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Format your text

Open in ChatGPT

Make text bold, italic or highlighted, add links, and turn paragraphs into headings, lists and quotes.

Select some words, then pick a style from the formatting toolbar at the top of the page or from the small bubble that appears above your selection. You can also type Markdown shortcuts, like **bold**, and Writing Studio formats them as you go.

Use the formatting toolbar

The toolbar sits above your paper on a computer. From left to right it has:

  • Undo and Redo.
  • Block type, a menu that turns the current paragraph into Text, Heading 1 to Heading 4, Bulleted list, Numbered list, Block quote or Code block.
  • Insert, which opens the same list as the / menu.
  • Bold, Italic, Underline, Strikethrough and Highlight.
  • Inline code, Superscript, Subscript and Link.
  • Cite, Briefs and the Autocomplete switch.

When the window is narrow, the less common buttons move into More formatting.

The formatting toolbar

Highlight in colour

Click Highlight to pick Yellow, Green, Blue, Pink or Purple. To take a highlight off, select the words and choose Remove highlight.

Highlights stay in your exported files. Before you hand in a paper, the Export dialog tells you how many passages are still highlighted and offers Remove all highlights.

Format from the selection bubble

When you select words, a small bubble appears above them with Bold, Italic, Underline, Strikethrough and Highlight. It also has shortcuts to Cite, Rewrite, Ask AI and Comment.

Click More in the bubble for:

  • Continue writing, which asks the AI to carry on from the end of your selection.
  • Turn into, to change the paragraph into a heading, list, quote or code block.
  • Copy.
  • Clear formatting, which removes bold, italics, highlights and other styles. It keeps your links and comments.

Type Markdown shortcuts

If you know Markdown, you can format without leaving the keyboard. Type these at the start of a line, followed by a space:

Type To get
#, ##, ### or #### Heading 1 to Heading 4
-, * or + Bulleted list
1. Numbered list
> Block quote
``` Code block
--- Divider

Inside a sentence, wrap words like this:

  • **bold** for bold
  • *italic* for italic
  • ~~strike~~ for strikethrough
  • `code` for inline code
  • ==highlight== for a highlight
  • $$x^2$$ for an inline equation

Use keyboard shortcuts

On a Mac use ⌘. On Windows use Ctrl instead.

  • ⌘B (Ctrl+B) bold, ⌘I italic, ⌘U underline
  • ⌘⇧S strikethrough
  • ⌘E inline code
  • ⌘. superscript and ⌘, subscript
  • ⌘K add a link to the selected words

See Keyboard shortcuts for the full list.

  1. Select the words you want to link.
  2. Click Link in the toolbar, or press ⌘K.
  3. In the box that says “Enter or paste a link”, paste the address.
  4. Click Set link.

To take a link off, select it, click Link and choose Remove. If you type an address without https://, Writing Studio adds it for you. Web addresses you type into the text become links on their own.

Links don’t open when you click them in your paper, so you can edit their wording easily.

Check your spelling

Writing Studio uses your browser’s own spell check. Misspelled words get the usual red underline, and you can right-click them for suggestions. For grammar, word choice and tone, run a review from Proofread and review your paper.

Format on your phone

On a phone, tap Format in the bottom bar. You get Bold, Italic, Underline, Heading 1, Heading 2, Bulleted list, Numbered list and Block quote. With words selected, you also get Highlight and Clear formatting.

Strikethrough, superscript, subscript, inline code, links and Heading 3 and 4 are only in the computer toolbar. Markdown shortcuts still work if your phone keyboard can type them. See Use Writing Studio on your phone.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change the font size or text colour?

No. Writing Studio keeps one clean, consistent look so your paper reads the same everywhere. You can switch the paper between the Default and Serif typeface in Paper settings, and use highlights in five colours.

Does Writing Studio check my spelling?

It uses your browser's own spell check, so misspelled words get the same underline you see in other websites. To check grammar and wording, run a Proofread review from Check my paper.

Why doesn't a link open when I click it?

Links don't open while you are writing, so you can click into them to edit the text. Select the linked words and use the Link button to see or change the address.

Do highlights show up in my exported file?

Yes, every export keeps them. The Export dialog tells you how many passages are still highlighted and offers Remove all highlights, which you can undo.