],{},"Behavior may change",[41,1225,1226,1231],{},[62,1227,1228],{},[128,1229,1230],{},"Abandoned",[62,1232,1233],{},"Option removed",[11,1235,1236],{},"Bold, italic, and strikethrough text work well inside GFM tables. Raw HTML and proprietary extensions are less reliable.",[292,1238,1240],{"id":1239},"around-an-image","Around an image",[11,1242,1243],{},"You cannot make an image “bold” or “italic.” You can, however, make its caption italic:",[160,1245,1247],{"className":162,"code":1246,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"![Preview of the Fude reader](.\u002Ffude-reader.png)\n\n*The same document displayed in reading mode.*\n",[71,1248,1249,1254,1258],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,1250,1251],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,1252,1253],{},"![Preview of the Fude reader](.\u002Ffude-reader.png)\n",[169,1255,1256],{"class":171,"line":178},[169,1257,655],{"emptyLinePlaceholder":654},[169,1259,1260],{"class":171,"line":184},[169,1261,1262],{},"*The same document displayed in reading mode.*\n",[11,1264,1265,1266],{},"Rendered caption: ",[87,1267,1268],{},"The same document displayed in reading mode.",[11,1270,1271,1272,22],{},"For paths, alt text, captions, and sizing, see the guide to ",[18,1273,1275],{"href":1274},"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-add-images-in-markdown\u002F","images in Markdown",[27,1277,1279],{"id":1278},"_10-escape-asterisks-and-underscores","10. Escape asterisks and underscores",[11,1281,1282],{},"Sometimes you want to display the characters without triggering formatting. Add a backslash before each marker:",[160,1284,1286],{"className":162,"code":1285,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"\\*this text remains surrounded by asterisks\\*\n\\_this text remains surrounded by underscores\\_\n",[71,1287,1288,1293],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,1289,1290],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,1291,1292],{},"\\*this text remains surrounded by asterisks\\*\n",[169,1294,1295],{"class":171,"line":178},[169,1296,1297],{},"\\_this text remains surrounded by underscores\\_\n",[11,1299,663],{},[11,1301,1302],{},"*this text remains surrounded by asterisks*",[11,1304,1305],{},"_this text remains surrounded by underscores_",[11,1307,1308],{},"Inline code is more readable when you need to display complete syntax inside a sentence:",[160,1310,1312],{"className":162,"code":1311,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"Use `**text**` to write bold text.\n",[71,1313,1314],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,1315,1316],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,1317,1311],{},[11,1319,1320],{},"Inside backticks, Markdown does not interpret asterisks, underscores, or tildes.",[11,1322,1323],{},"This rule is particularly useful when you write a Markdown guide in Markdown, which is exactly what I am doing in this article.",[27,1325,1327],{"id":1326},"_11-choose-the-right-style","11. Choose the right style",[11,1329,1330],{},"Syntax is only part of the decision. A page where every sentence is bold no longer has a visual hierarchy.",[553,1332,1333,1338,1343,1348],{},[556,1334,1335,1337],{},[65,1336,67],{},": important information, a label, a short warning, or a term that readers should spot while scanning.",[556,1339,1340,1342],{},[87,1341,89],{},": light emphasis, a newly introduced term, the title of a work, or a nuance.",[556,1344,1345,1347],{},[128,1346,130],{},": information that was removed, corrected, or made obsolete but is intentionally preserved.",[556,1349,1350],{},"Underline: an exceptional case with a clear purpose and a known renderer.",[11,1352,1353],{},"I generally reserve bold for information that should survive a quick scan. Italics should remain subtle. Strikethrough tells the story of a change; if it adds no context, deleting the text is often cleaner.",[11,1355,1356],{},"Underline is the least portable and most ambiguous style. On the web, it looks like a link. In a Markdown file, it often requires HTML. That is a lot of compromise for a line below a word.",[27,1358,1360],{"id":1359},"_12-troubleshoot-common-problems","12. Troubleshoot common problems",[292,1362,1364],{"id":1363},"the-asterisks-are-still-visible","“The asterisks are still visible”",[11,1366,1367,1368,1371],{},"Make sure you are looking at the rendered document rather than its source. A text editor naturally displays ",[71,1369,1370],{},"**bold**",". A Markdown reader displays the word in bold.",[11,1373,1374],{},"If you are already looking at a preview, check the spaces:",[160,1376,1378],{"className":162,"code":1377,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"**correct**\n** incorrect **\n",[71,1379,1380,1385],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,1381,1382],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,1383,1384],{},"**correct**\n",[169,1386,1387],{"class":171,"line":178},[169,1388,1389],{},"** incorrect **\n",[11,1391,196,1392,1395],{},[65,1393,1394],{},"correct",", while ** incorrect ** keeps its asterisks.",[292,1397,1399],{"id":1398},"two-underscores-do-not-underline-the-text","“Two underscores do not underline the text”",[11,1401,1402],{},"That is the expected behavior:",[160,1404,1406],{"className":162,"code":1405,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"__text__\n",[71,1407,1408],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,1409,1410],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,1411,1405],{},[11,1413,196,1414,1416],{},[65,1415,703],{},". This syntax produces bold text; Markdown has no standard marker for underline.",[292,1418,1420],{"id":1419},"strikethrough-does-not-work","“Strikethrough does not work”",[11,1422,1423],{},"Your renderer may support only basic Markdown without GFM extensions. Try the file in GitHub, Obsidian, or Fude. If the tildes remain visible, your tool probably does not support strikethrough.",[11,1425,1426],{},"Always use two tildes:",[160,1428,1429],{"className":162,"code":193,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},[71,1430,1431],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,1432,1433],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,1434,193],{},[11,1436,196,1437],{},[128,1438,211],{},[292,1440,1442],{"id":1441},"formatting-stops-in-the-middle-of-the-sentence","“Formatting stops in the middle of the sentence”",[11,1444,1445],{},"Make sure the opening and closing markers match:",[160,1447,1449],{"className":162,"code":1448,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"**bold*       ← incorrect\n**bold**      ← correct\n",[71,1450,1451,1456],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,1452,1453],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,1454,1455],{},"**bold*       ← incorrect\n",[169,1457,1458],{"class":171,"line":178},[169,1459,1460],{},"**bold**      ← correct\n",[11,1462,1463,1464,1467],{},"Avoid mixing asterisks and underscores without a reason. Nesting such as ",[71,1465,1466],{},"**bold and _italic_**"," is valid; an improvised sequence quickly becomes difficult to debug.",[292,1469,1471],{"id":1470},"underlined-html-disappears","“Underlined HTML disappears”",[11,1473,1474],{},"The reader is probably filtering raw HTML. This behavior is common in apps that render untrusted documents.",[11,1476,1477],{},"If the underline carries important information, replace it with bold. If it is purely decorative, accept that the document may appear without it.",[292,1479,1481],{"id":1480},"bold-does-not-work-inside-code","“Bold does not work inside code”",[11,1483,1484],{},"This is intentional:",[160,1486,1488],{"className":162,"code":1487,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"`**not bold here**`\n",[71,1489,1490],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,1491,1492],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,1493,1487],{},[11,1495,196,1496,1499],{},[71,1497,1498],{},"**not bold here**",". Inline code and code blocks display their content literally. Move the text outside the backticks if you want to make it bold.",[27,1501,1503],{"id":1502},"_13-copy-this-cheat-sheet","13. Copy this cheat sheet",[160,1505,1507],{"className":162,"code":1506,"language":164,"meta":165,"style":165},"# Bold\n**bold text**\n__bold text__\n\n# Italic\n*italic text*\n_italic text_\n\n# Bold and italic\n***bold and italic text***\n**bold text with _an italic section_**\n\n# Strikethrough — GFM extension\n~~strikethrough text~~\n\n# Underline — HTML, not portable\n\u003Cins>inserted and underlined text\u003C\u002Fins>\n\u003Cu>visually underlined annotation\u003C\u002Fu>\n\n# Literal characters\n\\*not italic\\*\n\\*\\*not bold\\*\\*\n\n# Syntax displayed as code\n`**text**`\n",[71,1508,1509,1514,1518,1523,1527,1532,1537,1543,1548,1554,1559,1565,1570,1576,1581,1586,1592,1598,1604,1609,1615,1621,1627,1632,1638],{"__ignoreMap":165},[169,1510,1511],{"class":171,"line":172},[169,1512,1513],{},"# Bold\n",[169,1515,1516],{"class":171,"line":178},[169,1517,175],{},[169,1519,1520],{"class":171,"line":184},[169,1521,1522],{},"__bold text__\n",[169,1524,1525],{"class":171,"line":190},[169,1526,655],{"emptyLinePlaceholder":654},[169,1528,1529],{"class":171,"line":1186},[169,1530,1531],{},"# Italic\n",[169,1533,1535],{"class":171,"line":1534},6,[169,1536,181],{},[169,1538,1540],{"class":171,"line":1539},7,[169,1541,1542],{},"_italic text_\n",[169,1544,1546],{"class":171,"line":1545},8,[169,1547,655],{"emptyLinePlaceholder":654},[169,1549,1551],{"class":171,"line":1550},9,[169,1552,1553],{},"# Bold and italic\n",[169,1555,1557],{"class":171,"line":1556},10,[169,1558,187],{},[169,1560,1562],{"class":171,"line":1561},11,[169,1563,1564],{},"**bold text with _an italic section_**\n",[169,1566,1568],{"class":171,"line":1567},12,[169,1569,655],{"emptyLinePlaceholder":654},[169,1571,1573],{"class":171,"line":1572},13,[169,1574,1575],{},"# Strikethrough — GFM extension\n",[169,1577,1579],{"class":171,"line":1578},14,[169,1580,193],{},[169,1582,1584],{"class":171,"line":1583},15,[169,1585,655],{"emptyLinePlaceholder":654},[169,1587,1589],{"class":171,"line":1588},16,[169,1590,1591],{},"# Underline — HTML, not portable\n",[169,1593,1595],{"class":171,"line":1594},17,[169,1596,1597],{},"\u003Cins>inserted and underlined text\u003C\u002Fins>\n",[169,1599,1601],{"class":171,"line":1600},18,[169,1602,1603],{},"\u003Cu>visually underlined annotation\u003C\u002Fu>\n",[169,1605,1607],{"class":171,"line":1606},19,[169,1608,655],{"emptyLinePlaceholder":654},[169,1610,1612],{"class":171,"line":1611},20,[169,1613,1614],{},"# Literal characters\n",[169,1616,1618],{"class":171,"line":1617},21,[169,1619,1620],{},"\\*not italic\\*\n",[169,1622,1624],{"class":171,"line":1623},22,[169,1625,1626],{},"\\*\\*not bold\\*\\*\n",[169,1628,1630],{"class":171,"line":1629},23,[169,1631,655],{"emptyLinePlaceholder":654},[169,1633,1635],{"class":171,"line":1634},24,[169,1636,1637],{},"# Syntax displayed as code\n",[169,1639,1641],{"class":171,"line":1640},25,[169,1642,1643],{},"`**text**`\n",[11,1645,1646,1647,200,1649,200,1651,200,1655],{},"Rendered portable syntax: ",[65,1648,199],{},[87,1650,203],{},[87,1652,1653],{},[65,1654,208],{},[128,1656,211],{},[1658,1659],"hr",{},[11,1661,1662],{},"Bold and italics are part of Markdown's core syntax. Strikethrough is an extension that has become almost universal. Underline remains the exception: it depends on HTML or app-specific syntax.",[11,1664,1665,1666,1669,1670,1673,1674,1677],{},"The rule I follow is straightforward: ",[71,1667,1668],{},"**"," for bold, ",[71,1671,1672],{},"*"," for italics, ",[71,1675,1676],{},"~~"," for strikethrough, and no underline unless the context truly requires it. This keeps the source readable and the output predictable as the file moves from GitHub to Obsidian and then to Fude.",[11,1679,1680,1681,898,1684,898,1687,906,1690,22],{},"To continue learning the syntax, read the guides to ",[18,1682,1683],{"href":819},"links",[18,1685,1686],{"href":1274},"images",[18,1688,1689],{"href":957},"tables",[18,1691,1693],{"href":1692},"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-add-horizontal-line-markdown\u002F","horizontal lines",[11,1695,1696,1697,22],{},"To check the result without installing an app, paste your text into the ",[18,1698,986],{"href":985},[11,1700,1701,1702],{},"📌 ",[18,1703,1705],{"href":1704},"\u002Fen\u002F#download","Download Fude",[1707,1708,1709],"style",{},"html .default .shiki span {color: var(--shiki-default);background: var(--shiki-default-bg);font-style: var(--shiki-default-font-style);font-weight: var(--shiki-default-font-weight);text-decoration: var(--shiki-default-text-decoration);}html .shiki span {color: var(--shiki-default);background: var(--shiki-default-bg);font-style: var(--shiki-default-font-style);font-weight: var(--shiki-default-font-weight);text-decoration: var(--shiki-default-text-decoration);}html .dark .shiki span {color: var(--shiki-dark);background: var(--shiki-dark-bg);font-style: var(--shiki-dark-font-style);font-weight: var(--shiki-dark-font-weight);text-decoration: var(--shiki-dark-text-decoration);}html.dark .shiki span {color: var(--shiki-dark);background: var(--shiki-dark-bg);font-style: var(--shiki-dark-font-style);font-weight: var(--shiki-dark-font-weight);text-decoration: var(--shiki-dark-text-decoration);}html pre.shiki code .sVt8B, html code.shiki .sVt8B{--shiki-default:#24292E;--shiki-dark:#E1E4E8}html pre.shiki code .s9eBZ, html code.shiki .s9eBZ{--shiki-default:#22863A;--shiki-dark:#85E89D}",{"title":165,"searchDepth":178,"depth":178,"links":1711},[1712,1713,1716,1719,1720,1723,1727,1728,1733,1739,1740,1741,1749],{"id":29,"depth":178,"text":30},{"id":217,"depth":178,"text":218,"children":1714},[1715],{"id":294,"depth":184,"text":295},{"id":333,"depth":178,"text":334,"children":1717},[1718],{"id":417,"depth":184,"text":418},{"id":446,"depth":178,"text":447},{"id":525,"depth":178,"text":526,"children":1721},[1722],{"id":616,"depth":184,"text":617},{"id":676,"depth":178,"text":677,"children":1724},[1725,1726],{"id":713,"depth":184,"text":714},{"id":788,"depth":184,"text":789},{"id":832,"depth":178,"text":833},{"id":891,"depth":178,"text":892,"children":1729},[1730,1731,1732],{"id":912,"depth":184,"text":913},{"id":962,"depth":184,"text":963},{"id":978,"depth":184,"text":979},{"id":1055,"depth":178,"text":1056,"children":1734},[1735,1736,1737,1738],{"id":1062,"depth":184,"text":1063},{"id":1106,"depth":184,"text":1107},{"id":1157,"depth":184,"text":1158},{"id":1239,"depth":184,"text":1240},{"id":1278,"depth":178,"text":1279},{"id":1326,"depth":178,"text":1327},{"id":1359,"depth":178,"text":1360,"children":1742},[1743,1744,1745,1746,1747,1748],{"id":1363,"depth":184,"text":1364},{"id":1398,"depth":184,"text":1399},{"id":1419,"depth":184,"text":1420},{"id":1441,"depth":184,"text":1442},{"id":1470,"depth":184,"text":1471},{"id":1480,"depth":184,"text":1481},{"id":1502,"depth":178,"text":1503},"markdown-guides","2026-07-25","Learn how to write bold, italic, and strikethrough text in Markdown, handle underline and highlighting, and compare rendering in GitHub, Obsidian, and Fude.","md","\u002Fimages\u002Fblog\u002Fblog8","Markdown syntax transformed into bold, italic, strikethrough, and underlined text",{},false,"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fbold-italic-strikethrough-underline-markdown",{"title":5,"description":1752},"en\u002Fblog\u002F8.bold-italic-strikethrough-underline-markdown",null,"markdown-bold-italic-strikethrough-underline","F5Q2B4WFCSydvVrOgfszC_VuCyfbh4LQws3hKErwXC4","\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"2\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1\" data-fude-source-end=\"233\">Making a word bold in Markdown takes four asterisks. Italics take two. So far, so good. Then you try to underline a passage with two underscores, get bold text instead, and Markdown's apparent simplicity starts to show a few cracks.