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Chat Text Formatting Cheat Sheet

This chat text formatting cheat sheet puts the bold, italic, strikethrough and code syntax of WhatsApp, Telegram and Discord side by side, and shows when a fancy font does the job better.

Last updated 3 min read

Key takeaways

  • WhatsApp and Discord format text with symbols you type around it. Telegram uses a menu and shortcuts.
  • The same symbol means different things in different apps: one star is italic on Discord and bold on WhatsApp.
  • Use built-in formatting for emphasis in a message, and fancy fonts for names, bios and looks that markdown cannot make.

The Chat Text Formatting Cheat Sheet

Most messengers can bold a word or strike it through, but each app asks you to do it differently. This chat text formatting cheat sheet lists the common effects for WhatsApp, Telegram and Discord, using only syntax from each app's own help pages or documented shortcuts. Where an app does not list an effect, the table says so.

EffectWhatsAppTelegramDiscord
Bold*text*Menu, or Ctrl/Cmd + B**text**
Italic_text_Menu, or Ctrl/Cmd + I*text* or _text_
UnderlineNot listedMenu, or Ctrl/Cmd + U__text__
Strikethrough~text~Menu, or Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + X~~text~~
Monospace```text```Menu, or Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + M`text` or ```text```
SpoilerNot listedMenu, or Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + P||text||

Telegram's keyboard shortcuts work on desktop and can vary between versions, so check the formatting menu if one does not respond.

WhatsApp: Symbols Around Your Text

WhatsApp's Help Center describes bold, italic, strikethrough and monospace through symbols placed on both sides of your text. It also lists bulleted lists, numbered lists, quotes and inline code, and notes that its newest text formatting is only available on Web and Mac desktop. For details and the other places to use styled text, see Fancy Fonts for WhatsApp.

Telegram: Menu First, Shortcuts Second

Telegram does not ask you to remember symbols. You select text and pick an effect from the formatting menu, and on desktop you can use keyboard shortcuts for the same effects. That makes it less error-prone, but it also means the formatting is not visible in plain text. Read Fancy Fonts for Telegram for bio limits and username rules.

Discord: Markdown in the Message Box

Discord uses a markdown style: symbols around your text change how the message looks once you send it. Block quotes begin with a greater-than sign, and large headings begin with a hash and a space. Note how one star is italic here but bold on WhatsApp, which is the most common source of confusion for people who use both. More about names and nicknames is on Fancy Fonts for Discord.

When a Fancy Font Does It Better

Built-in formatting is the right tool for emphasis in a message, because it keeps the real letters and is friendlier to search and screen readers. Fancy fonts do other jobs well:

  • Places with no formatting. Bios, display names and status lines usually have no bold button or markdown.
  • Moving text between apps. A styled line keeps its look when pasted, while symbol-based formatting may not.
  • Shapes formatting cannot make. Script, blackletter, circled and small-caps letters are not on any formatting menu.

Try the Bold Text Generator for a quick bold line, or the Strikethrough Text Generator to cross out a word wherever there is no tilde syntax.

Common Mistakes

  • Spaces inside the symbols. A space between a symbol and the text can stop the formatting from applying.
  • Mixing apps. Typing Discord syntax into WhatsApp shows the symbols as they are.
  • Formatting everything. If every word is bold, none of them stand out.
  • Forgetting the audience. Messages are read on all sorts of devices, so check what matters in plain text.

Try the Tools

  • Fancy Fonts for WhatsApp

    Styled text for chats, status and group info, plus a note on built-in formatting.

  • Fancy Fonts for Discord

    Styled display names and nicknames, plus the markdown Discord supports.

Quick Answers

Why does my bold text show stars instead of formatting?

The app may not support that syntax, or you may be using another app's symbols. Compare what you typed with the table above, and check the app's own help.

How do I show the symbols without formatting?

The method differs by app, so check its help page. A simple option is a code format, such as the monospace syntax in the table, which is meant to show the characters you typed.

Does formatting survive when I copy a message?

Often not. Copying into another app may keep the symbols, drop the formatting or paste plain words. A styled Unicode line, by contrast, stays the same wherever you paste it.

Is the syntax the same on phone and desktop?

Mostly, but not always. Apps add formatting to some versions first, and shortcut keys exist only on desktop. If something does not work, check the version you are using.

Which should I use for a group announcement?

Use the app's formatting for emphasis inside the message, since it keeps the letters readable. Add a styled heading only if you want a distinctive title and are happy for it to look plain on a device that lacks the font.