WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world. But did you know you can format your text to make messages stand out? This guide shows you all the ways to format text in WhatsApp.
WhatsApp Text Formatting Options
WhatsApp gives you eight different ways to format your text. Each one uses special characters around your words.
Bold Text
To make text bold, put an asterisk (*) before and after your text.
- Type: *your text here*
- Result: your text here (in bold)
- Important: No spaces between the asterisk and text
Italic Text
To make text italic, put an underscore (_) before and after your text.
- Type: _your text here_
- Result: your text here (in italics)
- Use italics to highlight information without being too bold
Strikethrough Text
To cross out text, put a tilde (~) before and after your text.
- Type: ~your text here~
- Result: your text here (crossed out)
- Great for showing edits, old info, or corrections
Monospace Text
To use monospace font, put three backticks (```) before and after your text.
- Type: ```your text here```
- Result: your text here (in monospace font)
- Good for sharing code or technical information
Inline Code
For shorter code snippets, use a single backtick (`) before and after.
- Type: `your text here`
- Result: your text here (inline code style)
Bulleted Lists
To create a bulleted list, start each line with an asterisk or hyphen followed by a space.
- Type: * First item
- Type: * Second item
- Or use: - First item
Numbered Lists
To create a numbered list, start each line with a number, period, and space.
- Type: 1. First item
- Type: 2. Second item
- Type: 3. Third item
Block Quotes
To quote text, put a greater-than sign (>) and a space before your text.
- Type: > This is a quote
- Result: Your text appears as a quote
Quick Reference Table
Here is a summary of all WhatsApp formatting options:
Bold: *text* - Makes text bold
Italic: _text_ - Makes text italic
Strikethrough: ~text~ - Crosses out text
Monospace: ```text``` - Uses monospace font
Inline Code: `text` - Shows inline code
Bulleted List: * text or - text - Creates bullet points
Numbered List: 1. text - Creates numbered list
Quote: > text - Creates a block quote
Combining Multiple Formats
You can combine formatting styles together. For example:
- *_text_* makes text bold AND italic
- *~text~* makes text bold AND strikethrough
- _~text~_ makes text italic AND strikethrough
Important note: You cannot combine monospace with other formats. Monospace will override other formatting and show the raw characters instead.
How to Format on Different Devices
Android
- Type your message
- Select the text you want to format
- Tap the three dots menu
- Choose your formatting option
iPhone (iOS)
- Type your message
- Double-tap the text to select it
- Tap the Format option
- Select your desired format
WhatsApp Web
- Type your message
- Select text with your cursor
- Formatting options appear automatically
Tips for Better Formatting
- No spaces: Make sure there are no spaces between the formatting symbol and your text
- Update WhatsApp: Keep your app updated to access all formatting features
- Test first: Try formatting in a chat with yourself before sending important messages
- Keep it simple: Dont overuse formatting - it can make messages hard to read
What About Underline?
WhatsApp does not support underlined text by default. If you need underlined text, you can use third-party apps like BlueWords for WhatsApp or Fancy Text Generator.
Why Use Text Formatting?
Text formatting helps you:
- Emphasize important points in your messages
- Make long messages easier to read
- Share code or technical information clearly
- Show corrections without deleting text
- Create organized lists
Conclusion
WhatsApp text formatting is simple once you know the symbols. Use asterisks for bold, underscores for italic, tildes for strikethrough, and backticks for code. You can also create lists and quotes to organize your messages better.
Start using these formatting tricks today to make your WhatsApp messages clearer and more professional.