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"4\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"235\" data-fude-source-end=\"317\">If you are still getting familiar with the format itself, start with the guide to \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"318\" data-fude-source-end=\"374\">Markdown files (.md): what they are and how to open them\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"420\" data-fude-source-end=\"421\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"6\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"423\" data-fude-source-end=\"578\">I will begin with the most useful syntax, then cover its pitfalls, compatibility across GitHub, Obsidian, and Fude, and the most common rendering problems.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"user-content-1-choose-the-right-syntax\" data-fude-source-line=\"8\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"583\" data-fude-source-end=\"609\">1. Choose the right syntax\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"10\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"611\" data-fude-source-end=\"656\">These are the styles you will use most often:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ctable data-fude-source-line=\"12\">\n\u003Cthead>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Cth>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"660\" data-fude-source-end=\"665\">Style\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fth>\n\u003Cth>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"668\" data-fude-source-end=\"686\">Recommended syntax\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fth>\n\u003Cth>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"689\" data-fude-source-end=\"707\">Alternative syntax\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fth>\n\u003Cth>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"710\" data-fude-source-end=\"723\">Compatibility\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fth>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Fthead>\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"756\" data-fude-source-end=\"760\">Bold\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"765\" data-fude-source-end=\"775\">**text**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"778\" data-fude-source-end=\"788\">__text__\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"791\" data-fude-source-end=\"808\">Standard Markdown\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"814\" data-fude-source-end=\"820\">Italic\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"824\" data-fude-source-end=\"832\">*text*\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"835\" data-fude-source-end=\"843\">_text_\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"846\" data-fude-source-end=\"863\">Standard Markdown\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"871\" data-fude-source-end=\"886\">Bold and italic\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"892\" data-fude-source-end=\"904\">***text***\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"907\" data-fude-source-end=\"919\">___text___\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"922\" data-fude-source-end=\"939\">Standard Markdown\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"946\" data-fude-source-end=\"959\">Strikethrough\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fdel>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"964\" data-fude-source-end=\"974\">~~text~~\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"977\" data-fude-source-end=\"991\">Varies by tool\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"994\" data-fude-source-end=\"1007\">GFM extension\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1012\" data-fude-source-end=\"1021\">Underline\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1024\" data-fude-source-end=\"1028\">None\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1031\" data-fude-source-end=\"1049\">HTML in some tools\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1052\" data-fude-source-end=\"1064\">Non-standard\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"20\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1068\" data-fude-source-end=\"1128\">In practice, I recommend asterisks for bold and italic text:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"1142\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"1219\" data-fude-source-line=\"22\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"1142\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"1219\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">**bold text**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">*italic text*\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">***bold and italic text***\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">~~strikethrough text~~\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"29\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1225\" data-fude-source-end=\"1235\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1237\" data-fude-source-end=\"1246\">bold text\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1248\" data-fude-source-end=\"1251\"> · \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1252\" data-fude-source-end=\"1263\">italic text\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1264\" data-fude-source-end=\"1267\"> · \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1270\" data-fude-source-end=\"1290\">bold and italic text\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1293\" data-fude-source-end=\"1296\"> · \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1298\" data-fude-source-end=\"1316\">strikethrough text\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fdel>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"31\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1320\" data-fude-source-end=\"1429\">These forms are readable, portable, and avoid confusion with underscores in filenames, identifiers, and code.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"user-content-2-make-text-bold\" data-fude-source-line=\"33\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1434\" data-fude-source-end=\"1451\">2. Make text bold\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"35\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1453\" data-fude-source-end=\"1532\">To make a word or sentence bold, place two asterisks before and after the text:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"1546\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"1577\" data-fude-source-line=\"37\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"1546\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"1577\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">This decision is **important**.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"41\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1583\" data-fude-source-end=\"1610\">Rendered: This decision is \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1612\" data-fude-source-end=\"1621\">important\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1623\" data-fude-source-end=\"1624\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"43\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1626\" data-fude-source-end=\"1655\">You can format several words:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"1669\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"1718\" data-fude-source-line=\"45\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"1669\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"1718\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">**Do not delete this file before the migration.**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"49\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1724\" data-fude-source-end=\"1734\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1736\" data-fude-source-end=\"1781\">Do not delete this file before the migration.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"51\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1785\" data-fude-source-end=\"1829\">The alternative syntax uses two underscores:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"1843\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"1874\" data-fude-source-line=\"53\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"1843\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"1874\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">This decision is __important__.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"57\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1880\" data-fude-source-end=\"1922\">The result is identical: This decision is \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1924\" data-fude-source-end=\"1933\">important\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1935\" data-fude-source-end=\"1936\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"59\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1938\" data-fude-source-end=\"1983\">Both forms are valid. They usually produce a \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1983\" data-fude-source-end=\"1993\"><strong>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"1993\" data-fude-source-end=\"2077\"> HTML element, which expresses strong importance rather than a purely visual choice.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"61\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2079\" data-fude-source-end=\"2094\">I still prefer \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2094\" data-fude-source-end=\"2104\">**text**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2104\" data-fude-source-end=\"2204\">. Asterisks are easier to spot in the source, especially in a paragraph that contains names such as \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2204\" data-fude-source-end=\"2218\">user_profile\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2218\" data-fude-source-end=\"2222\"> or \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2222\" data-fude-source-end=\"2237\">release_notes\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2237\" data-fude-source-end=\"2238\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-do-not-leave-spaces-inside-the-markers\" data-fude-source-line=\"63\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2244\" data-fude-source-end=\"2282\">Do not leave spaces inside the markers\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"65\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2284\" data-fude-source-end=\"2316\">The markers must touch the text:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"2330\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"2385\" data-fude-source-line=\"67\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"2330\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"2385\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">**bold text**    ← correct\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">** bold text **  ← incorrect\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"72\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2391\" data-fude-source-end=\"2612\">Depending on the renderer, the second line may remain visible exactly as written. You can include spaces and punctuation inside the passage, but not immediately after the opening asterisks or before the closing asterisks.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"2626\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"2664\" data-fude-source-line=\"74\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"2626\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"2664\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">**Warning: this action is permanent.**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"78\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2670\" data-fude-source-end=\"2680\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2682\" data-fude-source-end=\"2716\">Warning: this action is permanent.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"user-content-3-make-text-italic\" data-fude-source-line=\"80\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2723\" data-fude-source-end=\"2742\">3. Make text italic\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"82\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2744\" data-fude-source-end=\"2796\">To write italic text, use one asterisk on each side:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"2810\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"2837\" data-fude-source-line=\"84\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"2810\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"2837\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">This setting is *optional*.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"88\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2843\" data-fude-source-end=\"2869\">Rendered: This setting is \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2870\" data-fude-source-end=\"2878\">optional\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2879\" data-fude-source-end=\"2880\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"90\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2882\" data-fude-source-end=\"2913\">You can also use an underscore:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"2927\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"2954\" data-fude-source-line=\"92\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"2927\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"2954\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">This setting is _optional_.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"96\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"2960\" data-fude-source-end=\"3001\">The result is identical: This setting is \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3002\" data-fude-source-end=\"3010\">optional\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3011\" data-fude-source-end=\"3012\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"98\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3014\" data-fude-source-end=\"3044\">Both forms usually produce an \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3044\" data-fude-source-end=\"3050\"><em>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3050\" data-fude-source-end=\"3182\"> HTML element. Italics can indicate emphasis, a term introduced for the first time, the title of a work, or a subtle change in tone.