Three apostrophes will bold the text.

Five apostrophes will bold and italicize the text.

(Four apostrophes don't do anything special -- there's just 'one left over'.)

 You can ''italicize text'' by putting two 
apostrophes on each side. 

Three apostrophes will bold '''the text'''. 

Five apostrophes will bold and italicize 
'''''the text'''''.

(4 apostrophes don't do anything
special -- there's just ''''one left
over''''.)

A single newline generally has no effect on the layout. These can be used to separate sentences within a paragraph. Some editors find that this aids editing and improves the diff function (used internally to compare different versions of a page).

But an empty line starts a new paragraph.

When used in a list, a newline does affect the layout.

A single newline generally 
has no effect on the layout.
These can be used to separate
sentences within a paragraph.
Some editors find that this aids editing
and improves the ''diff'' function
(used internally to compare
different versions of a page).

But an empty line starts a new paragraph.

When used in a list, a newline ''does'' 
affect the layout.

You can break lines
without a new paragraph.
Please use this sparingly.

Please do not start a link or italics or bold on one line and close it on the next.

You can break lines<br>
without a new paragraph.<br>
Please use this sparingly.

Please do not start a [[link]] or 
''italics'' or '''bold''' on one line
and close it on the next.

The nowiki tag ignores Wiki '''markup'''. It reformats text by removing newlines and multiple spaces. It still interprets special characters: →

<nowiki>
The nowiki tag ignores 
Wiki '''markup'''.
It reformats text by 
removing
newlines    and multiple
 spaces.
It still interprets special
characters: &rarr;
</nowiki>

The pre tag ignores Wiki
 '''markup'''.
It also doesn't     reformat
 text.
It still interprets special
characters: →

<pre>
The pre tag ignores Wiki
 '''markup'''.
It also doesn't     reformat
 text.
It still interprets special
characters: &rarr;
</pre>

Leading spaces are another way to preserve formatting.

Putting a space at the
beginning of each
line stops the text   
from being
reformatted. It still 
interprets Wiki
markup and special
characters: →

Leading spaces are another way to preserve formatting.

 Putting a space at the 
 beginning of each
 line stops the text   from 
 being
 reformatted. It still 
 interprets Wiki
 ''markup'' and special 
 characters: →

Put text in a typewriter font. The same font is generally used for computer code.

Put text in a <tt>typewriter
font</tt>. The same font is 
generally used for <code>
computer code</code>.

Strike out or underline text, or write it in small caps.

<strike>Strike out</strike>
or <u>underline</u> text,
or write it <span style=
"font-variant:small-caps">
in small caps</span>.

Superscripts and subscripts: X², H₂O

Superscripts and subscripts:
X<sup>2</sup>, H<sub>2</sub>O

• Please note the American spelling of "center". The British spelling "centre" will not work properly.

<center>Centered text</center>

The blockquote command will indent both margins when
needed instead of the left margin only as the colon does.

<blockquote>
The '''blockquote''' command will indent 
both margins when needed instead of the 
left margin only as the colon does.  
</blockquote>

Invisible comments to editors ( ) only appear while editing the page.

• If you wish to make comments to the public, you should usually use the talk page.

Invisible comments to editors ( <!-- --> ) 
only appear while editing the page.
<!-- Note to editors: blah blah blah. -->

Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a table of contents from them.

Using more equals signs creates a subsection.

Don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs.

Start with two equals signs not one because one creates H1 tags which should be reserved for page title.

== Section headings ==

''Headings'' organize your writing into 
sections. The Wiki software can automatically 
generate a table of contents from them.

=== Subsection ===

Using more equals signs creates a subsection.

==== A smaller subsection ====

Don't skip levels, 
like from two to four equals signs.

Start with two equals signs not one 
because one creates H1 tags
which should be reserved for page title.

• Unordered lists are easy to do:
  • Start every line with a star.
    • More stars indicate a deeper level.

  Previous item continues.

  • A newline
• in a list

marks the end of the list.

• Of course you can start again.

* ''Unordered lists'' are easy to do:
** Start every line with a star.
*** More stars indicate a deeper level.
*: Previous item continues.
** A newline
* in a list  
marks the end of the list.
* Of course you can start again.

1. Numbered lists are:
   1. Very organized
   2. Easy to follow

A newline marks the end of the list.

1. New numbering starts with 1.

# ''Numbered lists'' are also good:
## Very organized
## Easy to follow
A newline marks the end of the list.
# New numbering starts with 1.

Here's a definition list:

Word 

Definition of the word

A longer phrase needing definition

Phrase defined

A word 

Which has a definition

Also a second one

And even a third

Begin with a semicolon. One item per line; a newline can appear before the colon, but using a space before the colon improves parsing.

Here's a ''definition list'':
; Word : Definition of the word
; A longer phrase needing definition
: Phrase defined
; A word : Which has a definition
: Also a second one
: And even a third

Begin with a semicolon. One item per line; 
a newline can appear before the colon, but 
using a space before the colon improves 
parsing.

• You can even do mixed lists
  1. and nest them
  2. inside each other
     • or break lines
       in lists.

     definition lists

     can be

     nested 

     too

* You can even do mixed lists
*# and nest them
*# inside each other
*#* or break lines<br>in lists.
*#; definition lists
*#: can be 
*#:; nested : too

A colon (:) indents a line or paragraph.

A newline starts a new paragraph.
Often used for discussion on talk pages.

We use 1 colon to indent once.

We use 2 colons to indent twice.

3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.

: A colon (:) indents a line or paragraph.
A newline starts a new paragraph. <br>
Often used for discussion on talk pages.
: We use 1 colon to indent once.
:: We use 2 colons to indent twice.
::: 3 colons to indent 3 times, and so on.

You can make horizontal dividing lines (----) to separate text.

But you should usually use sections instead, so that they go in the table of contents.

You can make horizontal dividing lines (----)
to separate text.
----
But you should usually use sections instead,
so that they go in the table of contents.