Commenting
This page contains some of the more common issues, tips, tricks, and Markdown code formatting usages when sharing comment or wiki content. For a complete list of all formatting usages, you may read the Reddit Markdown Primer or Comment Formatting.
See also: https://www.redditsecrets.com/reddit-formatting-help/
▶ To see how anything on this page is actually coded you can "edit" at the top or "view source" at the bottom right. ◀
Reading
SaidIt uses threaded comments — replies to comments are indented below it.
On the left click the:
[-]
to collapse a branch or entire comment tree.
[+]
to expand a branch or entire comment tree.
Comments
You may post comments on SaidIt posts and read comments other people have shared. You may even vote on them! Like the posts, comments will rise and fall in the rankings as users vote on them. The more votes you earn, the higher your Comment Karma grows.
Formatting
You may format your comments using the Markdown syntax, exemplified in this quick reference table:
you type: | you see: |
*italics* |
italics |
_italics_ |
italics |
**bold** |
bold |
__bold__ |
bold |
***bold italics*** |
bold italics |
**_bold italics_** |
bold italics |
___bold italics___ |
bold italics |
super^script |
superscript |
This is^partly superscripted. |
This ispartly superscripted. |
This is ^(partly superscript)ed. |
This is partly superscripted. |
~~strikethrough~~ |
|
`preformatted text` |
preformatted text |
Also: Start a line with 4 spaces for a preformatted text bar across the page. Short text will not shorten the bar, while long text will add a scroll bar. Feature disabled in tables. Look on this page at Start Lines With Spaces. |
|
Some is `inline code text` here. | Some is inline code text here. |
[saidit!](https://saidit.net) |
saidit! |
\[saidit!](https://saidit.net) |
[saidit!](https://saidit.net) |
\*escape formatting syntax sorta* |
*escape formatting syntax sorta |
\*escape formatting syntax sorta\* |
\escape formatting syntax sorta* |
\**escape formatting syntax sorta** |
*escape formatting syntax sorta |
\**escape formatting syntax sorta\** |
\escape formatting syntax sorta\* |
Superscripted text can also be enclosed in parentheses. Text inside the parentheses can include spaces and text after the closing parenthesis will not be superscripted, even if not separated by a space:
This table can also be accessed from any comment box by clicking the formatting help
link.
For more advanced syntax options, see the Official Markdown Syntax.
Common Issues
A Common Link Issue
An issue affects links with special characters in the URL, as are often on Wikipedia and similar websites.
To link to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pica_(disorder)
Escape the problematic characters
(
and)
by adding backslashes\
in front of each:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pica_\(disorder\)
Applied to named links:
[Pica (disorder)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pica_\(disorder\))
Will display as:
A Numbering Issue
If a number is followed by a period at the beginning of a line, Markdown interprets it as a numbered list and always starts at one. (See more under Start Numbered Lines on this page.)
2020. What a year.
problematically displays:
- What a year.
2020\. What a year.
is the solution to display:
2020. What a year.
Line-Breaks Using A Double-Space
Individual line-breaks are ignored, so this:
This is one line and_
this is another line
Displays without line-break:
This is one line and this is another line
To display a line-break in your post, add two spaces (shown as underscores) at the end of the first line:
This is one line and__
this is another line
To display a line-break:
This is one line and
this is another line
A double line-break can start a new paragraph.
Insert An Empty Line With A - Dash
After a blank line:
line 1
line 3
A small empty line displays as:
line 1
line 3
After a blank line, a line with only one dash with no spaces:
line 1
-
line 4
Will create a an empty line with padding space for a larger gap nod displaying the dash:
line 1
line 4
After a blank line, a line with a dash followed by a space (shown as underscore):
line 1
-_
line 4
Will create a bullet instead of a line gap, without line-break:
line 1
-
line 4
After a blank line, a line with a dash followed by a space (shown as underscore) followed by another blank line:
line 1
-_
line 5
Will create a bullet instead of a line gap, with a line-break:
line 1
line 5
Insert An Empty Line With
NBSP = Non-Breaking SPace, the equivalent of a space but without wordwrap
To insert a blank line in your Markdown code, leave and empty line or use the double-space line-break covered on this page, with
followed by double-space (shown as underscores).Double-spaces are not used on the first or second lines, thus the crowding.
The fourth line is an empty line for a small padding space. The fifth line does not ignore the fourth empty line because the third line has the double-space line-breaker.
The tenth line is the
follows and has the double-space line-breaker for a large padding space.The twelfth line is the
** without** the double-space line-breaker, thus the shift of the thirteenth line.
line 1
◀ no break merges with next lineline 2
◀ no break merges with next lineline 3
◀ no break EFFICIENT space- ◀ line-space EFFICIENT space
line 5
◀ no break merges with next line
◀ no break merges with next lineline 7
◀ no break merges with next line __
◀ line-breakline 9__
◀ line-break LARGEST space __
◀ line-break LARGEST spaceline 11__
◀ line-break
◀ no break merges with next lineline 13__
◀ line-break EFFECTIVE space- ◀ line-space EFFECTIVE space
line 15__
◀ line-break
Displays as:
line 1 line 2 line 3
line 5
line 7
line 9
line 11
line 13
line 15
The double-space line-breakers are critical to functional spacing.