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"100\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3184\" data-fude-source-end=\"3314\">Again, I generally choose asterisks. Underscores follow a special rule inside words. The restriction prevents identifiers such as \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3314\" data-fude-source-end=\"3329\">my_final_file\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3329\" data-fude-source-end=\"3423\"> from becoming partly italic, but it can also create surprising differences between renderers.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"102\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3425\" data-fude-source-end=\"3449\">Compare these two lines:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"3463\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"3498\" data-fude-source-line=\"104\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"3463\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"3498\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">extra*ordinary*ly\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">extra_ordinary_ly\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"109\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3504\" data-fude-source-end=\"3550\">In Fude, only “ordinary” becomes italic: extra\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3551\" data-fude-source-end=\"3559\">ordinary\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3560\" data-fude-source-end=\"3599\">ly. The second form remains unchanged: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3599\" data-fude-source-end=\"3618\">extra_ordinary_ly\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3618\" data-fude-source-end=\"3619\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"111\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3621\" data-fude-source-end=\"3831\">Asterisks can therefore mark part of a word. In Fude and most modern renderers, underscores inside an identifier remain ordinary characters. For portable documentation, format a complete word or phrase instead.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-do-not-confuse-italics-with-underscores\" data-fude-source-line=\"113\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3837\" data-fude-source-end=\"3876\">Do not confuse italics with underscores\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"115\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3878\" data-fude-source-end=\"3927\">A single underscore does not create an underline:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"3941\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"3949\" data-fude-source-line=\"117\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"3941\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"3949\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">_italic_\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"121\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3955\" data-fude-source-end=\"3965\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3966\" data-fude-source-end=\"3972\">italic\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"3973\" data-fude-source-end=\"4002\">. The text is not underlined.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"123\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4004\" data-fude-source-end=\"4081\">The confusion makes sense: in a word processor, the “U” button usually means \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4082\" data-fude-source-end=\"4091\">underline\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4092\" data-fude-source-end=\"4172\">. In Markdown, an underscore is only an alternative to an asterisk for emphasis.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"user-content-4-combine-bold-and-italic-text\" data-fude-source-line=\"125\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4177\" data-fude-source-end=\"4208\">4. Combine bold and italic text\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"127\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4210\" data-fude-source-end=\"4273\">To apply both styles to an entire passage, use three asterisks:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"4287\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"4333\" data-fude-source-line=\"129\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"4287\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"4333\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">***This information is extremely important.***\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"133\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4339\" data-fude-source-end=\"4349\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4352\" data-fude-source-end=\"4392\">This information is extremely important.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"135\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4397\" data-fude-source-end=\"4467\">The renderer nests bold and italic formatting. You will usually get a \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4467\" data-fude-source-end=\"4477\"><strong>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4477\" data-fude-source-end=\"4500\"> element containing an \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4500\" data-fude-source-end=\"4506\"><em>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4506\" data-fude-source-end=\"4540\"> element, or the other way around.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"137\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4542\" data-fude-source-end=\"4595\">You can also make only part of a bold passage italic:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"4609\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"4649\" data-fude-source-line=\"139\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"4609\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"4649\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">**This step is _especially_ important.**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"143\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4655\" data-fude-source-end=\"4665\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4667\" data-fude-source-end=\"4680\">This step is \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4681\" data-fude-source-end=\"4691\">especially\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4692\" data-fude-source-end=\"4703\"> important.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"145\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4707\" data-fude-source-end=\"4750\">Or add bold text inside an italic sentence:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"4764\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"4804\" data-fude-source-line=\"147\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"4764\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"4804\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">*This option is still **experimental**.*\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"151\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4810\" data-fude-source-end=\"4820\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4821\" data-fude-source-end=\"4842\">This option is still \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4844\" data-fude-source-end=\"4856\">experimental\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4858\" data-fude-source-end=\"4859\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"153\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"4862\" data-fude-source-end=\"5083\">Modern renderers support these forms, but nested markers quickly become difficult to read in the source. If you need to count the asterisks several times to understand the sentence, the formatting is probably too complex.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"155\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5085\" data-fude-source-end=\"5226\">My rule is to use three asterisks for a short expression and explicit nesting when only part of the text needs a different level of emphasis.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"user-content-5-add-strikethrough-in-markdown\" data-fude-source-line=\"157\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5231\" data-fude-source-end=\"5263\">5. Add strikethrough in Markdown\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"159\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5265\" data-fude-source-end=\"5318\">To strike out a passage, surround it with two tildes:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"5332\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"5371\" data-fude-source-line=\"161\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"5332\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"5371\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">Version ~~2.3~~ 2.4 fixes this problem.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"165\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5377\" data-fude-source-end=\"5395\">Rendered: Version \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5397\" data-fude-source-end=\"5400\">2.3\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5402\" data-fude-source-end=\"5426\"> 2.4 fixes this problem.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"167\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5428\" data-fude-source-end=\"5517\">The old value remains readable, but the line through it shows that it is no longer valid.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"169\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5519\" data-fude-source-end=\"5560\">Strikethrough is useful when you want to:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul data-fude-source-line=\"171\">\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5564\" data-fude-source-end=\"5624\">show a correction without deleting the previous information;\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5627\" data-fude-source-end=\"5652\">mark an abandoned option;\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5655\" data-fude-source-end=\"5700\">preserve a lightweight history of a decision;\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5703\" data-fude-source-end=\"5748\">display a cancelled task without removing it.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"5762\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"5832\" data-fude-source-line=\"176\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"5762\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"5832\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">- ~~Use a remote database~~\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">- Keep SQLite as the local source of truth\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cul data-fude-source-line=\"181\">\n\u003Cli>\u003Cdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5842\" data-fude-source-end=\"5863\">Use a remote database\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fdel>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5868\" data-fude-source-end=\"5908\">Keep SQLite as the local source of truth\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"184\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5910\" data-fude-source-end=\"5939\">Unlike bold and italic text, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5939\" data-fude-source-end=\"5949\">~~text~~\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"5949\" data-fude-source-end=\"6203\"> is not part of core CommonMark. Strikethrough is an extension of GitHub Flavored Markdown, usually shortened to GFM. GFM renderers and many modern editors support it, but a minimal Markdown parser may display the tildes instead of striking out the text.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"186\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"6205\" data-fude-source-end=\"6238\">Some tools accept a single tilde:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"6252\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"6272\" data-fude-source-line=\"188\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"6252\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"6272\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">~strikethrough text~\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"192\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"6278\" data-fude-source-end=\"6485\">Fude also renders this form as strikethrough. I still do not recommend it: it is less portable, and the tilde already has other meanings in some systems. Two tildes on each side remain the safest convention.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-strikethrough-does-not-work-inside-code\" data-fude-source-line=\"194\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"6491\" data-fude-source-end=\"6530\">Strikethrough does not work inside code\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"196\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"6532\" data-fude-source-end=\"6605\">Markdown does not interpret formatting inside inline code or code blocks:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"6619\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"6635\" data-fude-source-line=\"198\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"6619\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"6635\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string, color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-accent-primary) 78%, var(--color-code-text) 22%))\">`~~oldCommand~~`\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"202\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"6641\" data-fude-source-end=\"6661\">The reader displays \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"6661\" data-fude-source-end=\"6677\">~~oldCommand~~\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"6677\" data-fude-source-end=\"6770\"> literally. This is intentional: code must remain exact, without typographic transformations.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"204\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"6772\" data-fude-source-end=\"6859\">If a command is obsolete, strike out the sentence around it instead of the code itself:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"6873\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"6918\" data-fude-source-line=\"206\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"6873\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"6918\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">~~Use the following command:~~\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string, color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-accent-primary) 78%, var(--color-code-text) 22%))\">`old-command`\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"212\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"6924\" data-fude-source-end=\"6933\">Rendered:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"214\">\u003Cdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"6937\" data-fude-source-end=\"6963\">Use the following command:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fdel>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"216\">\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"6967\" data-fude-source-end=\"6980\">old-command\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"user-content-6-underline-text-in-markdown\" data-fude-source-line=\"218\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"6985\" data-fude-source-end=\"7014\">6. Underline text in Markdown\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"220\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7016\" data-fude-source-end=\"7069\">Standard Markdown has no syntax for underlining text.