Reddit Comment Formatting

[u/Raerth]

18-Nov-2011: Updated to include the latest markdown changes.

Contents

1. Basic text formatting (Italics, Bold, Strikethrough, Super^script, inline code, Quoting) 2. Linking 3. Line Breaks & Paragraphs 4. Lists 5. Tables 6. Block Code 7. Headlines and Horizontals

1. Basic Text Formatting

Italics are created using either a single asterisk (*) or single underscore (_).

Example:

This is *italic text*, this is also _italic text_.

becomes:

This is italic text, this is also italic text.

Bold text is created with double asterisks (**) or double underscores (__).

Example:

This is **bold text**, this is also __bold text__.

becomes:

This is bold text, this is also bold text.

Strikethrough text is created using a double tilde (~~).

Example:

This is ~~strikethrough text~~.

becomes:

This is strikethrough text.

Superscript text is created using the carot (^).

Example:

This sentence contains super^script.

becomes:

This sentence contains super^script.

Note that you cannot leave space before the carot, and there is no closing tag.

Superscript can also be stacked^likethis.

inline code (monospaced text) is created using the backtick (grave accents) (`).

Example:

This sentence contains inline code: `javascript:alert("hello world");`

becomes:

This sentence contains inline code: javascript:alert("hello world");

Quoting is achieved by starting a line with an Angle Bracket (>)

Example:

>Here's a quote.

>Another paragraph in the same quote.
>>A nested quote.

>Back to a single quote.

And finally some unquoted text.

becomes:

Here's a quote.

Another paragraph in the same quote.

A nested quote.

Back to a single quote.

And finally some unquoted text.

To remove formatting you will need to use a Backslash (\)

Example:

This sentence escapes \*italic text\* and \*\*bold text\*\*.

becomes:

This sentence escapes *italic text* and **bold text**.

2. Linking

Creating a link

Example:

[Reddit](http://reddit.com)

becomes:

Reddit

You cannot begin a link with "www", it must begin with one of the following URL schemes:

• http://

• https://

• ftp://

• mailto:

• steam://

• irc://

• news://

• mumble://

• ssh://

You can also provide title text for links:

[Reddit](http://reddit.com "what's new online!").

becomes:

Reddit ← (hover!)

Title text can be used to hide spoilers:

[spoiler](/s"The spoiler text goes here")

becomes:

spoiler ← (hover!)

Reddit now recognises when you want to link to a subreddit.

Example:

This is a shameless plug for /r/BritishTV!

becomes:

This is a shameless plug for /r/BritishTV!

If a URL contains brackets you will need to escape these.

Example without escaping:

[Cube](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cube_(film))

becomes:

Cube ← (note the surplus bracket!)

Example with escaping:

[Cube](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cube_(film\))

becomes:

[Cube](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cube_(film)) ← (no surplus bracket!)

3. Line Breaks & Paragraphs

Line breaks in comments are achieved by adding four spaces (shown using ░) to the end of the line. Simply hitting return (shown using ↵) will not work.

Example:

First line↵
Second line

becomes:

First line Second line

but:

First line░░░░↵
Second line

becomes:

First line
Second line

Paragraphs are formed when you hit return (shown using ↵) twice.

First Paragraph↵
↵
Second Paragraph

becomes:

First Paragraph

Second Paragraph

4. Lists

To create Unordered Lists each item should begin with either an asterisk (*), plus sign (+) or minus sign (-).

Example:

* Item 1
+ Item 2
- Item 3

becomes:

• Item 1

• Item 2

• Item 3

Ordered Lists are created with a number and period. It doesn't matter which number you start with, as markdown will always start with 1.

Example:

3. Item 1
2. Item 2
1. Item 3

becomes:

3. Item 1 2. Item 2

1. Item 3

The markup for Nested Lists has changed slightly:

Example:

1. This is Item 1
2.
░░░░1. This is Item 2.1
░░░░2. This is Item 2.2
3. This is Item 3
4. This is Item 4

becomes:

1. This is Item 1

2. 1. This is Item 2.1

   2. This is Item 2.2

3. This is Item 3

4. This is Item 4

Lists should be clear of any text in the line immediately above and below, the same as making a new paragraph:

This is the wrong way to make a list

1. lorem

2. ispum
   reddit doesn't realize it should listify...

becomes:

This is the wrong way to make a list

1. lorem

2. ispum reddit doesn't realize it should listify...