More space options and combinations:
A single dash
-
directly following a line of text makes it an underlined title explained on this page.An empty line is a line-breaker.
A double-space at the end of a line is a line-breaker.
A single dash
-
or empty line works for one line only and cannot be used in multiples.A non-breakingspace with double-space line-breakers
__
can be used multiple times.For trouble shooting and/or find specific solutions:
line 1
-
-
◀ underline makes previous line a title line 3
◀ NO line-break merges with next lineline 4
◀ NO line-break + 2/2 line space following- ◀ line-space + EFFICIENT spacing combo
-
◀ pads next line EFFICIENT spacing comboline 7
◀ NO line-break + 2/2 line space following-
◀ pads next lineline 10
◀ 2/2 line space following-
__
◀ pads next line + doesn't need double-space (see 9.) but-is better (see 6.)line 13
◀ 2/3 line space following-
◀ ineffective padding-
line 17
◀ 2/3 line space following-
__
-
line 21
◀ 1/2 line space following, NO line-break merges with next line
◀ BAD paddingline 24
◀ 2/2 line space following __
◀ MOST EFFECTIVE spacing combo- ◀ MOST EFFECTIVE spacing combo
line 27__
◀ 2/3 line space following __
line 31__
◀ 4/3 line space following- ◀ MOST EFFECTIVE spacing combo
__
◀ MOST EFFECTIVE spacing combo (adds a table of contents blank entry)-
◀ MOST EFFECTIVE spacing comboline 35__
◀ 2/2 line space following + doesn't need double-space (see 4.)- ◀ EFFICIENT spacing combo
-
◀ EFFICIENT spacing comboline 38__
◀ 2/5 line space following-
◀ BAD padding-
◀ BAD paddingline 44__
◀ 4/4 line space following __
__
__
__
line 49__
◀ 5/4 line space following __
◀ MOST EFFECTIVE spacing combo (adds a table of contents blank entry)-
◀ MOST EFFECTIVE spacing combo __
◀ MOST EFFECTIVE spacing combo- ◀ MOST EFFECTIVE spacing combo
line54__
◀ 3/4 line space following __
-
line59__
◀ 4/5 line space following-
__
-
line65__
Displays as:
line 1
line 3 line 4
line 7
line 10
line 13
line 17
line 21
line 24
line 27
line 31
line 35
line 38
line 44
line 49
line54
line59
line65
Line-Starting Characters
Line-starting characters are critically important.
Three dashes --- alone on a line will create a dividing line across the page.
Start Quoted Lines: > Greater-Than
> A fine quote.
displays as:
A fine quote.
Start Bullet Lines: * Asterisk / - Dash
* A fine bullet.
displays as:
- A fine bullet.
- Another bullet line follows like this, starting with an asterisk
*
- One space before an asterisk
*
indents it further - Two spaces before an asterisk
*
makes no difference - Three spaces before an asterisk for this result.
- Four spaces before an asterisk for this result.
- Five spaces before an asterisk for this result.
- Eight spaces before an asterisk for this result.
- Nine spaces before an asterisk for this result.
- Thirteen spaces before an asterisk for this result.
- Nine spaces before an asterisk for this result.
- One space before an asterisk
- A fine bullet
displays as:
- A fine bullet
- Another bullet line follows like this, starting with a dash
-
- One space before a dash
-
indents it further - Two spaces before a dash
-
makes no difference - Three spaces before a dash for this result.
- Four spaces before a dash for this result.
- Five spaces before a dash for this result.
- Six spaces before a dash for this result.
- Nine spaces before a dash for this result.
- Thirteen spaces before a dash for this result.
- Nine spaces before a dash for this result.
- One space before a dash
Start Numbered Lines: 1. Number & Period
1. A fine number
displays as:
- A fine number
- Another number line follows like this, starting with
5.
but is auto numbered- A number line with one space before
3.
indents it further - A number line with two spaces before
2.
makes no difference - A number line with three spaces before
7.
makes no difference - A number line with four spaces before
9.
makes no difference- A number line with five spaces before
0.
indents it further
- A number line with five spaces before
- A number line with one space before
- No space before a
1.
to start.- One spaces before a
7.
for this result.- Five spaces before a
5.
for this result.- Nine spaces before a
3.
for this result.- Thirteen spaces before a
2.
for this result.
