Slack Formatting: How to Write Messages People Actually Read
We've all fired off a wall-of-text Slack message and immediately wanted to unsend it. A giant unbroken block of prose in a chat app is about as fun to read as terms and conditions — which is to say, nobody's reading it.
Slack's formatting tools take five minutes to learn and make a genuine difference. This guide covers the syntax, the shortcuts, when to use what, and a few traps worth knowing in advance.
How Slack Formatting Actually Works
Slack uses its own formatting syntax called mrkdwn — inspired by Markdown, but with its own rules. If you know standard Markdown, most of it will feel familiar, with some gotchas. Double asterisks (**text**), for example, are standard Markdown that Slack ignores entirely.
Two ways to format messages:
- The formatting toolbar — a WYSIWYG interface below the message box. Good starting point.
- Syntax shortcuts — typing special characters around your text directly. Faster once it clicks.
Slack renders formatting live as you type. Type *Bold* and the asterisks vanish, leaving Bold right in the compose box.
The Core Slack Formatting Syntax
Bold
Wrap text in *asterisks* for bold. Best for deadlines, action items, or anything that needs attention.
Syntax: *your text*
Shortcut: Ctrl+B (Windows) / Cmd+B (Mac)
Italic
Underscores give you italics: _italic_. Good for emphasis, titles, or softening a sentence.
Syntax: _your text_
Shortcut: Ctrl+I (Windows) / Cmd+I (Mac)
Strikethrough
Tildes do strikethrough: ~strikethrough~. Useful for marking something outdated or crossing items off a list.