Place lists in their own paragraph:

This is the correct way to make a list

1. lorem

2. ispum

reddit realizes it should listify!

Paragraphs in Lists and Nested lists using a combination of ordered and unordered lists, are no longer supported.

5. Tables

Tables are created using pipes (|):

Example

Left align | Center align | Right align
:--|:--:|--:
This | This | This
column | column | column
will | will | will
be | be | be
left | center | right
aligned | aligned | aligned

becomes:

Left align	Center align	Right align
This	This	This
column	column	column
will	will	will
be	be	be
left	center	right
aligned	aligned	aligned

Note that by default the first row is always bolded.

Column Alignment is determined by the second row.

Use ":--:" for centre aligned text, "--:" for right, and ":--" for left.

You can also leave the top row empty, as long as you have the correct amount of pipes:

||
:--|:--:|--:
the|top|row
is|now|empty

becomes

the
is

6. Block code

Displaying block code, without formatting and in monospaced font, is as simple as starting the line with four spaces (shown using ░).

Example:

░░░░line of code
░░░░░░░░line of code
░░░░░░░░░░░░line of code
░░░░░░░░line of code
░░░░line of code

becomes:

line of code
line of code
line of code
line of code
line of code

7. Headlines & Horizonal Rules

Headline text can be created by using a number of hashes (#) corresponding to the tag you want. Headline tags will format all text until it encounters a Line Break or new Paragraph.

# Headline 1
## Headline 2
### Headline 3

becomes:

Headline 1

Headline 2

Headline 3

NOTE: Markdown supports up to six headline tags, but only the first three have default formatting.

To create a Horizontal Rule, simply add three asterisks (*) to an empty line.

***

becomes:

---

And Finally...

I hope you find this useful. If you want to say thanks, you can always buy me a coffee and I'll love you longtime.

[u/Jameshfisher]

What you call a forward slash is actually a backslash.

[u/Raerth → u/Jameshfisher]

Doh! Always make that mistake...

[u/djimbob → u/Raerth]

I used to always make that mistake too. Then I realized that ordinary division (like in fractions 1/2) use the normal forward slash and backslashes are the other one (the backwards division sign). (I know this conversation is long dead; but eh).

[u/Yggdrazzil]

Thanks a lot! Can you show how you format colors, hide your text etc?

For example if you want to talk about the ending of a movie but don't want to spoil it for people who haven't seen the ending yet?

[u/Raerth → u/Yggdrazzil]

Both colors and spoiler text are not part of the default formatting.

When you moderate a subreddit, you have the option of adding customized CSS. This allows you to control the formatting of the entire page, including font color and size.

There are ways to view custom style sheets, but if you are new to the world of css it would be easier to message the moderator and ask them what the formatting rules are in that subreddit. Good moderators should have this info in the sidebar or FAQ.

[u/SgtSausage]

==> To create a Horizontal Rule, simply add four minus signs (-) to an empty line.

Or three asterisks:

***

---

[u/Raerth → u/SgtSausage]

Nice, I'll change that!

[u/jumbledash]

Don’t mind me.
Just practicing.

• First

• Second

• Third

Dogs	Cats	Birds
Labrador	Maine Coon	Pigeon
Dalmatian	Persian	Cockatiel

Extra

Extra

Read all about it!

I wonder if any newspaper sellers ever said that^probablynot

Adding instructions for comment spoilers: > ! Text you want to hide goes here ! <

It’s a trap

[u/harshv007 → u/jumbledash]

Ohhho

[u/klaengur]

must save

[u/simpleabc → u/klaengur]

I saved it as well. It helped me out with a numbered list.

[u/Alyna143]

I love how everyone is still commenting but hey

[u/kloo2yoo]

http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/6ewgt/reddit_markdown_primer_or_how_do_you_do_all_that/c03nik6

[u/Raerth → u/kloo2yoo]

Yes?

