# Basic formatting syntax > The Markdown you type in Terra for headings, bold and italic, highlights, links, images, quotes, lists, to-dos and code, with the shortcut for each. Source: https://terramd.io/docs/formatting-syntax Every Terra note is a Markdown file, so its formatting is plain text that any app can open. This page covers the basics: what you type, what you get, and the shortcut for each. In the editor, type the syntax and Terra formats it as you go, or use the shortcuts and the editor toolbar. To see or edit the raw text, switch the note to **Markdown source** with the switcher beside its title. Tables, math, diagrams, embeds and the rest are in [Advanced formatting](https://terramd.io/docs/advanced-formatting). | Style | Syntax | Example | Shortcut | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bold | `** **` or `__ __` | `**May 20**` | ⌘ B | | Italic | `* *` or `_ _` | `*Harbor Press*` | ⌘ I | | Bold and italic | `*** ***` | `***Never***` | | | Strikethrough | `~~ ~~` | `~~800~~` | ⇧ ⌘ S | | Highlight | `== ==` | `==trail names==` | ⇧ ⌘ H | | Inline code | `` ` ` `` | `` `valley-map.png` `` | ⌘ E | | Heading | `#` to `######` | `## This week` | ⌥ ⌘ 1 to ⌥ ⌘ 3 | | Link | `[text](address)` | `[Harbor Press](https://harborpress.example)` | ⌘ K with text selected | | Note link | `[[ ]]` | `[[Printer quotes]]` | Type `@` | | Image | `![alt](path)` | `![Map](attachments/…/valley-map.png)` | | | Quote | `> ` | `> Small enough for a pocket` | ⇧ ⌘ B | | Bulleted list | `- ` | `- Book the projector` | ⌥ ⌘ 5 | | Numbered list | `1. ` | `1. Approve the proof` | ⌥ ⌘ 6 | | To-do | `- [ ] ` | `- [ ] Book the projector` | ⌥ ⌘ 4, or type `[]` | | Divider | `---` | `---` | | | Code block | `` ``` `` | `` ```python `` | ⌥ ⌘ 8 | ## Paragraphs and line breaks Press Return to start a new paragraph. In the file, a blank line separates paragraphs. For a line break inside a paragraph, press ⇧ Return: Terra saves it as a backslash at the end of the line. ```md Saturday June 14, 2 pm.\ Community room, second floor. Coffee, a short slideshow and a signing table. ``` Saturday June 14, 2 pm.\ Community room, second floor. Coffee, a short slideshow and a signing table. - A single line break inside a paragraph joins the two lines, as standard Markdown does. Obsidian shows it as a new line. - Two spaces at the end of a line also make a line break; Terra saves them as a backslash. - Extra blank lines between paragraphs are dropped when Terra saves. ## Headings Type one to six `#` signs and a space at the start of a line. ```md # Field guide launch ## This week ### Printing #### Paper stock ##### Cover ###### Spine ``` ![Six headings in Terra's editor, from the large Field guide launch down to a small grey Spine.](https://terramd.io/docs/shots/fmt-basic-headings.webp "Heading 1 at the top, Heading 6 at the bottom.") **Shortcut:** ⌥ ⌘ 1 to ⌥ ⌘ 3 turn the block into Heading 1 to 3, and ⌥ ⌘ 0 turns it back into text. The slash menu has **Heading 1** to **Heading 3** (`/h2`). - The note's title is already its top heading, so start the body at `##`. Terra's lint flags `#` headings in the body. - Without the space, `#launch` is a [tag](https://terramd.io/docs/tags), not a heading. - Underlined headings (a line of `===` or `---` under the text) are read, and saved as `#` headings. ## Bold, italics and highlights ```md Approve the proof by **May 20**, not later. The *Harbor Press* quote is the cheapest. ***Never*** print without a signed proof. Print run: ~~800~~ 1,000 copies. ==Check every trail name== before we sign off. Save the map as `valley-map-v3.png`. ``` - **Bold:** ⌘ B with text selected, or type `**text**`. Terra saves `__text__` as `**text**`. - **Italic:** ⌘ I, or type `*text*` or `_text_`. Terra saves both as `*text*`. - **Bold and italic:** `***text***` in Markdown source; in the editor, press ⌘ B and ⌘ I. - **Strikethrough:** ⇧ ⌘ S, or type `~~text~~`. - **Highlight:** ⇧ ⌘ H, or type `==text==`. - **Inline code:** ⌘ E, or type `` `text` ``. Markdown inside it stays as typed. The editor toolbar has **Bold**, **Italic**, **Strikethrough** and **Inline code** buttons too. Markdown has no underline: ⌘ U underlines text on screen, but Terra can't save it, so the underline is gone once the note saves. ### Colour The toolbar's **Text color** and **Highlight** buttons colour text, or the background behind it, with your theme's colours. Choose **None** to clear it. Markdown has no colour either, so Terra saves an HTML tag: ```md The proof is late. The printer agreed to wait. ``` ![The examples above in Terra: bold, italic, bold italic, struck-through, highlighted and code text, then a red sentence and a sentence on a green highlight.](https://terramd.io/docs/shots/fmt-basic-marks.webp "How Terra shows the examples above. Highlights use your theme's highlight colour unless you pick one.") ## Links Link to a web page with `[text](address)`, or type a web address followed by a space. To link text you've already written, select it, press ⌘ K and enter the address. Click a link to open it in Terra; ⌥-click opens it in your web browser. Link to another note with its title in double brackets, and add `|` and some text to show that text instead. In the editor, type `@`, a few letters of the title and press Return: Terra writes the link for you. Typing `[[` and the brackets by hand doesn't make a working link in this version. ```md Prices are in [[Printer quotes]]. The party has [[Launch party at the library|its own note]]. Order proofs from [Harbor Press](https://harborpress.example). ``` ![Two note links shown as chips, Printer quotes and its own note, and a web link, Harbor Press, underlined.](https://terramd.io/docs/shots/fmt-basic-links.webp "Note links show as chips with a page icon. Hover one to preview the note.") Links to headings and single paragraphs, backlinks and renaming are in [Links and backlinks](https://terramd.io/docs/links-and-backlinks). ## Images ```md ![Map of the lower valley|480](attachments/field-guide-launch-plan/valley-map.png) ``` ![A trail map of the lower valley in a note, 480 pixels wide.](https://terramd.io/docs/shots/fmt-basic-image.webp "The image at 480 pixels wide.") An image is `!