Markdown syntax

How to Make Italic and Bold Text in Markdown
(* and _)

You want italic or bold text in Markdown. Wrap the words in * for italic and ** for bold. Here is the full set, plus the small thing that trips most people up.

Italic, bold, and both

The number of * (or _) around your text is what sets the style:

You write You get
*italic* or _italic_ Italic
**bold** or __bold__ Bold
***bold italic*** Bold and italic
~~strikethrough~~ Strikethrough (GFM)

So one * is italic, two is bold, and three is both. You can also nest them, like **bold with an *italic* word**.

The usual reason it doesn't render: a stray space

The marks have to sit right next to the text, with no space in between:

* italic *  → shows the stars (spaces inside)
*italic*    → renders as italic

If your * or ** is showing up as literal stars, a stray space is the most common cause. There is a full walkthrough in why your Markdown bold or italic is not working.

Which to use: * or _

Both * and _ give the same result, so it is mostly personal taste. One practical tip: * is safer inside a word. An _ between letters, like in snake_case_names, may not trigger italic, while * is more reliable there. When in doubt, use *.

One thing _ does not do is underline. A single _ is italic; Markdown has no native underline, covered in how to underline text in Markdown.

See it rendered

In a plain text editor you just see the * and _ symbols. To see the actual italic and bold, open the .md in a Markdown editor.

  1. Open app.noteloom.cc in Chrome / Edge / Arc and mount the folder with your file.
  2. Open the .md in the reading view to see it rendered, or live view to write and preview as you go.
  3. Your file stays a plain .md on disk; nothing is uploaded.

Related reading

Markdown bold or italic not working? The troubleshooting guide for when the * marks show instead of formatting. How to underline text in Markdown Why _ is italic, not underline, and what to use for a real underline. How to strike through text in Markdown The ~~strikethrough~~ that pairs with bold and italic. How to write Markdown The core syntax in one place, from emphasis to links.

FAQ

How do you make italic text in Markdown?
Wrap the words in a single * or _: *italic* or _italic_. Both render the same italic. Use ** for bold, and *** for bold italic.
What is the difference between * and _ for italic?
They produce the same italic. The * version is more reliable inside a word, because an _ between letters (like in snake_case) may not trigger italic. Use * when you are unsure.
Why is my *italic* showing the stars instead of italic text?
Usually a stray space. * italic * with spaces just inside the stars does not render, but *italic* with no space next to the words does. There is a full troubleshooting guide for when bold or italic will not render.
How do you make text both bold and italic?
Wrap it in three stars: ***bold italic***, or combine the marks, like **_text_**. One star is italic, two is bold, and three is both.
Does _ underline text in Markdown?
No. A single _ is italic, not underline. Markdown has no native underline at all; see the guide on Markdown underline for what to use instead.
Does NoteLoom show italic and bold?
Yes. NoteLoom’s reading and live views render *italic*, **bold**, and ***both*** from your local .md file, with nothing uploaded.

See your italic and bold rendered

Write your *italic* and **bold** in a .md file, open NoteLoom in Chrome / Edge / Arc, mount the folder, and read it rendered in the reading view. No install, no account.

Open NoteLoom and try it