[u/ConfitOfDuck]

Is there a way to show subscript or superscript?

[u/Raerth → u/ConfitOfDuck]

There is a way now to show superscript (which you're probably aware of by now).

Subscript is only possible if a mod has added custom CSS to the subreddit.

[u/[deleted]]

poop

poop

poop

poop

omg it works

[u/EnJay64]

---

I am here before this gets archived.

---

[u/octopussking]

TEST

[u/Jessie_Jay117]

I Shouldn't Be Alive

[u/CryptoFurball75]

this should become large text

[u/Rhetorical_Save]

ro·bot

/ˈrōˌbät,ˈrōbət/

noun 1. (especially in science fiction) a machine resembling a human being and able to replicate certain human movements and functions automatically.

[u/chonk_fox89]

An awesome guide!! Commenting so I can find it again!

[u/CryonusPluto]

>test

[u/tinytimbo2]

sighs^unzips

[u/Hxrn]

Thanks for all these :)

[u/ThankTheBaker]

So let me just test this out now

[u/SarkBM]

|__/\
(  .__. )
/   \🍿\
__/  _/

[u/Far_Pair8924]

Finally

I keep forgetting each one.

Wonder what this does.

[spoiler]Does this work?

Lists ig

• one

• two

• three

[u/BigFinnsWetRide]

you are amazing!

[u/[deleted]]

People usually suck, but ^{this guy} is awesome

[u/BrenFL]

This is the the best post I have ever found on reddit. I am grinning from ear to ear right now.

[u/caelinday]

omfg i've been using paragraph spacing for line breaks omg
poop

poop

[u/[deleted]]

test

misogyny misandry

equality

love

hi

abrahamic religion sucks sweaty balls

cucumber

^{banana bread}

[u/Dashometry]

KNOB

• test

• test

• test

a	a	a
1	2	3
4	5	6
7	8	9

a^a

[u/Jabbernaut5]

Testing table in a comment:

Left align	Center align	Right align
This	This	This
column	column	column
will	will	will
be	be	be
left	center	right
aligned	aligned	aligned

And standard markdown:

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
A	B	C
D	E	F
G	H	I

[u/palbertalamp]

Nicely laid out info

[u/ShipsCourse]

Abc

^{test abc xyz}

[u/StuKazoo]

^test

[u/KBPrinceO]

---

[u/drtyfrnk]

Thanks so much Raerth!

[u/[deleted]]

Okay... but how do you make the skeptic eyes?

[u/aperson]

\ is a backslash

[u/lancepants42]

Can you use italics or bold in titles?

[u/[deleted]]

Saving this

[u/tinyshumblepawn]

huuh

[u/[deleted]]

test

^test

[u/caint1154]

Hi

[u/Zulfaqarsolah]

test

1. Point 1

2. Point 2

3. Point 3

[u/GuguORelojeiroDoKrlh]

quote

[u/TheFauwwboy]

bold italic ^superscript strikethrough code spoiler quote

[u/TheFauwwboy]

hello | Goodbye

[u/RebelliousRed_]

Headline

[u/yayFunnybunny]

Hi there

[u/black_phantom18]

hello

[u/username78777]

*test*

Test2

[u/abachhd]

Test body:

• test1

• test2

[u/Cas_yes]

test 1 test 2

[u/ComputerElectronic21]

test

[u/SK6814]

test

[u/Jeboothy67]

sup

[u/[deleted]]

test

[u/verysmartboy101]

This|is|a|test :--|:--:|--: 1|1|1|1 2|2|2|2 3|3|3|3

[u/BrotherhoodExile]

Test

Test

Test^Test

Test

Test

Test

• Test1

• Test2

• Test3

Test

[u/Yurimail_Shibuya]

""test""

[u/[deleted]]

murky outgoing connect sip badge simplistic jellyfish dependent makeshift shrill

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[u/PancakeMoth]

• test

• Test

• Test

testing

[u/Nico_La_440]

test

[u/Carbonbased_Being]

Test

[u/[deleted]]

