markdown italics: the complete guide to italicize text in Markdown

This page explains how to write italics in Markdown and when to use them effectively. It focuses on portable syntax that renders the same across popular processors such as CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM).

Basic Syntax

  • Use one asterisk or one underscore on each side of the text you want to italicize.
    • *text* → italic
    • _text_ → italic
  • Inside a word is allowed with asterisks: empha*sis* → emphasis.
  • Don't put spaces between the markers and the text: * text * won't work as you expect.

Examples:

This is *italic* text.
This is _italic_ text.
You can empha*sis* inside a word.

Rendered: This is italic text. This is italic text. You can emphasis inside a word.

Italics vs. Bold and Bold-Italics

  • Italic: *text* or _text_
  • Bold: **text** or __text__
  • Bold + Italic: ***text*** or ___text___

Nesting works when the markers are balanced:

***very important***   # bold + italic
**really *important*** # mixed, still valid

Best Practices and Portability

  • Prefer asterisks for emphasis in technical prose. Underscores may collide with identifiers like my_variable, causing accidental italics. If you must use underscores, escape them: my\_variable.
  • Keep both markers in the same paragraph; emphasis cannot span across block boundaries (e.g., from a paragraph into a list or code block).
  • Put blank lines before and after headings to avoid ambiguous parsing; emphasis markers inside headings work the same as in paragraphs.
  • For compatibility across different Markdown processors, use asterisks when italicizing parts of words.

HTML Equivalents

Markdown italics map to HTML emphasis elements:

  • <em>text</em> is the semantic equivalent of *text* / _text_.
  • <i> is purely visual. Prefer <em> for meaning and accessibility (screen readers typically add emphasis to <em>).

Escaping Literal Markers

If you need a literal asterisk or underscore, escape it with a backslash:

\*not italic\*  → *not italic*
\_not italic\_  → _not italic_

Backticks also prevent formatting inside code spans:

`*not italic*`   # renders as literal

Mixing with Links, Images, and Lists

  • Link text can be italic:
  • Image alt text can be italicized the same way: ![*Logo*](logo.png)
  • In lists and tables, italics work exactly as in paragraphs.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding spaces inside the markers: * like this * → the spaces break the emphasis.
  • Unbalanced markers: *one two** → processors leave them as plain text.
  • Using underscores around identifiers: _version_2 may italicize part of the name.

Quick Reference

*italic*      or   _italic_
**bold**      or   __bold__
***bold italic*** or ___bold italic___
\*escape\*   \_escape\_
`code *no italics*`

When to Use Italics

  • To emphasize a word in a sentence without overusing bold.
  • To reference titles of works, foreign words, or short UI labels, depending on your style guide.
  • To introduce a term the first time it appears, then revert to normal weight.
  • For subtle emphasis in your writing.

Browser and Platform Support

Markdown italics are supported by:

  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Reddit
  • Stack Overflow
  • Discord
  • Notion
  • Obsidian
  • Most modern Markdown editors and viewers

Used sparingly, markdown italics guide the reader's attention without overwhelming the page.