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"222\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7071\" data-fude-source-end=\"7115\">Neither of these forms creates an underline:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"7129\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"7166\" data-fude-source-line=\"224\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"7129\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"7166\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">_text_     ← italic\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">__text__   ← bold\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"229\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7172\" data-fude-source-end=\"7182\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7183\" data-fude-source-end=\"7187\">text\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7188\" data-fude-source-end=\"7193\"> and \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7195\" data-fude-source-end=\"7199\">text\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7201\" data-fude-source-end=\"7225\">. Neither is underlined.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"231\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7227\" data-fude-source-end=\"7432\">There is a reason for this choice: on the web, underlined text traditionally looks like a link. Adding a decorative underline in the middle of a document can make readers think that a passage is clickable.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-use-html-when-the-renderer-allows-it\" data-fude-source-line=\"233\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7438\" data-fude-source-end=\"7474\">Use HTML when the renderer allows it\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"235\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7476\" data-fude-source-end=\"7532\">When a renderer accepts raw HTML, you may encounter the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7532\" data-fude-source-end=\"7539\"><ins>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7539\" data-fude-source-end=\"7548\"> element:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"html\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"7558\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"7596\" data-fude-source-line=\"237\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-html\" data-language=\"html\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"7558\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"7596\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">This passage is <\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string-expression)\">ins\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">>underlined<\u002F\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string-expression)\">ins\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">>.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"241\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7602\" data-fude-source-end=\"7616\">Semantically, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7616\" data-fude-source-end=\"7623\"><ins>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7623\" data-fude-source-end=\"7778\"> means that the text was inserted into the document. Browsers underline it by default, but it is not a neutral equivalent of “draw a line under this word.”\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"243\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7780\" data-fude-source-end=\"7807\">You may also encounter the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7807\" data-fude-source-end=\"7812\"><u>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7812\" data-fude-source-end=\"7821\"> element:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"html\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"7831\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"7865\" data-fude-source-line=\"245\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-html\" data-language=\"html\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"7831\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"7865\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">This passage is <\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string-expression)\">u\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">>underlined<\u002F\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string-expression)\">u\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">>.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"249\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7871\" data-fude-source-end=\"7968\">It often produces a visual underline in renderers that accept raw HTML. In modern HTML, however, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7968\" data-fude-source-end=\"7973\"><u>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"7973\" data-fude-source-end=\"8128\"> represents a non-textual annotation, such as a spelling error marked with a line. Using it only to decorate a word is not always the best semantic choice.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"251\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8130\" data-fude-source-end=\"8296\">More importantly, neither solution is portable. Some readers allow HTML, others filter it for security reasons, and others preserve the text but remove its underline.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-choose-a-clearer-alternative\" data-fude-source-line=\"253\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8302\" data-fude-source-end=\"8330\">Choose a clearer alternative\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"255\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8332\" data-fude-source-end=\"8402\">Before adding HTML, decide what the underline is meant to communicate:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul data-fude-source-line=\"257\">\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8406\" data-fude-source-end=\"8433\">important information: use \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8435\" data-fude-source-end=\"8439\">bold\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8441\" data-fude-source-end=\"8442\">;\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8445\" data-fude-source-end=\"8465\">light emphasis: use \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8466\" data-fude-source-end=\"8473\">italics\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8474\" data-fude-source-end=\"8475\">;\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8478\" data-fude-source-end=\"8518\">information that is no longer true: use \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8520\" data-fude-source-end=\"8533\">strikethrough\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8535\" data-fude-source-end=\"8536\">;\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8539\" data-fude-source-end=\"8561\">a link: create a real \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-create-links-in-markdown\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8562\" data-fude-source-end=\"8575\">Markdown link\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8619\" data-fude-source-end=\"8620\">;\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8623\" data-fude-source-end=\"8654\">an addition in a revision: use \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8654\" data-fude-source-end=\"8661\"><ins>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8661\" data-fude-source-end=\"8698\"> only when your platform supports it.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"263\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8700\" data-fude-source-end=\"8815\">In most Markdown documents, bold is a better replacement for underline. It remains visible, semantic, and portable.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"user-content-7-do-not-confuse-underlining-with-highlighting\" data-fude-source-line=\"265\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8820\" data-fude-source-end=\"8867\">7. Do not confuse underlining with highlighting\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"267\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8869\" data-fude-source-end=\"8975\">Underlining adds a line below the text. Highlighting adds a colored background, like a fluorescent marker.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"269\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"8977\" data-fude-source-end=\"9026\">Some tools use two equals signs for highlighting:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"9040\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"9060\" data-fude-source-line=\"271\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"9040\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"9060\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">==highlighted text==\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"275\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9066\" data-fude-source-end=\"9177\">In a reader that follows GFM without an additional extension, the result remains literal: ==highlighted text==.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"277\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9179\" data-fude-source-end=\"9294\">This syntax is available in several note-taking apps, but it is not part of CommonMark or GitHub Flavored Markdown.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"279\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9296\" data-fude-source-end=\"9315\">HTML also provides \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9315\" data-fude-source-end=\"9323\"><mark>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9323\" data-fude-source-end=\"9324\">:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"html\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"9334\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"9375\" data-fude-source-line=\"281\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-html\" data-language=\"html\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"9334\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"9375\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">This passage is <\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string-expression)\">mark\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">>highlighted<\u002F\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string-expression)\">mark\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">>.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"285\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9381\" data-fude-source-end=\"9433\">You still face the same portability problem as with \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9433\" data-fude-source-end=\"9438\"><u>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9438\" data-fude-source-end=\"9443\"> and \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9443\" data-fude-source-end=\"9450\"><ins>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9450\" data-fude-source-end=\"9593\">. If your file needs to move between different tools, do not make important information depend only on underlining or proprietary highlighting.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"user-content-8-compare-rendering-in-github-obsidian-and-fude\" data-fude-source-line=\"287\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9598\" data-fude-source-end=\"9648\">8. Compare rendering in GitHub, Obsidian, and Fude\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"289\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9650\" data-fude-source-end=\"9673\">All three tools render \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9675\" data-fude-source-end=\"9679\">bold\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9681\" data-fude-source-end=\"9683\">, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9684\" data-fude-source-end=\"9690\">italic\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9691\" data-fude-source-end=\"9693\">, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9696\" data-fude-source-end=\"9720\">combined bold and italic\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9723\" data-fude-source-end=\"9729\">, and \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9731\" data-fude-source-end=\"9744\">strikethrough\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9746\" data-fude-source-end=\"9834\"> without major differences. The gaps appear mainly with HTML and extensions outside GFM.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-on-github\" data-fude-source-line=\"291\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9840\" data-fude-source-end=\"9849\">On GitHub\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"293\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9851\" data-fude-source-end=\"9883\">GitHub supports these styles in \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9883\" data-fude-source-end=\"9888\">.md\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9888\" data-fude-source-end=\"9932\"> files, issues, pull requests, and comments.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"295\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9934\" data-fude-source-end=\"9977\">The usual shortcuts work in the web editor:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul data-fude-source-line=\"297\">\n\u003Cli>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9981\" data-fude-source-end=\"9990\">Cmd + B\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"9990\" data-fude-source-end=\"10001\"> on Mac or \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10001\" data-fude-source-end=\"10011\">Ctrl + B\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10011\" data-fude-source-end=\"10042\"> on Windows and Linux for bold;\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10045\" data-fude-source-end=\"10054\">Cmd + I\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10054\" data-fude-source-end=\"10065\"> on Mac or \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10065\" data-fude-source-end=\"10075\">Ctrl + I\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10075\" data-fude-source-end=\"10109\"> on Windows and Linux for italics.