Markdown quick reference
Everything you need to read and write AI answers, on a single page. Save it to your bookmarks and come back whenever you need.
This page is a visual reference. If you are starting from zero, read the 3-article Markdown mini-series first. This cheat sheet is for fast lookup — symbol on the left, meaning in the middle, example on the right.
Essential symbols
The ones you will see in almost every AI answer.
| You write | What it means | You see |
|---|---|---|
# Heading |
Top-level title (h1) | Large heading |
## Subheading |
Subheading (h2) | Subheading |
**text** |
Bold | bold text |
*text* |
Italic | italic text |
- item |
Bulleted list | • item |
1. item |
Numbered list | 1. item |
[text](https://...) |
Clickable link | clickable text |
> text |
Blockquote | highlighted text |
`word` |
Inline code | word |
```code``` |
Code block | code |
Combinations that show up in every answer
AI rarely uses a single symbol. These are the ready-made blocks worth memorizing.
Numbered list with sub-items
1. First step
2. Second step
- Detail A
- Detail B
3. Third stepAI uses it for action sequences. The 3-space indent creates the hierarchy.
Simple table
| Option | Value |
| -------- | ----- |
| Apple | 1 |
| Pear | 2 |AI uses it to compare options side by side. Note the | at start, end, and between columns.
Code block with three backticks
```python
def hello():
print("hi")
```Opens and closes with three backticks. Language hint right after the opening backticks enables syntax highlighting.
Link with descriptive text
Read the [official guide](https://example.com/guide).The text in brackets is what shows up. The URL in parentheses is the destination. Always describe what the link is — never use “click here”.
When Markdown breaks (and how to fix it)
Most common problems — and why they happen.
“AI won’t break into new lines!”
Missing a blank line between paragraphs. Markdown breaks on blank lines, not on plain Enter.
Wrong:
line 1
line 2
Right:
line 1
line 2“The symbols show up on screen!”
The viewer does not render Markdown. Your answer is in plain text. See the 3 tricks to fix it: paste as plain, use Pandoc, or save as a snippet.
“The text became one big soup!”
Lacking visual hierarchy. Empty headings give the eye room to breathe. Insert ## Section between long stretches.
“AI mixes Markdown with HTML?”
Some models use HTML tags for tables or details. That is normal and valid — Word, Docs, and Notion handle it. For a fast lookup, this cheat sheet covers the essentials.