Have you ever noticed how some messages grab your attention immediately, while others feel like they just fade into the background? The trick often lies in how the text is styled. Whether you're sending a casual message, writing an email to a colleague, or sharing an update online, the way your words appear can completely change how they're perceived.

Using bold, italic, or strikethrough text can help highlight important details, adding emphasis where it matters most. It's like giving your message a little extra personality and ensuring your readers notice the key points. 

In this guide, we'll walk through how you can use these formatting styles to elevate your communication and make your messages more effective and engaging.

What Are Bold, Italic, and Strikethrough Text?

Text formatting may seem like a minor detail, but it can have a huge impact on how your message is received. Learn WhatsApp text formatting, such as bold, italic, underline, and monospace, which are the best ways to draw attention to specific parts of your text. Let's break down how each formatting option can be used to your advantage:

1. Understanding Bold Text

Bold text is a great way to grab attention and highlight important details. It draws the reader’s eye to specific words or phrases, making them stand out in a message. For example, if you want to stress an urgent reminder or an important instruction, bolding it will ensure your reader doesn’t miss it. Think of it like giving a spotlight to key points: "Reminder: Submit your report by 5 PM."

2. What Are Italics?

Italics offer a subtler way to emphasise text. They're often used for titles, foreign phrases, or to give a sentence a softer tone. For instance, “I think this idea will work” sounds less forceful than if it were in bold. Italics are perfect for adding emphasis without being too overwhelming, and they give your message a sense of style.

3. What Does Strikethrough Mean?

Strikethrough is a fun, casual way to show changes or corrections. It's commonly used to express humour or reflect something that’s no longer relevant. For example, “I’ll go to the gym at 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM tomorrow” shows a playful shift in plans. In business, it can be used to indicate updates or revisions: “We’ll launch the campaign on Monday... Wednesday and Friday.”

How to Format Bold Text in WhatsApp

Formatting bold text in WhatsApp is super simple. Just place asterisks (*) around the text you want to bold. For example, typing hello will show as hello.

When to Use

Bold is great for emphasising key information like deadlines, action items, or important instructions.

Pro Tip

Avoid bolding too many words in one message, as it can lose its effect. Focus on the essentials.

How to Italicize Text in WhatsApp

To italicise text, simply place underscores (_) around your words. For example, typing important will show as important.

When to Use

Italics are perfect when you want to gently emphasize something, such as a book title or a subtle opinion.

Pro Tip

Use italics when you want to add a soft emphasis that doesn't feel too forceful.

How to Use Strikethrough in WhatsApp

To apply a strikethrough, enclose the text in tildes (~). Typing errors will appear as errors.

When to Use

Strikethroughs are ideal for showing changes or corrections in a light-hearted way.

Pro Tip

Use sparingly in professional messages to avoid confusion, but feel free to add personality in casual chats.

How to Use Underlined Text in WhatsApp

While WhatsApp doesn’t have a native underlying feature, you can still create underlined text using third-party apps or text generators. Once generated, the text will appear underlined.

When to Use

Underlining works well for highlighting important links or vital details.

Pro Tip

Since WhatsApp doesn’t support underlines natively, consider using external tools when necessary.

How to Use Monospace in WhatsApp

To use monospace, enclose your text in three backticks (), like so: code```, and it will display as code.

When to Use

Monospace is useful for sharing technical details or code snippets, ensuring they’re displayed clearly and without confusion.

Pro Tip

It’s perfect for URLs, commands, or anything requiring precise formatting.

Combining Different Formatting Styles

You can even combine bold, italics, strikethrough, monospace, and underlining (through third-party apps) in a single message for more impact. For example, you could send something like: Final update: The meeting is rescheduled to next week. Confirmed!.

When to Use

Combining formats helps create clarity, especially for announcements or urgent updates.

Pro Tip

Keep it balanced; too many styles can clutter the message and make it harder to read.

Using Text Formatting in Your Business Communication

Now, let’s break down how each formatting style can be used in business communication to help you stand out, stay organised, and make your messages clearer.

1. Using Bold Text for Emphasis

Bold is great for highlighting what matters most—important tasks, deadlines, or key details. For example, in a business email, you might bold “Meeting at 3 PM tomorrow” to ensure the recipient sees it immediately. Just be sure not to overuse it; focus on the critical points to avoid overwhelming your reader.

2. Italics for Subtlety and Style

Italics can subtly emphasise certain words or phrases. They’re perfect for drawing attention to specific terms, titles, or quotes without being too bold. In a report, you might italicise a term like profit margin to give it extra importance without shouting it out.

3. Strikethrough for Updates and Corrections

Strikethrough adds a playful, light-hearted touch, perfect for showing changes or corrections in a message. In a project update, you could use it to show a shift in timelines or tasks: "The launch date was set for Monday... Wednesday, Friday."

Conclusion

Text formatting tools like bold, italics, strikethrough, monospace, and underlining can enhance your communication and make your messages stand out. These techniques not only help emphasise key points but also add personality and style to your messages, making them more engaging and clear.

By thoughtfully using these formatting tricks, you can improve both your personal and professional communication. Just remember to keep it simple—too much formatting can make your message hard to follow. So, try incorporating these tips into your messages and see how they transform your communication! Let us know how they worked for you or share any questions in the comments below.