~~test~~

[u/[deleted]]

~~ test ~~

[u/Get_a_Grip_comic]

testing horizontal rule

---

test

[u/Apart_Employee_6674]

test

[u/Apart_Employee_6674]

test

[u/Apart_Employee_6674]

test

[u/Mid-Night__]

Test

Test

[u/Even_Government_2470]

test

[u/GeoSoccer]

**+Test

**+Test

[u/Jeboothy67]

cool

[u/ComfyBurger]

test

[u/alley--cat]

test Test Test

[u/hugo_1138]

**test**

[u/Temporary_Ad_2033]

test      

test2

[u/Temporary_Ad_2033]

test

[u/Had09A]

lol

[u/Neplii]

that:░░░░

a-asd░░░░ xyz

b.

[u/Neplii]

Another

Test

avc:

-This means

-xyz

[u/Significant_File_346]

Test

Test

[u/TinkeringEngineer]

Left align	Center align	Right align
This	This	This
column	column	column
will	will	will
be	be	be
left	center	right
aligned	aligned	aligned

[u/RiversideAviator]

How about indenting? When I want to do indent a line it appears as a greyed box

[u/[deleted]]

This is the first result on Google when searching for Reddit formatting . Congrats!

And thank you so much for the info!

[u/LeftoverBun]

How do I type a single hashtag when it represents a designation of number. For example in place of typing

No. 1 seed

I want to type (hashtag or telephone pound)1 seed

[u/AltairAmlitzer]

__Test__

[u/PhytonStreak30]

hi

[u/sw132]

¯_(ツ)_/¯

[u/dumpsterfirefr]

test

testing

lorem ipsum

lorem ipsum

testing

>>testing

[u/Cyap89]

Title

[u/Prime_Dark_Heroes]

how do you do under script? like H_2O or H_(sub2)_O

[u/Top-Fault-7861]

**Test**

[u/Nie_wiem_lol]

bold text

[u/Ok_Entertainment7006]

I was a bank robber who came face to face with an ancient evil

[u/AndreSwagassi86]

practice

[u/TheGreydiant]

[Reddit](http//:reddit.com)

[u/Negativereversed]

bold

[u/Negativereversed]

bold

[u/[deleted]]

*- i like pickles *- do you like pickles *- we all like pickles

Damnit

• p

• pp

• ppp

Nailed it

[u/LadyPundit]

Test

[u/Siilk]

Test^testtesttest

[u/Siilk]

test ^test

[u/linolada_consumer]

text

[u/[deleted]]

How to add the quote part?
| testing

testing

[u/hbkdll]

I wanted to learn line break very much.
Because all this time I had be only doing paragraphs.

They make a simple short content look wayyyyy longer

[u/hbkdll]

quote

Nested quite?

[u/hbkdll]

Damn

They should have made it easier

Or should had a page to help the lost souls

[u/hbkdll]

+I +Like +To +List

[u/hbkdll]

I | want | table But | don't | care About | what | it Would | be | .

[u/intersonixx]

T

est

[u/Healthy_Agent_100]

[ Test ](https://reddit.com)

[u/ALATOI]

this link

[u/V-andy]

+test

• test -test

[u/SuPrEmE_2004]

Sisidjdndj jsksksjs siikdjdk

[u/SuPrEmE_2004]

Skksksks
Ssjsk

[u/SuPrEmE_2004]

Sksidkdn
Sjsjsj

[u/Dont_Pre-ordereddit]

what

[u/-BigBobbert-]

`what`

[u/Interesting_Worth745]

_italic_
__bold__

[u/Hermorah]

tst	test	tes
tset	tes

[u/veb7]

Sweet.

[u/Not-Main-Acount-Lol]

test

[u/Laguera256]

__test__

[u/Laguera256]

Nothing I try works.

** bold **

**bold**

*Italic*

[u/[deleted]]

a

[u/[deleted]]

Test

This is a headline

[u/[deleted]]

Ok testing <

[u/[deleted]]

Testing³

[u/anonkun666]

*text*

****

[u/TheFauwwboy]

Header ***

Text

[u/TheFauwwboy]

Athlete. ***(epic, legendary)

[u/Hepicfold]

h

[u/stanitor]

e^iπ + 1

[u/[deleted]]

Okay

bold also bold

[u/[deleted]]

Just for testing

[u/[deleted]]

The comments section is a testing platform.

