# Writing & Markdown reference

Every formatting shortcut Notes understands — checkboxes, headings, lists, tables, code, and what happens when you paste Markdown.

Canonical: https://easerix.com/docs/notes/writing

<Answer>
Notes speaks Markdown. Type `[]` followed by a space for a checkbox, `#` for a
heading, `-` for a bullet, `1.` for a numbered list. Pasting Markdown text
converts it to rich blocks automatically, and exporting a page gives you clean
Markdown back.
</Answer>

There are three ways to format as you write, and they all work together:

1. **Markdown shortcuts** — type the marker and keep going (fastest).
2. **The `/` menu** — press `/` on any line to insert a block from a list.
3. **The selection menu** — select text for bold, color, links, and turn-into.

## Checkboxes and to-do lists

Type any of these at the start of a line, then a space:

| You type | You get |
|---|---|
| `[]` | An unchecked to-do item |
| `[x]` | A checked to-do item |
| `- [ ]` | An unchecked to-do item (GitHub style) |
| `- [x]` | A checked to-do item (GitHub style) |

Press **Enter** to continue the list with a new checkbox, **Tab** to nest a
sub-task, and **Backspace** on an empty item to exit the list. Click the box to
toggle it — collaborators see the change live.

Both spellings also work when you **paste** a to-do list from anywhere else:
GitHub-style `- [ ]` task lists and bare `[] task` lines both become
interactive checkboxes. Capital `[X]` is fine too.

## Headings

| You type | You get |
|---|---|
| `# Text` | Heading 1 |
| `## Text` | Heading 2 |
| `### Text` | Heading 3 |

Deeper heading levels (`####` and beyond) fold into Heading 3 — Notes keeps
page structure to three levels on purpose. Pasted documents using setext
headings (a line of `===` or `---` under the text) convert too.

## Lists

| You type | You get |
|---|---|
| `-`, `*`, or `+` | Bulleted list |
| `1.` or `1)` | Numbered list |
| `3.` | Numbered list starting at 3 |

**Tab** indents a nested list; **Shift+Tab** brings it back out. Lists of all
three kinds can nest inside each other, including to-dos under bullets.

## Inline formatting

| You type | You get |
|---|---|
| `**bold**` or `__bold__` | **Bold** |
| `*italic*` or `_italic_` | *Italic* |
| `***both***` | ***Bold italic*** |
| `~~strike~~` | ~~Strikethrough~~ |
| `==highlight==` | Highlighted text |
| `` `code` `` | Inline code |
| `[title](https://url)` | A link |
| `<https://url>` or a bare URL | An automatic link |

Keyboard equivalents: **⌘B** bold, **⌘I** italic, **⌘U** underline,
**⌘⇧X** strikethrough, **⌘E** code, **⌘K** link. Text color and highlight
colors live in the toolbar at the top of the page and in the selection menu.

Need a literal `*` or `#`? Escape it with a backslash: `\*not emphasis\*`.

## Blocks

| You type | You get |
|---|---|
| `>` + space | Quote |
| `---`, `***`, or `___` on its own line | Divider |
| ```` ``` ```` or `~~~` (optionally with a language: ```` ```python ````) | Code block with syntax highlighting |
| `@` or `[[` | Link to another page (backlinks are tracked) |
| `/` | The full block menu — tables, callouts, images, embeds |

## Tables

Paste a Markdown table and it becomes a real table:

```
| Plan | Price |
| --- | --- |
| Starter | $0 |
| Team | $12 |
```

You can also insert one from the `/` menu and edit cells directly.

## Pasting Markdown

When you paste plain text that contains Markdown structure — headings, lists,
checkboxes, quotes, code fences, tables — Notes converts it to rich blocks
automatically. Ordinary prose pastes as ordinary text; the conversion only
kicks in when the text actually looks like Markdown. Pasting from rich sources
(Google Docs, web pages) keeps their formatting as before, and pasted images
upload straight into the page.

This is the fastest way to move content in from a README, a ChatGPT/Claude
answer, a GitHub issue, or any Markdown editor.

## Exporting Markdown

Every page exports to clean Markdown (page menu → **Export**), including
checkboxes as `- [ ]` / `- [x]`, so your content is never locked in. The
[importer](/notes/organizing#import-your-existing-docs) accepts Markdown files
and full Notion exports the same way.

## Good to know

- Checkbox state syncs in realtime — two people can work the same checklist.
- Markdown shortcuts fire as you type; nothing happens to text you've already
  written until you select it and use the menu.
- Inside code blocks, nothing converts — paste config and scripts safely.