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"300\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10111\" data-fude-source-end=\"10131\">GitHub also accepts \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10131\" data-fude-source-end=\"10148\"><ins>text<\u002Fins>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10148\" data-fude-source-end=\"10299\"> to produce underlined text. Remember that this is HTML supported by GitHub, not a new Markdown syntax. The same file may lose the underline elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"302\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10301\" data-fude-source-end=\"10381\">Formatting also works inside table cells. If you work with structured data, the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fmarkdown-table-complete-guide-with-examples\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10382\" data-fude-source-end=\"10415\">complete guide to Markdown tables\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10471\" data-fude-source-end=\"10554\"> covers cell limitations, characters that need escaping, and rendering differences.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-in-obsidian\" data-fude-source-line=\"304\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10560\" data-fude-source-end=\"10571\">In Obsidian\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"306\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10573\" data-fude-source-end=\"10725\">In reading mode, the markers disappear and the text is rendered. In editing mode, their visibility depends on the selected mode and the cursor position.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"308\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10727\" data-fude-source-end=\"10767\">Obsidian also accepts some raw HTML, so \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10767\" data-fude-source-end=\"10772\"><u>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10772\" data-fude-source-end=\"10967\"> works in many cases. This solution remains tied to Obsidian and other renderers that allow the same element. If you export your notes or open them in a stricter app, the underline may disappear.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"310\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"10969\" data-fude-source-end=\"11083\">For a durable note collection, I keep HTML out of the content whenever possible. Standard Markdown travels better.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-in-fude\" data-fude-source-line=\"312\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11089\" data-fude-source-end=\"11096\">In Fude\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"314\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11098\" data-fude-source-end=\"11176\">Fude uses GFM. The common syntax shown above works both in the app and in the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fmarkdown-viewer\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11177\" data-fude-source-end=\"11208\">free Markdown reader on Fude.md\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11231\" data-fude-source-end=\"11312\">. The renderer produces semantic output for bold, italic, and strikethrough text.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"316\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11314\" data-fude-source-end=\"11335\">Fude does not render \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11335\" data-fude-source-end=\"11340\"><u>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11340\" data-fude-source-end=\"11344\"> or \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11344\" data-fude-source-end=\"11351\"><ins>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11351\" data-fude-source-end=\"11521\"> as underlined HTML. It preserves the text but filters unsupported HTML elements. This prevents an arbitrary Markdown file from injecting HTML into the reading interface.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"318\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11523\" data-fude-source-end=\"11733\">I prefer to be explicit about that limitation: if your document depends on HTML underlining, it will not keep that appearance in Fude. Use bold or italics for information that must remain emphasized everywhere.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"320\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11735\" data-fude-source-end=\"11877\">You can paste the examples from this article into the online reader to compare the source and rendered output immediately, without creating a \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11878\" data-fude-source-end=\"11883\">.md\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11883\" data-fude-source-end=\"11888\"> file\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11934\" data-fude-source-end=\"11935\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch4 id=\"user-content-highlight-without-changing-the-file\" data-fude-source-line=\"322\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11942\" data-fude-source-end=\"11977\">Highlight without changing the file\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"324\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"11979\" data-fude-source-end=\"12042\">The desktop app also provides highlighting at the reader level:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Col data-fude-source-line=\"326\">\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12047\" data-fude-source-end=\"12096\">select a passage in a document from your library;\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12100\" data-fude-source-end=\"12126\">right-click the selection;\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12130\" data-fude-source-end=\"12137\">choose \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12139\" data-fude-source-end=\"12148\">Highlight\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12150\" data-fude-source-end=\"12151\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Fol>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"330\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12153\" data-fude-source-end=\"12225\">Fude stores the annotation separately from the content. It adds neither \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12225\" data-fude-source-end=\"12235\">==text==\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12235\" data-fude-source-end=\"12242\"> nor a \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12242\" data-fude-source-end=\"12250\"><mark>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12250\" data-fude-source-end=\"12281\"> element to the source, so the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12281\" data-fude-source-end=\"12286\">.md\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12286\" data-fude-source-end=\"12318\"> file on disk remains unchanged.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"332\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12320\" data-fude-source-end=\"12381\">To remove the annotation, right-click the passage and choose \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12383\" data-fude-source-end=\"12399\">Remove highlight\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12401\" data-fude-source-end=\"12474\">. The same menu can copy the passage with its context for use with an AI.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"334\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12476\" data-fude-source-end=\"12583\">This feature belongs to Fude. The highlight remains visible in the app, but not in another Markdown reader.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"user-content-9-use-formatting-inside-other-elements\" data-fude-source-line=\"336\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12588\" data-fude-source-end=\"12627\">9. Use formatting inside other elements\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"338\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12629\" data-fude-source-end=\"12721\">Inline formatting works in most paragraphs, headings, lists, blockquotes, links, and tables.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-inside-a-list\" data-fude-source-line=\"340\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12727\" data-fude-source-end=\"12740\">Inside a list\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"12754\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"12859\" data-fude-source-line=\"342\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"12754\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"12859\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">- **High priority**: fix the data loss\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">- *Optional*: review the colors\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">- ~~Removed~~: add a second button\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cul data-fude-source-line=\"348\">\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12869\" data-fude-source-end=\"12882\">High priority\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12884\" data-fude-source-end=\"12903\">: fix the data loss\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12907\" data-fude-source-end=\"12915\">Optional\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12916\" data-fude-source-end=\"12935\">: review the colors\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12940\" data-fude-source-end=\"12947\">Removed\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12949\" data-fude-source-end=\"12970\">: add a second button\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-inside-a-link\" data-fude-source-line=\"352\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12976\" data-fude-source-end=\"12989\">Inside a link\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"354\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"12991\" data-fude-source-end=\"13033\">You can format the visible text of a link:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"13047\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"13120\" data-fude-source-line=\"356\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"13047\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"13120\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-link)\">[\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-keyword, color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-accent-primary) 68%, var(--color-code-text) 32%))\">Read the **complete guide**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-link)\">](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open)\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"360\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13126\" data-fude-source-end=\"13136\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13137\" data-fude-source-end=\"13146\">Read the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13148\" data-fude-source-end=\"13162\">complete guide\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"362\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13212\" data-fude-source-end=\"13390\">The exact result can vary between parsers when markers are nested inside brackets. For maximum compatibility, keep the link text plain and place the emphasis around the sentence:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"13404\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"13489\" data-fude-source-line=\"364\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"13404\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"13489\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">**Important:** read the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-link)\">[\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-keyword, color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-accent-primary) 68%, var(--color-code-text) 32%))\">complete guide\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-link)\">](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open)\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"368\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13495\" data-fude-source-end=\"13505\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13507\" data-fude-source-end=\"13517\">Important:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13519\" data-fude-source-end=\"13529\"> read the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13530\" data-fude-source-end=\"13544\">complete guide\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13590\" data-fude-source-end=\"13591\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"370\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13593\" data-fude-source-end=\"13606\">The guide to \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-create-links-in-markdown\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13607\" data-fude-source-end=\"13621\">Markdown links\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13665\" data-fude-source-end=\"13732\"> covers inline links, reference links, anchors, and relative paths.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-inside-a-table\" data-fude-source-line=\"372\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13738\" data-fude-source-end=\"13752\">Inside a table\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"13766\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"13915\" data-fude-source-line=\"374\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"13766\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"13915\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">| Status | Description |\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">| \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-punctuation, color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-code-text) 78%, var(--color-code-bg) 22%))\">---\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\"> | \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-punctuation, color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-code-text) 78%, var(--color-code-bg) 22%))\">---\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\"> |\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">| **Active** | Feature available |\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">| *Experimental* | Behavior may change |\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">| ~~Abandoned~~ | Option removed |\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Ctable data-fude-source-line=\"382\">\n\u003Cthead>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Cth>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13923\" data-fude-source-end=\"13929\">Status\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fth>\n\u003Cth>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13932\" data-fude-source-end=\"13943\">Description\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fth>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Fthead>\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13964\" data-fude-source-end=\"13970\">Active\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13975\" data-fude-source-end=\"13992\">Feature available\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"13998\" data-fude-source-end=\"14010\">Experimental\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14014\" data-fude-source-end=\"14033\">Behavior may change\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14040\" data-fude-source-end=\"14049\">Abandoned\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fdel>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14054\" data-fude-source-end=\"14068\">Option removed\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"388\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14072\" data-fude-source-end=\"14192\">Bold, italic, and strikethrough text work well inside GFM tables. Raw HTML and proprietary extensions are less reliable.