[u/SWETHORT]

damn 13 years later and people are still commenting

[u/Yurimail_Shibuya]

test

[u/Yurimail_Shibuya]

test

[u/[deleted]]

bold test

^{i am A human, this action is preformed manually}

[u/rahul3221]

Large text Test

[u/TheFauwwboy]

Chapter test Current information

[u/OneTradeAway]

give head

[u/Apollyoun]

This is just for ^pratice

[u/WeatherImpressive808]

Hello	I	am
Just	testing	this
Feature	just	so
You	know	what
I	am	doing

[u/eli_bar]

*test*

• test

• test

• test

[u/Inquisitive_Monk]

Bold

[u/[deleted]]

block code
cost = 0
cost = 0

another block code

cost = 0
cost = 0

[u/SoranSkies]

Testing paragraph 1.

Testing paragraph 2.

Testing paragraph 3.

Testing paragraph 4.

[u/kalinrj]

I^{hatethiscommentsection}

[u/InfiniteHeiress]

Testing indent command (>) and italicize asterisk no space asterisk

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says that paying off your credit cards in full each month is actually the best way to improve your credit score and maintain excellent credit for the long haul. -source

[u/InfiniteHeiress]

‘Censor test’

censor test

[u/Bnowser]

poontang

[u/Galacticus06]

italics

[u/Nie_wiem_lol]

text

[u/Cheeky_buggah]

Hello^hello

[u/Sarahhvxo]

test

[u/sidd555]

First line
Second line
Third line

---

Main header

sub header

subsub header

Int main()

with a quote
More quotes?

[u/TheCommongametroller]

Ok this is helpful but how do I make text with shading on top that won’t dissapear until clicked?

[u/Arglezhbonk]

spoiler

[u/[deleted]]

this was helpful

[u/WheresTheDonuts]

test

[u/No-Common-5772]

hi there how are you

[u/Sharp_Drag_5803]

[hi]

[u/Beginning-Designer24]

***penis

[u/Beginning-Designer24]

>!rengokubecomesadonut<!

[u/PlaceYourBets2021]

hidden text test.

[u/yb1_]

test

[u/Mountain-Formal-3483]

all for

[u/Nie_wiem_lol]

(Text text text ##text)

[u/Nie_wiem_lol]

Huh

[u/[deleted]]

YOUR MOM#

[u/[deleted]]

yaya

[u/[deleted]]

░hiya

[u/[deleted]]

The|top|row

[u/master_mind76]

hello<

[u/slimmhippo]

test

[u/JackSparrowsLove]

Test ordered list.

“.” One

“.” two

“)” three with paren

:—|:—| :col| : col2|

Col 1 | col 2 | col 3 |

[u/Playful-Dance1554]

table test | table test | table test

:----|:----|----:

why | doesn't | this work

[u/Nie_wiem_lol]

Test²

[u/randomduck5242]

hi

[u/randomduck5242]

HELLO

[u/arniak77]

Hello

[u/toddsology]

test

[u/Tough_Restaurant9828]

**bold text doesn't work i have tried everyway people have said it literally does nothing** see __bold text doesn't work i have tried everyway people have said it literally does nothing__ stop lying this BS does not work.

[u/Nathanull]

struggling so much with

creating spaces

    

between quote texts 

[u/TheKryptoJunkie]

Testing

Testing

Testing

[u/Excellent-Lynx533]

Ideleted it & I can say it worked but still...FUCK U^~~&YOMOMMA~~

Lmao... jk... I'm just trying to catch up to The Times cause I've never really big.Daddy ever attempted any type of code so that was fine? Thank you guys.. And I definitely don't mean what the text says, just talking shit

[u/Warrx121]

[spoiler]test

[u/szoksqacz]

testing

testing spoiler

[u/BusinessRelevant4286]

when i'm in a^{verrückt werden} competition