How it works: Markdown

Enhancing Your YouTube Descriptions with Markdown

YouTube has introduced Markdown support for video descriptions, providing Creators with a simple way to style their text and highlight important information. Previously, descriptions were limited to plain text, but this feature allows you to add visual emphasis to guide your viewers’ attention toward specific details.

By using a few simple characters—known as Markdown syntax—you can change the appearance of your text without needing any external formatting tools.

How to Create Bold Text

Bold text is ideal for creating headers within your description or drawing immediate attention to critical calls to action, such as links or important warnings.

To make text bold, you must enclose the desired word or phrase between two asterisks on each side. For example, typing **your text here** will result in a bolded appearance once the description is published and viewed by your audience.

Adding Italics for Subtle Emphasis

If you need to add emphasis that is less aggressive than bolding, italics are an excellent choice. This is often used for secondary notes, citations, or adding a specific tone to a sentence.

To apply italics, place a single asterisk on each side of the text. By enclosing your phrase in *single asterisks*, the text will appear slanted, distinguishing it from the surrounding standard text.

Using Strikethrough for Corrections and Style

The Markdown feature also includes a strikethrough option. This is particularly useful if you want to show a correction in your description or add a touch of humor by “crossing out” a word.

To achieve this effect, use two tildes on either side of the text. Typing ~~your text here~~ will create a horizontal line through the words, signaling to the viewer that the information is being retracted or modified.

Improving Scannability for Your Viewers

Utilizing these formatting options helps break up large blocks of text, making your descriptions much easier to scan. When viewers open your description box, they are often looking for specific pieces of information—such as timestamps, product links, or social media handles.

By strategically using bolding for key headings and italics for supporting details, you can improve the overall user experience, ensuring that your audience finds exactly what they need quickly and efficiently.

Original transcript

Transcript

The new Markdown feature allows you to highlight text in your video description. Text enclosed within a single asterisk on each side will be displayed in italics. Text between two asterisks will be bold, and text between two tildes will be strikethrough.

Still unsure how to format text in your YouTube descriptions? Learn how to use Markdown to make text italic, bold, or strikethrough. Find more helpful tips on our YouTube Tips & Tricks in English, or contact our expert below.