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-around-an-image\" data-fude-source-line=\"390\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14198\" data-fude-source-end=\"14213\">Around an image\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"392\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14215\" data-fude-source-end=\"14302\">You cannot make an image “bold” or “italic.” You can, however, make its caption italic:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"14316\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"14412\" data-fude-source-line=\"394\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"14316\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"14412\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">![\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-keyword, color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-accent-primary) 68%, var(--color-code-text) 32%))\">Preview of the Fude reader\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">]\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-link)\">(.\u002Ffude-reader.png)\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">*The same document displayed in reading mode.*\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"400\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14418\" data-fude-source-end=\"14436\">Rendered caption: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14437\" data-fude-source-end=\"14481\">The same document displayed in reading mode.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"402\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14484\" data-fude-source-end=\"14544\">For paths, alt text, captions, and sizing, see the guide to \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-add-images-in-markdown\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14545\" data-fude-source-end=\"14563\">images in Markdown\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14605\" data-fude-source-end=\"14606\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"user-content-10-escape-asterisks-and-underscores\" data-fude-source-line=\"404\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14611\" data-fude-source-end=\"14647\">10. Escape asterisks and underscores\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"406\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14649\" data-fude-source-end=\"14760\">Sometimes you want to display the characters without triggering formatting. Add a backslash before each marker:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"14774\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"14867\" data-fude-source-line=\"408\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"14774\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"14867\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">\\*this text remains surrounded by asterisks\\*\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">\\_this text remains surrounded by underscores\\_\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"413\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14873\" data-fude-source-end=\"14882\">Rendered:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"415\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14884\" data-fude-source-end=\"14929\">*this text remains surrounded by asterisks*\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"417\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14931\" data-fude-source-end=\"14978\">_this text remains surrounded by underscores_\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"419\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"14980\" data-fude-source-end=\"15068\">Inline code is more readable when you need to display complete syntax inside a sentence:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"15082\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"15116\" data-fude-source-line=\"421\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"15082\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"15116\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">Use \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string, color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-accent-primary) 78%, var(--color-code-text) 22%))\">`**text**`\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\"> to write bold text.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"425\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"15122\" data-fude-source-end=\"15202\">Inside backticks, Markdown does not interpret asterisks, underscores, or tildes.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"427\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"15204\" data-fude-source-end=\"15331\">This rule is particularly useful when you write a Markdown guide in Markdown, which is exactly what I am doing in this article.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"user-content-11-choose-the-right-style\" data-fude-source-line=\"429\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"15336\" data-fude-source-end=\"15362\">11. Choose the right style\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"431\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"15364\" data-fude-source-end=\"15470\">Syntax is only part of the decision. A page where every sentence is bold no longer has a visual hierarchy.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul data-fude-source-line=\"433\">\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"15476\" data-fude-source-end=\"15480\">Bold\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"15482\" data-fude-source-end=\"15583\">: important information, a label, a short warning, or a term that readers should spot while scanning.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"15587\" data-fude-source-end=\"15593\">Italic\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"15594\" data-fude-source-end=\"15670\">: light emphasis, a newly introduced term, the title of a work, or a nuance.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"15675\" data-fude-source-end=\"15688\">Strikethrough\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"15690\" data-fude-source-end=\"15781\">: information that was removed, corrected, or made obsolete but is intentionally preserved.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"15784\" data-fude-source-end=\"15857\">Underline: an exceptional case with a clear purpose and a known renderer.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"438\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"15859\" data-fude-source-end=\"16065\">I generally reserve bold for information that should survive a quick scan. Italics should remain subtle. Strikethrough tells the story of a change; if it adds no context, deleting the text is often cleaner.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"440\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16067\" data-fude-source-end=\"16255\">Underline is the least portable and most ambiguous style. On the web, it looks like a link. In a Markdown file, it often requires HTML. That is a lot of compromise for a line below a word.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"user-content-12-troubleshoot-common-problems\" data-fude-source-line=\"442\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16260\" data-fude-source-end=\"16292\">12. Troubleshoot common problems\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-the-asterisks-are-still-visible\" data-fude-source-line=\"444\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16298\" data-fude-source-end=\"16331\">“The asterisks are still visible”\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"446\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16333\" data-fude-source-end=\"16441\">Make sure you are looking at the rendered document rather than its source. A text editor naturally displays \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16441\" data-fude-source-end=\"16451\">**bold**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16451\" data-fude-source-end=\"16497\">. A Markdown reader displays the word in bold.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"448\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16499\" data-fude-source-end=\"16557\">If you are already looking at a preview, check the spaces:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"16571\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"16598\" data-fude-source-line=\"450\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"16571\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"16598\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">**correct**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">** incorrect **\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"455\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16604\" data-fude-source-end=\"16614\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16616\" data-fude-source-end=\"16623\">correct\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16625\" data-fude-source-end=\"16673\">, while ** incorrect ** keeps its asterisks.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-two-underscores-do-not-underline-the-text\" data-fude-source-line=\"457\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16679\" data-fude-source-end=\"16722\">“Two underscores do not underline the text”\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"459\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16724\" data-fude-source-end=\"16754\">That is the expected behavior:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"16768\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"16776\" data-fude-source-line=\"461\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"16768\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"16776\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">__text__\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"465\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16782\" data-fude-source-end=\"16792\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16794\" data-fude-source-end=\"16798\">text\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16800\" data-fude-source-end=\"16880\">. This syntax produces bold text; Markdown has no standard marker for underline.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-strikethrough-does-not-work\" data-fude-source-line=\"467\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16886\" data-fude-source-end=\"16915\">“Strikethrough does not work”\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"469\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"16917\" data-fude-source-end=\"17110\">Your renderer may support only basic Markdown without GFM extensions. Try the file in GitHub, Obsidian, or Fude. If the tildes remain visible, your tool probably does not support strikethrough.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"471\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17112\" data-fude-source-end=\"17134\">Always use two tildes:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"17148\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"17170\" data-fude-source-line=\"473\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"17148\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"17170\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">~~strikethrough text~~\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"477\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17176\" data-fude-source-end=\"17186\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17188\" data-fude-source-end=\"17206\">strikethrough text\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fdel>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-formatting-stops-in-the-middle-of-the-sentence\" data-fude-source-line=\"479\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17214\" data-fude-source-end=\"17262\">“Formatting stops in the middle of the sentence”\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"481\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17264\" data-fude-source-end=\"17312\">Make sure the opening and closing markers match:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"17326\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"17375\" data-fude-source-line=\"483\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"17326\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"17375\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">**bold*       ← incorrect\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">**bold**      ← correct\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"488\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17381\" data-fude-source-end=\"17454\">Avoid mixing asterisks and underscores without a reason. Nesting such as \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17454\" data-fude-source-end=\"17477\">**bold and _italic_**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17477\" data-fude-source-end=\"17546\"> is valid; an improvised sequence quickly becomes difficult to debug.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-underlined-html-disappears\" data-fude-source-line=\"490\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17552\" data-fude-source-end=\"17580\">“Underlined HTML disappears”\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"492\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17582\" data-fude-source-end=\"17689\">The reader is probably filtering raw HTML. This behavior is common in apps that render untrusted documents.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"494\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17691\" data-fude-source-end=\"17836\">If the underline carries important information, replace it with bold. If it is purely decorative, accept that the document may appear without it.