In this guide, we'll explore various formatting options available on WhatsApp, including bold, italic, strikethrough, and monospace text. We will also discuss how to apply these formatting styles on both mobile and web versions of WhatsApp, as well as how to combine them for advanced message customization.
WhatsApp allows users to apply several types of formatting to their text messages. Let’s take a detailed look at each formatting method:
Bold text is a powerful way to highlight important words or phrases in your WhatsApp messages. Here's how you can bold your text:
How to Bold Text:
*Important message*
Bold text is perfect for drawing attention to key information such as deadlines, names, or actions that require focus.
Italic text is useful for emphasizing words or phrases that need to stand out slightly without being too dominant. Here’s how you can italicize text in WhatsApp:
_Emphasize this_
Italicizing is often used for emphasis in casual conversations or to indicate titles, foreign words, or technical terms.
Strikethrough text allows you to show text that has been "crossed out" or marked as no longer relevant. This can be especially helpful in list formatting, corrections, or showing changes in tasks.
~Crossed out text~
Strikethrough text is ideal when you want to correct something, cancel an idea, or simply show that something is no longer applicable.
Monospace text is a fixed-width font that ensures each character takes up the same amount of space. This formatting style is typically used for displaying code, technical commands, or data that needs to align properly.
Fixed width font
Fixed width font
Monospace formatting is perfect for coding, listing serial numbers, or aligning content that needs uniform spacing.
Now that you understand the different text formatting options, let's walk through the process of applying these formatting methods on both mobile and web versions of WhatsApp.
Once you’ve added the necessary formatting symbols, the text will appear formatted in the chat.
Once the message is formatted, hit "Send" to send your message with the formatting applied.
One of the most powerful features of WhatsApp formatting is the ability to combine multiple formats within a single message. You can use bold, italic, strikethrough, and monospace text together to highlight multiple elements of your message.
_*Important message*_
→ Important message~*Fixed*~ ``text``` → ~~**Fixed**~~
text`Combining these formatting options makes your messages more dynamic and helps emphasize different parts of your text in various ways.
Beyond basic formatting, WhatsApp offers a few additional features that can help organize your messages better.
Block quotes are a useful way to highlight or quote an entire section of text from another person or source.
> This is a block quote
Block quotes are helpful in group discussions, referencing previous messages, or sharing detailed information in a more structured manner.
For technical discussions, inline code formatting allows you to highlight small segments of code or commands.
git commit -m "Message"
git commit -m "Message"
in a monospaced font.Inline code is commonly used for programming-related conversations or for highlighting specific commands in a technical context.
WhatsApp provides the same basic formatting capabilities across both mobile and web platforms. However, there are some differences worth noting:
Sometimes, you may want to use symbols like asterisks, underscores, or backticks within your text without triggering the formatting. In these cases, use a backslash (\) before the symbol to escape it.
\*this is not bold\*
When switching between devices (mobile and web), your WhatsApp messages will retain the same formatting. However, make sure you're using the correct formatting symbols, especially when switching between device types.
Text formatting on WhatsApp is more than just a way to make your messages look pretty—it enhances communication. Here are some reasons why formatting is useful:
While formatting is simple, some users make common mistakes:
Text formatting on WhatsApp is a simple but powerful tool for enhancing your communication. Whether you're emphasizing a point, providing clarity, or adding a creative touch to your messages, formatting helps you get your message across more effectively. With these tips and techniques, you can start applying text formatting to your WhatsApp conversations and enjoy more dynamic and organized communication.