Text Formatting

Vanguard allows you to use a built-in markdown language to format text in your profile pages and news, as well as in event pages, news, and discussions.

Below you’ll find the tags, their descriptions, and examples of use.

Fonts

Italic Text

To make text italic, wrap it in asterisks ( * ) or underscores ( _ ).

Example:
One word in this sentence is italic.

Code:
One word in this sentence is *italic*.
or
One word in this sentence is _italic_.

Bold Text

To make text bold, wrap it in double asterisks ( ** ) or double underscores ( __ ).

Example:
Some words in this sentence are bold.

Code:
Some words in this sentence are **bold**.
or
Some words in this sentence are __bold__.

Bold + Italic

Example:
A word in this sentence is bold italic.

Code:
A word in this sentence is ***bold italic***.
or
A word in this sentence is ___bold italic___.

Escaping Special Characters

To display text with special characters instead of formatting, add a backslash ( \ ) before them.

Examples:

1. *Text*
2. _Text_
3. **Text**
4. \**Text\**

Code:

1. \*Text\*
2. \_Text\_
3. \*\*Text\*\*
4. \\\\*\*Text\\\\*\*

Common Formatting Errors

Remember: there must be no spaces between the word and the formatting symbols. Otherwise, it won’t work.

Examples:

1. This word should be italic: *word *.
2. This word should be italic: * word*.

Code:

1. *word *
2. * word*

Headings

You can create headings of four levels. At the beginning of a line, add the appropriate number of hash symbols ( # ). The fewer hashes, the larger the heading.

Examples:

Heading Level I

Heading Level II

Heading Level III

Heading Level IV

Code:
# Heading Level I
## Heading Level II
### Heading Level III
#### Heading Level IV

Links

There are two ways to add links.

1. Direct URL in text

   • Simple, but with two limitations:
     • The link must be separated by spaces, otherwise punctuation (like a period) will be treated as part of the URL.
     • You cannot set custom link text.

2. Markdown tag label

   • More flexible. “Label” is the clickable text, and “url” is the address.
   • You can use absolute or relative links. Absolute links open in a new window; relative links open in the same window.

Examples:

1. Absolute link https://vanguardnetwork.org
2. Vanguard Network
3. Click here.
4. Wrong: https://vanguardnetwork.org. (the period is included)
5. Wrong: texthttps://vanguardnetwork.org
6. Wrong: https://vanguardnetwork.org...
7. Fixed: texthttps://vanguardnetwork.org...
8. Relative link to help.
9. Relative link to site news.

Code:

1. https://vanguardnetwork.org
2. [Vanguard Network](https://vanguardnetwork.org)
3. Click [here](https://vanguardnetwork.org).
4. https://vanguardnetwork.org.
5. texthttps://vanguardnetwork.org
6. https://vanguardnetwork.org...
7. text[https://vanguardnetwork.org](https://vanguardnetwork.org)...
8. [help](../help)
9. [site news](../../news)

Images

To insert an image, use the syntax:

![alt text](url)

• alt text — the caption shown on hover (also used for alt/title tags).
• url — the direct image link.

To make the image clickable, wrap it in square brackets and add a link in parentheses.

Examples:

1. Image
   

2. Image as a link
   

Code:

1. 
2. [](https://vanguardnetwork.org)

---

Combining Tags

You can combine multiple tags.

Examples:

1. Text formatting

Heading Level III in Italics

2. Image as a link
   

Code:

1. ### *Heading Level III in Italics*
2. [](https://vanguardnetwork.org)

---

Embedding YouTube

You can embed YouTube video player simply by pasting the direct link into your text.

YouTube

Example:

Code:
h**ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJpOcyJa1co (replace ** with tt)

If you have questions about text formatting, feel free to contact us — we’ll be happy to help. Or simply leave a comment below.