- Thirteen spaces before a
- Nine spaces before a
- Five spaces before a
- One spaces before a
Replace the period .
with a bracket )
to display:
1) A fine number
5) Another number line follows like this, starting with 5)
but is auto numbered
3) A number line with a space before 3)
indents it further
2) A number line with two spaces before 2)
makes no difference
Because there were no line-breaks it all clumped together. (See more under A Numbering Issue on this page.) Correct by adding double-space line-breaks at the end each line. (All spaces are shown as underscores):
1) A fine number bracket__
5) Another number bracket line follows like this, starting with
5)but is _not_ auto numbered__
_3) A number bracket line with a space before
3)will _not_ indent it further__
__2) A number bracket line with two spaces before
2)will _not_ indent it further either__
To display:
1) A fine number bracket
5) Another number bracket line follows like this, starting with 5)
but is not auto numbered
3) A number bracket line with a space before 3)
will not indent it further
2) A number bracket line with two spaces before 2)
will not indent it further either
Starting Lines With Four-Space Indents
This is a bullet line.
- This is a four-space indented bullet line after a non-indented bullet line.
Start a four-space indented line after a bullet and it avoids preformatting the text.
Another four-space indented line after non-preformatted indented text remains normal.
This is a normal line.
* A four-space indented bullet _without_ a preceding indented line becomes preformatted.
* Eight spaces then an asterisk for this result.
* Twelve spaces then an asterisk for this result.
Spaces in front of non-bullet lines are ignored - until you add 4 or more spaces to preformat text.
This preformatted text requires a preceding empty line distancing from normal text above.
Start a normal line with no spaces for this result.
Start a line with one space for this result.
Start a line with two space for this result.
Start a line with three spaces for this result.
Start a line with **four** spaces for this preformatted text result.
Start a line with **five** spaces for this preformatted text result.
Start a line with **six** spaces for this preformatted text result.
Start a line with **seven** spaces for this preformatted text result.
Start a line with **eight** spaces for this preformatted text result.
____4 spaces before this sentence
will display a tiny indent and preformatted non-word-wrap text, spreading across the width of the page no matter how short or long and will create a horizontal scroll bar if maximum width is exceeded:
4 spaces before this sentence will display a tiny indent and preformatted non-word-wrap text, spreading across the width of the page no matter how short or long and will create a horizontal scroll bar if maximum width is exceeded:
Some normal formatted text without 4 spaces before it to break up the preformatted text mode for this next short example:
4 spaces + short text = still crosses the page
Start Title Lines: # Hash
Starting lines with a #
hash or number symbol make them titles of sections or subsections. A space after the hash before the title is optional.
Two hashes starting a line is an alternative and the same as a line of title text followed by the next line of all --- dashes underlining, as all the titles on this page.
That large spaces above and below the titles cannot be edited in Markdown but can be adjusted with CSS.
#One hash
shows:
One hash
# Two hashes
shows:
Two hashes
### Three hashes
shows:
Three hashes
####Four hashes
shows:
Four hashes
##### Five hashes
shows:
Five hashes
Six hashes (all caps regardless)
# Seven hashes (same as 6+1)
## Eight hashes (same as 6+2) etc...
Underline Titles
The "Underline Titles" immediately above was created with this:
Underline Titles
==========
Underline Titles
The "Underline Titles" immediately above was created with this:
Underline Titles
-----------------
Only One Dash directly following a line of text underlines it as a title.
The sentence immediately above was created with this:
Only One Dash directly following a line of text underlines it as a title.
-
Contrastingly:
Only One Dash directly preceding a line of text provides extra padding space above.
The sentence immediately above was created with this:
-
Only One Dash directly preceding a line of text provides extra padding space above.
Tables
You can create a table by organizing pipes |
, hyphens -
, and text within a particular syntax.
Column A | Column B | Column C
---------|----------|----------
A1 | B1 | C1
A2 | B2 | C2
Displays this:
Column A | Column B | Column C |
---|---|---|
A1 | B1 | C1 |
A2 | B2 | C2 |
To change the alignment of the elements in a column, add a colon (:) to the left side, right side, or both sides of the appropriate set of hyphens on the second line.
Column L | Column C | Column R
:--------|:--------:|---------:
A1 | B1 | C1
A2 | B2 | C2
Displays this:
Column L | Column C | Column R |
---|---|---|
A1 | B1 | C1 |
A2 | B2 | C2 |
Note that in both cases, only one hyphen is needed between the pipes on the second line, and no spaces are needed to separate table elements from pipes on the third and fourth lines. Adding multiple hyphens and spaces may be useful for clarity, but they will not affect the final layout.
Lines with table syntax can be preceded with pipe characters, but this is entirely optional.
Pressing enter twice and putting blank lines between lines with table syntax will BREAK table formatting.
HTML Wiki Tables
<table class='wiki'>
<tr>
<td>cell A</td>
<td>cell B</td></tr>
<tr >
<td>cell C</td>
<td>cell D</td></tr>
</table>
Displays this:
cell A | cell B |
cell C | cell D |
▶ To see how anything on this page is actually coded you can "edit" at the top or "view source" at the bottom right. ◀
revision by JasonCarswell— view source