Markdown Syntax · Blockquotes

How to Write a Blockquote in Markdown
And how to nest them

A blockquote in Markdown is any line that starts with a >. It renders as an indented quote block, the thing you use to quote a source, pull out a callout, or paste in an answer you are responding to.

The whole feature is that one character. The only things worth knowing are how to carry it across paragraphs, how to nest it, and why it sometimes stops early.

The blockquote, at a glance

What How Note
Single line > quoted text One line, one >
Multiple paragraphs > para one, then a > line, then > para two The blank gap needs its own >
Nested >> for a quote inside a quote Add more > for more levels
With other Markdown > - item, or > **bold** Put the > first, then normal Markdown

Put together, it looks like this:

> This is a blockquote.
> It can run across several lines.
>
> > And this is nested one level deeper.

Back to normal text (no >).

Multi-paragraph and nested quotes

  • Across paragraphs: keep a > on every line. For the gap between two quoted paragraphs, use a line that is just a >. A truly empty line ends the quote.
  • Nesting: >> makes a quote inside a quote, >>> goes one deeper. Handy for a reply to a reply, or a source quoting another source.
  • Content inside: after the >, write normal Markdown. A list, a code block, bold, links, all work inside a quote.

Why a blockquote stops halfway

The one failure mode: a line without a >. Every line that belongs to the quote needs its own marker, including the blank-looking gaps between paragraphs. Miss a single > and everything after it drops back into normal text. If your quote is falling apart in the middle, that is almost always why. For the general question of what renders and what does not, see how to write Markdown.

A common use: quoting an AI answer

Blockquotes are handy when you are keeping notes on an AI answer: quote the part you are reacting to, then write your own note underneath, outside the quote. If you are saving AI output as Markdown in the first place, see how to keep the formatting of an AI answer and why AI uses Markdown.

Previewing blockquotes with NoteLoom

Nesting and multi-line quotes are easy to get slightly wrong, and it does not show in raw text. NoteLoom is an editor that reads and writes local .md files in the browser: its live and reading views render the quote as you type, so you can see the block form and check the nesting, then fix it in the source view.

To be clear about the boundaries: NoteLoom has no AI. It will not write or reword your quotes. It renders and saves your local file, and the writing stays with you.

How you use it: open app.noteloom.cc in Chrome / Edge / Arc, mount a local folder, and write in the source view while the live view shows the quote. Saved straight to your disk, no cloud, no account.

Related reading

How to Write Markdown? The basic syntax, blockquotes included. How do you write code blocks in Markdown? Code you can also drop inside a blockquote. How do you escape characters in Markdown? When you want a literal > instead of a quote. How do you keep the formatting of an AI answer? Save AI output as Markdown, quotes and all. Online Markdown Editor Write and preview local md files in your browser.

FAQ

How do I write a blockquote in Markdown?
Start the line with a > and a space: > your text. It renders as an indented quote block. For several lines, put a > at the start of each one.
How do I write a multi-paragraph blockquote?
Keep the > on every line, and for a gap between paragraphs use a line with just a > on it. A line with no > at all ends the quote, so the empty-looking gap still needs its >.
How do I nest a blockquote?
Use >> for a quote inside a quote, and >>> for another level. It is how you show a reply to a reply, or a quote within a quoted passage.
Can I put a list or code inside a blockquote?
Yes. Put the > in front, then the normal Markdown after it: > - item for a list inside the quote, and bold, links, or inline code work the same way. Everything after the > is just Markdown.
Why did my blockquote stop halfway?
A line without a > breaks it. Every line of the quote, including the blank gaps between paragraphs, needs its own >. Miss one and the rest drops out of the quote.
Can NoteLoom preview my blockquotes?
Yes. NoteLoom renders your Markdown as you write, so the live and reading views show the quote block forming and whether the nesting came out right. It has no AI: it just renders and saves your local .md file.
Can I do this with NoteLoom on my phone or in Safari?
Not for now. NoteLoom relies on the browser’s File System Access API, which currently works in Chromium-based desktop browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Arc. Firefox, Safari, and mobile are not supported yet.

See your quotes render as you type

Open NoteLoom in Chrome / Edge / Arc, mount a local folder, and write in the source view while the live view shows the blockquote and its nesting. Saved straight back to your disk, no software to install and no account to sign up for.

Open NoteLoom and try it