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 id=\"user-content-bold-does-not-work-inside-code\" data-fude-source-line=\"496\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17842\" data-fude-source-end=\"17874\">“Bold does not work inside code”\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"498\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17876\" data-fude-source-end=\"17896\">This is intentional:\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"17910\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"17929\" data-fude-source-line=\"500\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"17910\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"17929\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string, color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-accent-primary) 78%, var(--color-code-text) 22%))\">`**not bold here**`\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"504\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17935\" data-fude-source-end=\"17945\">Rendered: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17945\" data-fude-source-end=\"17964\">**not bold here**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"17964\" data-fude-source-end=\"18091\">. Inline code and code blocks display their content literally. Move the text outside the backticks if you want to make it bold.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2 id=\"user-content-13-copy-this-cheat-sheet\" data-fude-source-line=\"506\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18096\" data-fude-source-end=\"18121\">13. Copy this cheat sheet\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cpre style=\"background-color:var(--fude-code-background, var(--color-code-bg));color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"shiki fude-code-theme fude-code-block\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"18135\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"18553\" data-fude-source-line=\"508\">\u003Ccode class=\"language-markdown\" data-language=\"markdown\" data-fude-code-block-start=\"18135\" data-fude-code-block-end=\"18553\">\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\"># Bold\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">**bold text**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">__bold text__\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\"># Italic\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">*italic text*\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">_italic text_\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\"># Bold and italic\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">***bold and italic text***\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">**bold text with _an italic section_**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\"># Strikethrough — GFM extension\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">~~strikethrough text~~\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\"># Underline — HTML, not portable\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\"><\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string-expression)\">ins\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">>inserted and underlined text<\u002F\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string-expression)\">ins\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\"><\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string-expression)\">u\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">>visually underlined annotation<\u002F\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-token-string-expression)\">u\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\"># Literal characters\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">\\*not italic\\*\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">\\*\\*not bold\\*\\*\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\"># Syntax displayed as code\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\n\u003Cspan class=\"line\">\u003Cspan style=\"color:var(--fude-code-foreground, var(--color-code-text))\">`**text**`\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003C\u002Fpre>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"536\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18559\" data-fude-source-end=\"18585\">Rendered portable syntax: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18587\" data-fude-source-end=\"18596\">bold text\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18598\" data-fude-source-end=\"18601\"> · \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18602\" data-fude-source-end=\"18613\">italic text\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18614\" data-fude-source-end=\"18617\"> · \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18620\" data-fude-source-end=\"18640\">bold and italic text\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18643\" data-fude-source-end=\"18646\"> · \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cdel>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18648\" data-fude-source-end=\"18666\">strikethrough text\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fdel>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Chr data-fude-source-line=\"538\">\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"540\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18675\" data-fude-source-end=\"18867\">Bold and italics are part of Markdown's core syntax. Strikethrough is an extension that has become almost universal. Underline remains the exception: it depends on HTML or app-specific syntax.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"542\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18869\" data-fude-source-end=\"18907\">The rule I follow is straightforward: \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18907\" data-fude-source-end=\"18911\">**\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18911\" data-fude-source-end=\"18922\"> for bold, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18922\" data-fude-source-end=\"18925\">*\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18925\" data-fude-source-end=\"18939\"> for italics, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ccode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18939\" data-fude-source-end=\"18943\">~~\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fcode>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"18943\" data-fude-source-end=\"19135\"> for strikethrough, and no underline unless the context truly requires it. This keeps the source readable and the output predictable as the file moves from GitHub to Obsidian and then to Fude.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"544\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19137\" data-fude-source-end=\"19189\">To continue learning the syntax, read the guides to \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-create-links-in-markdown\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19190\" data-fude-source-end=\"19195\">links\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19239\" data-fude-source-end=\"19241\">, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-add-images-in-markdown\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19242\" data-fude-source-end=\"19248\">images\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19290\" data-fude-source-end=\"19292\">, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fmarkdown-table-complete-guide-with-examples\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19293\" data-fude-source-end=\"19299\">tables\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19355\" data-fude-source-end=\"19361\">, and \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-add-horizontal-line-markdown\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19362\" data-fude-source-end=\"19378\">horizontal lines\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19426\" data-fude-source-end=\"19427\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"546\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19429\" data-fude-source-end=\"19501\">To check the result without installing an app, paste your text into the \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fmarkdown-viewer\u002F\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19502\" data-fude-source-end=\"19533\">free Markdown reader on Fude.md\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19556\" data-fude-source-end=\"19557\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp data-fude-source-line=\"548\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19559\" data-fude-source-end=\"19561\">📌 \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002F#download\" data-fude-link-kind=\"unopenable\">\u003Cspan data-fude-source-start=\"19562\" data-fude-source-end=\"19575\">Download Fude\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>","\nMaking a word bold in Markdown takes four asterisks. Italics take two. So far, so good. Then you try to underline a passage with two underscores, get bold text instead, and Markdown's apparent simplicity starts to show a few cracks.\n\nIf you are still getting familiar with the format itself, start with the guide to [Markdown files (.md): what they are and how to open them](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open\u002F).\n\nI will begin with the most useful syntax, then cover its pitfalls, compatibility across GitHub, Obsidian, and Fude, and the most common rendering problems.\n\n## 1. Choose the right syntax\n\nThese are the styles you will use most often:\n\n| Style | Recommended syntax | Alternative syntax | Compatibility |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| **Bold** | `**text**` | `__text__` | Standard Markdown |\n| *Italic* | `*text*` | `_text_` | Standard Markdown |\n| ***Bold and italic*** | `***text***` | `___text___` | Standard Markdown |\n| ~~Strikethrough~~ | `~~text~~` | Varies by tool | GFM extension |\n| Underline | None | HTML in some tools | Non-standard |\n\nIn practice, I recommend asterisks for bold and italic text:\n\n```markdown\n**bold text**\n*italic text*\n***bold and italic text***\n~~strikethrough text~~\n```\n\nRendered: **bold text** · *italic text* · ***bold and italic text*** · ~~strikethrough text~~\n\nThese forms are readable, portable, and avoid confusion with underscores in filenames, identifiers, and code.\n\n## 2. Make text bold\n\nTo make a word or sentence bold, place two asterisks before and after the text:\n\n```markdown\nThis decision is **important**.\n```\n\nRendered: This decision is **important**.\n\nYou can format several words:\n\n```markdown\n**Do not delete this file before the migration.**\n```\n\nRendered: **Do not delete this file before the migration.**\n\nThe alternative syntax uses two underscores:\n\n```markdown\nThis decision is __important__.\n```\n\nThe result is identical: This decision is **important**.\n\nBoth forms are valid. They usually produce a `\u003Cstrong>` HTML element, which expresses strong importance rather than a purely visual choice.\n\nI still prefer `**text**`. Asterisks are easier to spot in the source, especially in a paragraph that contains names such as `user_profile` or `release_notes`.\n\n### Do not leave spaces inside the markers\n\nThe markers must touch the text:\n\n```markdown\n**bold text**    ← correct\n** bold text **  ← incorrect\n```\n\nDepending on the renderer, the second line may remain visible exactly as written. You can include spaces and punctuation inside the passage, but not immediately after the opening asterisks or before the closing asterisks.\n\n```markdown\n**Warning: this action is permanent.**\n```\n\nRendered: **Warning: this action is permanent.**\n\n## 3. Make text italic\n\nTo write italic text, use one asterisk on each side:\n\n```markdown\nThis setting is *optional*.\n```\n\nRendered: This setting is *optional*.\n\nYou can also use an underscore:\n\n```markdown\nThis setting is _optional_.\n```\n\nThe result is identical: This setting is *optional*.\n\nBoth forms usually produce an `\u003Cem>` HTML element. Italics can indicate emphasis, a term introduced for the first time, the title of a work, or a subtle change in tone.\n\nAgain, I generally choose asterisks. Underscores follow a special rule inside words. The restriction prevents identifiers such as `my_final_file` from becoming partly italic, but it can also create surprising differences between renderers.\n\nCompare these two lines:\n\n```markdown\nextra*ordinary*ly\nextra_ordinary_ly\n```\n\nIn Fude, only “ordinary” becomes italic: extra*ordinary*ly. The second form remains unchanged: `extra_ordinary_ly`.\n\nAsterisks can therefore mark part of a word. In Fude and most modern renderers, underscores inside an identifier remain ordinary characters. For portable documentation, format a complete word or phrase instead.\n\n### Do not confuse italics with underscores\n\nA single underscore does not create an underline:\n\n```markdown\n_italic_\n```\n\nRendered: *italic*. The text is not underlined.\n\nThe confusion makes sense: in a word processor, the “U” button usually means _underline_. In Markdown, an underscore is only an alternative to an asterisk for emphasis.\n\n## 4. Combine bold and italic text\n\nTo apply both styles to an entire passage, use three asterisks:\n\n```markdown\n***This information is extremely important.***\n```\n\nRendered: ***This information is extremely important.***\n\nThe renderer nests bold and italic formatting. You will usually get a `\u003Cstrong>` element containing an `\u003Cem>` element, or the other way around.\n\nYou can also make only part of a bold passage italic:\n\n```markdown\n**This step is _especially_ important.**\n```\n\nRendered: **This step is *especially* important.**\n\nOr add bold text inside an italic sentence:\n\n```markdown\n*This option is still **experimental**.*\n```\n\nRendered: *This option is still **experimental**.*\n\nModern renderers support these forms, but nested markers quickly become difficult to read in the source. If you need to count the asterisks several times to understand the sentence, the formatting is probably too complex.\n\nMy rule is to use three asterisks for a short expression and explicit nesting when only part of the text needs a different level of emphasis.\n\n## 5. Add strikethrough in Markdown\n\nTo strike out a passage, surround it with two tildes:\n\n```markdown\nVersion ~~2.3~~ 2.4 fixes this problem.\n```\n\nRendered: Version ~~2.3~~ 2.4 fixes this problem.\n\nThe old value remains readable, but the line through it shows that it is no longer valid.\n\nStrikethrough is useful when you want to:\n\n- show a correction without deleting the previous information;\n- mark an abandoned option;\n- preserve a lightweight history of a decision;\n- display a cancelled task without removing it.\n\n```markdown\n- ~~Use a remote database~~\n- Keep SQLite as the local source of truth\n```\n\n- ~~Use a remote database~~\n- Keep SQLite as the local source of truth\n\nUnlike bold and italic text, `~~text~~` is not part of core CommonMark. Strikethrough is an extension of GitHub Flavored Markdown, usually shortened to GFM. GFM renderers and many modern editors support it, but a minimal Markdown parser may display the tildes instead of striking out the text.\n\nSome tools accept a single tilde:\n\n```markdown\n~strikethrough text~\n```\n\nFude also renders this form as strikethrough. I still do not recommend it: it is less portable, and the tilde already has other meanings in some systems. Two tildes on each side remain the safest convention.