`, alt text in brackets and the file's path in parentheses. A `|` and a number after the alt text set the width in pixels; `|480x300` sets the height too. - **Add one:** type `/image` to open **Insert image** (**Library**, **Upload** or **Link**), or paste or drag an image into the note. Terra copies it into an `attachments` folder next to the note. - **Images from the web** show **Load image** and the site's name until you click, so a note never contacts a website on its own. Resizing and note covers are in [Advanced formatting](https://terramd.io/docs/advanced-formatting#images). ## Quotes Type `>` and a space at the start of a line, or press ⇧ ⌘ B. ```md > Small enough for a coat pocket, > which is the whole point. ``` > Small enough for a coat pocket, > which is the whole point. For a coloured box with a title, use a [Sprout](https://terramd.io/docs/sprouts). ## Lists ### Bulleted lists Type `-`, `*` or `+` and a space, or press ⌥ ⌘ 5. ```md - Book the projector - Print 40 bookmarks ``` Terra saves new lists with `*`. A list that already uses `-` or `+` keeps its marker. ### Numbered lists Type a number, then `.` and a space, or press ⌥ ⌘ 6. The list starts at the number you type. ```md 1. Approve the proof 2. Send the files to the printer 3. Collect the books ``` ### To-dos Type `[]` or `[ ]` and a space at the start of a line, or press ⌥ ⌘ 4. (Typing `- [ ]` gives you a bullet that holds the brackets.) ```md - [ ] Book the projector - [/] Print the bookmarks - [x] Sign off the map pages - [-] Hire a photographer ``` Click the box to step through open, in progress, done and cancelled, or press ⌘ Return to check or uncheck the to-do you're in. Every to-do also shows up in [Tasks](https://terramd.io/docs/tasks); dates and other fields are in [Task syntax](https://terramd.io/docs/task-syntax). ### Nested lists Press Tab to nest an item under the one above, and ⇧ Tab to bring it back. In Markdown, indent it: Terra uses two spaces under a bullet and three under a number. ```md - Print 40 bookmarks - with the cover art - and the launch date ``` ![The lists above in Terra: two bullets, three numbered steps, four to-dos (open, half-filled in progress, checked done and struck-through cancelled) and a bullet with two nested items.](https://terramd.io/docs/shots/fmt-basic-lists.webp "Each to-do state has its own box: open, in progress, done and cancelled.") ## Horizontal rule Type `---` at the start of a line; it turns into a rule as you type the third dash. `***` or `___` followed by a space work too, and so does `/divider`. ```md Launch day --- After the launch ``` Launch day --- After the launch In Markdown, keep a blank line above `---`. Directly under a line of text, it turns that line into a heading. ## Code Wrap text in backticks for inline code, or press ⌘ E. ```md Save the map as `valley-map-v3.png`. ``` Save the map as `valley-map-v3.png`. For a code block, type three backticks, a language if you like, then a space or Return. ⌥ ⌘ 8 and `/code` work too. To leave the block, press ⇧ Return or ⌘ Return. ````md ```python copies = 1000 print(f"{copies} copies") ``` ```` ```python copies = 1000 print(f"{copies} copies") ``` Code indented by four spaces is read too, and saved as a fenced block. Languages, line numbers and running code are in [Advanced formatting](https://terramd.io/docs/advanced-formatting#code-blocks). ## Escaping To show a Markdown character as itself, put a backslash before it in Markdown source. In the editor you don't need to: type the character, and Terra adds the backslash when it saves. ```md Print run: 2 \* 500 copies, in \*full\* colour. \# Not a heading 1\. Not a list item ``` Print run: 2 \* 500 copies, in \*full\* colour. \# Not a heading 1\. Not a list item A backslash doesn't stop a tag or a note link: `\#launch` is still a tag. To show those as text, put them in inline code: `` `#launch` ``. ## Not supported - **Footnotes.** `[^1]` shows as plain text, and Terra escapes it when it saves. - **Obsidian comments.** `%% … %%` shows as text. Terra's comments sit beside the note: see [Advanced formatting](https://terramd.io/docs/advanced-formatting#comments). - **HTML.** Tags such as `` or `
` show as text, apart from the colour tags Terra writes itself. - **Underline.** Markdown can't store it. ## Related - [Advanced formatting](https://terramd.io/docs/advanced-formatting): tables, math, code, diagrams, embeds, columns and the slash menu. - [Sprouts](https://terramd.io/docs/sprouts): coloured blocks with a title, properties and attachments. - [Links and backlinks](https://terramd.io/docs/links-and-backlinks): note links in depth. - [Keyboard shortcuts](https://terramd.io/docs/keyboard-shortcuts): every key in one place.