Help:Formatting

<languages/> Template:PD Help Page Template:See also

You can format your text by using wiki markup. This consists of normal characters like asterisks, apostrophes, or equal signs which have a special function in the wiki, sometimes depending on their position. For example, to format a word in italic, you include it in two pairs of apostrophes like ''this''.

Description	You type	You get
Template:Anchor Character (inline) formatting – applies anywhere
Italic text	''italic''	italic
Bold text	'''bold'''	bold
Bold and italic	'''''bold & italic'''''	bold & italic
Escape wiki markup	<nowiki>no [[wiki]] ''markup''</nowiki>	no [[wiki]] ''markup''
Template:Anchor Section formatting – only at the beginning of the line
Section Headings of different levels	== Level 2 == === Level 3 === ==== Level 4 ==== ===== Level 5 ===== ====== Level 6 ======	(renders as normal headings)
Horizontal rule	Text before ---- Text after	Text before Text after
Bullet list	* Start each line * with an asterisk (*). ** More asterisks give deeper *** and deeper levels. * Line breaks <br>don't break levels. *** But jumping levels creates empty space. Any other start ends the list. * combine bullet list ** with definition ::- definition ** creates empty space * combine bullet list ** with definition *:- definition ** without empty spaces *bullet list :- definition :* sublist that doesn't create empty :* spaces after definition	* Start each line * with an asterisk (*). ** More asterisks give deeper *** and deeper levels. * Line breaks <br>don't break levels. *** But jumping levels creates empty space. Any other start ends the list. * combine bullet list ** with definition ::- definition ** creates empty space * combine bullet list ** with definition *:- definition ** without empty spaces *bullet list :- definition :* sublist that doesn't create empty :* spaces after definition
Numbered list	# Start each line # with a number sign (#). ## More number signs give deeper ### and deeper ### levels. # Line breaks <br>don't break levels. ### But jumping levels creates empty space. # Blank lines # end the list and start another. Any other start also ends the list. <nowiki># use “nowiki” tags to display a literal “#” at the beginning of a line without interpreting it as a numbered list. </nowiki>	# Start each line # with a number sign (#). ## More number signs give deeper ### and deeper ### levels. # Line breaks <br>don't break levels. ### But jumping levels creates empty space. # Blank lines # end the list and start another. Any other start also ends the list. <nowiki># use “nowiki” tags to display a literal “#” at the beginning of a line without interpreting it as a numbered list.</nowiki>
Description list	;item 1 : definition 1 ;item 2 : definition 2‑1 : definition 2‑2	;item 1 definition 1 item 2 definition 2‑1 definition 2‑2
Description details without description terms	: Description details :: Nested description details ::::: Deeply nested description details	: Description details Nested description details Deeply nested description details
Mixture of different types of list	# one # two #* two point one #* two point two # three #; three item one #: three def one # four #: four def one #: this looks like a continuation #: and is often used #: instead <br> of <nowiki><br> # five ## five sub 1 ### five sub 1 sub 1 ## five sub 2 </nowiki>	# one two two point one two point two three three item one three def one four four def one this looks like a continuation and is often used instead of <br> five five sub 1 five sub 1 sub 1 five sub 2
Preformatted text	Start each line with a space. Text is '''preformatted''' and ''markups'' '''''can''''' be done.	Start each line with a space. Text is preformatted and markups can be done.
Preformatted text blocks	<nowiki> Start with a space in the first column, (before the <nowiki> tag). Then your block format will be maintained. This is good for copying in code blocks: def function(): """ documentation string """ if True: print(True) else: print(False) </nowiki>	(rendered as a monospaced block – same as the source above)

<script> /* Tiny MediaWiki markup validator – runs entirely in the browser.

  It checks:
    • balanced italics (…)
    • balanced bold (…)
    • proper heading delimiters (=…=)
  Add more checks if you wish. */

(function(){

   var container = document.createElement('div');
   container.style.margin = '1.5em 0';
   container.innerHTML = `

⚙️ Quick markup checker

       <textarea id="mw‑checker‑src"
                 rows="6"
                 style="width:100%;font-family:monospace;"
                 placeholder="Paste your wikitext here…"></textarea>
       
<button id="mw‑checker‑run">Check syntax</button>

   `;
   document.querySelector('table.wikitable').parentNode.appendChild(container);

   function count(str, pat){ return (str.match(pat)||[]).length; }

   document.getElementById('mw‑checker‑run').addEventListener('click',function(){
       var src = document.getElementById('mw‑checker‑src').value;
       var msgs = [];

       var ital = count(src, //g);
       if (ital % 2) msgs.push('⚠️ Unbalanced italics (\'\' – '+ital+' occurrences)');

       var bold = count(src, //g);
       if (bold % 2) msgs.push('⚠️ Unbalanced bold (\'\'\' – '+bold+' occurrences)');

       src.split('\n').forEach(function(l){
           if (/^=+/.test(l)){
               var lead = l.match(/^=+/)[0].length;
               var trail = (l.match(/=+$/)||[])[0].length;
               if (lead!==trail) msgs.push('⚠️ Bad heading line: "'+l+'" – start and end “=” count differ');
           }
       });

       var out = document.getElementById('mw‑checker‑out');
       out.textContent = msgs.length ? msgs.join('\n') : '✅ No obvious syntax problems!';
       out.style.display = 'block';
   });

})(); </script>

` comments have been removed – they were only needed for the Translate extension, which is not installed on this wiki.

• `Template:Anchor` calls have been deleted because the surrounding headings already generate the necessary HTML‑id anchors.

 If you ever need an extra “in‑page” anchor that is **not** a heading, insert a tiny span, e.g.:

 and link to it with `link text`.

• The table uses `

  …

  ` to show markup literally.

 This works on a vanilla MediaWiki installation – no extensions required.

• The optional JavaScript block at the bottom provides a very small client‑side “syntax checker”. It is harmless if JavaScript is disabled and can be removed if you prefer a strictly static page.

Happy editing! -->