\n\n### Strikethrough does not work inside code\n\nMarkdown does not interpret formatting inside inline code or code blocks:\n\n```markdown\n`~~oldCommand~~`\n```\n\nThe reader displays `~~oldCommand~~` literally. This is intentional: code must remain exact, without typographic transformations.\n\nIf a command is obsolete, strike out the sentence around it instead of the code itself:\n\n```markdown\n~~Use the following command:~~\n\n`old-command`\n```\n\nRendered:\n\n~~Use the following command:~~\n\n`old-command`\n\n## 6. Underline text in Markdown\n\nStandard Markdown has no syntax for underlining text.\n\nNeither of these forms creates an underline:\n\n```markdown\n_text_     ← italic\n__text__   ← bold\n```\n\nRendered: *text* and **text**. Neither is underlined.\n\nThere is a reason for this choice: on the web, underlined text traditionally looks like a link. Adding a decorative underline in the middle of a document can make readers think that a passage is clickable.\n\n### Use HTML when the renderer allows it\n\nWhen a renderer accepts raw HTML, you may encounter the `\u003Cins>` element:\n\n```html\nThis passage is \u003Cins>underlined\u003C\u002Fins>.\n```\n\nSemantically, `\u003Cins>` means that the text was inserted into the document. Browsers underline it by default, but it is not a neutral equivalent of “draw a line under this word.”\n\nYou may also encounter the `\u003Cu>` element:\n\n```html\nThis passage is \u003Cu>underlined\u003C\u002Fu>.\n```\n\nIt often produces a visual underline in renderers that accept raw HTML. In modern HTML, however, `\u003Cu>` represents a non-textual annotation, such as a spelling error marked with a line. Using it only to decorate a word is not always the best semantic choice.\n\nMore importantly, neither solution is portable. Some readers allow HTML, others filter it for security reasons, and others preserve the text but remove its underline.\n\n### Choose a clearer alternative\n\nBefore adding HTML, decide what the underline is meant to communicate:\n\n- important information: use **bold**;\n- light emphasis: use *italics*;\n- information that is no longer true: use ~~strikethrough~~;\n- a link: create a real [Markdown link](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-create-links-in-markdown\u002F);\n- an addition in a revision: use `\u003Cins>` only when your platform supports it.\n\nIn most Markdown documents, bold is a better replacement for underline. It remains visible, semantic, and portable.\n\n## 7. Do not confuse underlining with highlighting\n\nUnderlining adds a line below the text. Highlighting adds a colored background, like a fluorescent marker.\n\nSome tools use two equals signs for highlighting:\n\n```markdown\n==highlighted text==\n```\n\nIn a reader that follows GFM without an additional extension, the result remains literal: ==highlighted text==.\n\nThis syntax is available in several note-taking apps, but it is not part of CommonMark or GitHub Flavored Markdown.\n\nHTML also provides `\u003Cmark>`:\n\n```html\nThis passage is \u003Cmark>highlighted\u003C\u002Fmark>.\n```\n\nYou still face the same portability problem as with `\u003Cu>` and `\u003Cins>`. If your file needs to move between different tools, do not make important information depend only on underlining or proprietary highlighting.\n\n## 8. Compare rendering in GitHub, Obsidian, and Fude\n\nAll three tools render **bold**, *italic*, ***combined bold and italic***, and ~~strikethrough~~ without major differences. The gaps appear mainly with HTML and extensions outside GFM.\n\n### On GitHub\n\nGitHub supports these styles in `.md` files, issues, pull requests, and comments.\n\nThe usual shortcuts work in the web editor:\n\n- `Cmd + B` on Mac or `Ctrl + B` on Windows and Linux for bold;\n- `Cmd + I` on Mac or `Ctrl + I` on Windows and Linux for italics.\n\nGitHub also accepts `\u003Cins>text\u003C\u002Fins>` to produce underlined text. Remember that this is HTML supported by GitHub, not a new Markdown syntax. The same file may lose the underline elsewhere.\n\nFormatting also works inside table cells. If you work with structured data, the [complete guide to Markdown tables](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fmarkdown-table-complete-guide-with-examples\u002F) covers cell limitations, characters that need escaping, and rendering differences.\n\n### In Obsidian\n\nIn reading mode, the markers disappear and the text is rendered. In editing mode, their visibility depends on the selected mode and the cursor position.\n\nObsidian also accepts some raw HTML, so `\u003Cu>` works in many cases. This solution remains tied to Obsidian and other renderers that allow the same element. If you export your notes or open them in a stricter app, the underline may disappear.\n\nFor a durable note collection, I keep HTML out of the content whenever possible. Standard Markdown travels better.\n\n### In Fude\n\nFude uses GFM. The common syntax shown above works both in the app and in the [free Markdown reader on Fude.md](\u002Fen\u002Fmarkdown-viewer\u002F). The renderer produces semantic output for bold, italic, and strikethrough text.\n\nFude does not render `\u003Cu>` or `\u003Cins>` as underlined HTML. It preserves the text but filters unsupported HTML elements. This prevents an arbitrary Markdown file from injecting HTML into the reading interface.\n\nI prefer to be explicit about that limitation: if your document depends on HTML underlining, it will not keep that appearance in Fude. Use bold or italics for information that must remain emphasized everywhere.\n\nYou can paste the examples from this article into the online reader to compare the source and rendered output immediately, without creating a [`.md` file](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open\u002F).\n\n#### Highlight without changing the file\n\nThe desktop app also provides highlighting at the reader level:\n\n1. select a passage in a document from your library;\n2. right-click the selection;\n3. choose **Highlight**.\n\nFude stores the annotation separately from the content. It adds neither `==text==` nor a `\u003Cmark>` element to the source, so the `.md` file on disk remains unchanged.\n\nTo remove the annotation, right-click the passage and choose **Remove highlight**. The same menu can copy the passage with its context for use with an AI.\n\nThis feature belongs to Fude. The highlight remains visible in the app, but not in another Markdown reader.\n\n## 9. Use formatting inside other elements\n\nInline formatting works in most paragraphs, headings, lists, blockquotes, links, and tables.\n\n### Inside a list\n\n```markdown\n- **High priority**: fix the data loss\n- *Optional*: review the colors\n- ~~Removed~~: add a second button\n```\n\n- **High priority**: fix the data loss\n- *Optional*: review the colors\n- ~~Removed~~: add a second button\n\n### Inside a link\n\nYou can format the visible text of a link:\n\n```markdown\n[Read the **complete guide**](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open)\n```\n\nRendered: [Read the **complete guide**](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open\u002F)\n\nThe exact result can vary between parsers when markers are nested inside brackets. For maximum compatibility, keep the link text plain and place the emphasis around the sentence:\n\n```markdown\n**Important:** read the [complete guide](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open).\n```\n\nRendered: **Important:** read the [complete guide](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open\u002F).\n\nThe guide to [Markdown links](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-create-links-in-markdown\u002F) covers inline links, reference links, anchors, and relative paths.\n\n### Inside a table\n\n```markdown\n| Status | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| **Active** | Feature available |\n| *Experimental* | Behavior may change |\n| ~~Abandoned~~ | Option removed |\n```\n\n| Status | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| **Active** | Feature available |\n| *Experimental* | Behavior may change |\n| ~~Abandoned~~ | Option removed |\n\nBold, italic, and strikethrough text work well inside GFM tables. Raw HTML and proprietary extensions are less reliable.\n\n### Around an image\n\nYou cannot make an image “bold” or “italic.” You can, however, make its caption italic:\n\n```markdown\n![Preview of the Fude reader](.\u002Ffude-reader.png)\n\n*The same document displayed in reading mode.*\n```\n\nRendered caption: *The same document displayed in reading mode.*\n\nFor paths, alt text, captions, and sizing, see the guide to [images in Markdown](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-add-images-in-markdown\u002F).\n\n## 10. Escape asterisks and underscores\n\nSometimes you want to display the characters without triggering formatting. Add a backslash before each marker:\n\n```markdown\n\\*this text remains surrounded by asterisks\\*\n\\_this text remains surrounded by underscores\\_\n```\n\nRendered:\n\n\\*this text remains surrounded by asterisks\\*\n\n\\_this text remains surrounded by underscores\\_\n\nInline code is more readable when you need to display complete syntax inside a sentence:\n\n```markdown\nUse `**text**` to write bold text.\n```\n\nInside backticks, Markdown does not interpret asterisks, underscores, or tildes.\n\nThis rule is particularly useful when you write a Markdown guide in Markdown, which is exactly what I am doing in this article.\n\n## 11. Choose the right style\n\nSyntax is only part of the decision. A page where every sentence is bold no longer has a visual hierarchy.\n\n- **Bold**: important information, a label, a short warning, or a term that readers should spot while scanning.\n- *Italic*: light emphasis, a newly introduced term, the title of a work, or a nuance.\n- ~~Strikethrough~~: information that was removed, corrected, or made obsolete but is intentionally preserved.\n- Underline: an exceptional case with a clear purpose and a known renderer.\n\nI generally reserve bold for information that should survive a quick scan. Italics should remain subtle. Strikethrough tells the story of a change; if it adds no context, deleting the text is often cleaner.\n\nUnderline is the least portable and most ambiguous style. On the web, it looks like a link. In a Markdown file, it often requires HTML. That is a lot of compromise for a line below a word.\n\n## 12. Troubleshoot common problems\n\n### “The asterisks are still visible”\n\nMake sure you are looking at the rendered document rather than its source. A text editor naturally displays `**bold**`. A Markdown reader displays the word in bold.\n\nIf you are already looking at a preview, check the spaces:\n\n```markdown\n**correct**\n** incorrect **\n```\n\nRendered: **correct**, while \\*\\* incorrect \\*\\* keeps its asterisks.\n\n### “Two underscores do not underline the text”\n\nThat is the expected behavior:\n\n```markdown\n__text__\n```\n\nRendered: **text**. This syntax produces bold text; Markdown has no standard marker for underline.\n\n### “Strikethrough does not work”\n\nYour renderer may support only basic Markdown without GFM extensions. Try the file in GitHub, Obsidian, or Fude. If the tildes remain visible, your tool probably does not support strikethrough.\n\nAlways use two tildes:\n\n```markdown\n~~strikethrough text~~\n```\n\nRendered: ~~strikethrough text~~\n\n### “Formatting stops in the middle of the sentence”\n\nMake sure the opening and closing markers match:\n\n```markdown\n**bold*       ← incorrect\n**bold**      ← correct\n```\n\nAvoid mixing asterisks and underscores without a reason. Nesting such as `**bold and _italic_**` is valid; an improvised sequence quickly becomes difficult to debug.\n\n### “Underlined HTML disappears”\n\nThe reader is probably filtering raw HTML. This behavior is common in apps that render untrusted documents.\n\nIf the underline carries important information, replace it with bold. If it is purely decorative, accept that the document may appear without it.\n\n### “Bold does not work inside code”\n\nThis is intentional:\n\n```markdown\n`**not bold here**`\n```\n\nRendered: `**not bold here**`. Inline code and code blocks display their content literally. Move the text outside the backticks if you want to make it bold.\n\n## 13. Copy this cheat sheet\n\n```markdown\n# Bold\n**bold text**\n__bold text__\n\n# Italic\n*italic text*\n_italic text_\n\n# Bold and italic\n***bold and italic text***\n**bold text with _an italic section_**\n\n# Strikethrough — GFM extension\n~~strikethrough text~~\n\n# Underline — HTML, not portable\n\u003Cins>inserted and underlined text\u003C\u002Fins>\n\u003Cu>visually underlined annotation\u003C\u002Fu>\n\n# Literal characters\n\\*not italic\\*\n\\*\\*not bold\\*\\*\n\n# Syntax displayed as code\n`**text**`\n```\n\nRendered portable syntax: **bold text** · *italic text* · ***bold and italic text*** · ~~strikethrough text~~\n\n---\n\nBold and italics are part of Markdown's core syntax. Strikethrough is an extension that has become almost universal. Underline remains the exception: it depends on HTML or app-specific syntax.\n\nThe rule I follow is straightforward: `**` for bold, `*` for italics, `~~` for strikethrough, and no underline unless the context truly requires it. This keeps the source readable and the output predictable as the file moves from GitHub to Obsidian and then to Fude.\n\nTo continue learning the syntax, read the guides to [links](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-create-links-in-markdown\u002F), [images](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-add-images-in-markdown\u002F), [tables](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fmarkdown-table-complete-guide-with-examples\u002F), and [horizontal lines](\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-add-horizontal-line-markdown\u002F).\n\nTo check the result without installing an app, paste your text into the [free Markdown reader on Fude.md](\u002Fen\u002Fmarkdown-viewer\u002F).\n\n📌 [Download Fude](\u002Fen\u002F#download)\n",[1767,1770],{"locale":1768,"slug":1769},"en","bold-italic-strikethrough-underline-markdown",{"locale":1771,"slug":1772},"fr","gras-italique-barre-souligne-markdown",{"title":1774,"path":1775,"stem":1776,"description":1777,"children":-1},"What Is a Markdown File (.md) and How Do You Open It?","\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-markdown-file-how-to-open","en\u002Fblog\u002F7.what-is-markdown-file-how-to-open","Learn what a Markdown file contains, how to open a .md file on Mac, Windows, or in a browser, and which tool to choose for reading or editing it.",{"title":1779,"path":1780,"stem":1781,"description":1782,"children":-1},"Create a Kanban Board in Markdown with Fude and AI Agents","\u002Fen\u002Fblog\u002Fcreate-kanban-board-markdown-fude-ai-agents","en\u002Fblog\u002F9.create-kanban-board-markdown-fude-ai-agents","Fude turns a Markdown block into a Kanban board. Learn how to ask an AI agent to create your board, add cards, tags, and due dates, then review it in Fude.",1786304566526]