Markdown Beginner Tutorial

How to Write Markdown?
8 Basic Syntax Rules Every Beginner Needs

Markdown just uses a few simple symbols to add formatting to your text: # heading, **bold**, - list, [text](link).

What you write is plain text, but when you open it in a Markdown editor, those symbols show up as formatted headings, bold text, and lists.

Below are the 8 syntax rules beginners use most, plus one way to see your work as you type so you never have to worry about getting it wrong.

First, remember one thing: Markdown is "plain text + symbols"

For a lot of people, AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Kimi were their first introduction to Markdown.

AI answers often include symbols like #, **, and -. That's not gibberish; it's Markdown marking up the formatting.

Once you learn a few common symbols, you can write it yourself and understand what the AI gives you.

The 8 most common Markdown syntax rules

The table below covers 90% of what you need for everyday writing.

How to write it What it means
# heading A level-1 heading; ## is a level-2 heading
**important** Bold
*text* Italic
- list item Unordered list (bullets)
1. first step Ordered list (numbered)
[text](https://...) A clickable link
`code` Inline code
> quote Blockquote

Remember one rule of thumb: there's usually a space between the symbol and the text, for example # heading rather than #heading.

Three slightly more advanced ones

If you'll be using tables, to-do items, and code blocks, remember these three too:

  1. Code blocks: wrap multiple lines of code in three backticks.
  2. To-do lists: - [ ] not done, - [x] done.
  3. Tables: use | to separate each column, and use --- on the second row to draw the divider line.

These all belong to GFM (GitHub Flavored Markdown) syntax, which every mainstream Markdown editor supports.

The biggest hurdle for beginners: not knowing if you got it right

Learning the syntax isn't hard; the hard part is not seeing the result as you type.

When you write Markdown in a plain text editor, all you see is a pile of # and * symbols, and you're not sure whether the formatting is actually right.

The fix is to use an online Markdown editor that lets you "write and see": as you type the symbols, you see the formatted result right away.

Write and see your formatting with NoteLoom

NoteLoom is a Markdown editor you can use right in your browser. It's not an AI tool and it's not a cloud notes app; it's built specifically to solve how to read, write, and store local .md files.

It has three views, which are especially useful for beginners learning the syntax:

View Best for
live Seeing the formatting as you write, the best fit for practicing syntax
source Viewing just the Markdown source
reading Read-only viewing, so you won't accidentally change anything

For beginners we recommend the live view: type a # heading and it immediately shows up as a large heading; type **bold** and it instantly turns bold. If you make a mistake, you'll see it at a glance.

When you're done, the content saves straight to a .md file in your local folder, with nothing uploaded to a server.

The shortest path to getting started with Markdown

If you want to start writing today, follow this order:

  1. Open app.noteloom.cc in Chrome / Edge / Arc and choose a local folder.
  2. Create a new .md file.
  3. Switch to the live view.
  4. Following the table above, practice these three first: #, **, -.
  5. Each time you type a symbol, check whether the formatting changes.
  6. Once you're comfortable, add tables, to-do items, and code blocks.

After a few tries you'll find Markdown is faster than Word's toolbar, because your hands never leave the keyboard.

4 common pitfalls for beginners

1. Forgetting the space after a symbol

Many editors won't render #heading as a heading; you need to write # heading.

The same goes for the - in lists and the 1. in numbered items: leave a space after them.

2. Accidentally typing full-width punctuation

If you use a Chinese, Japanese, or Korean (CJK) input method, your #, *, or - may come out as full-width characters, which won't render.

Switch your IME back to half-width / English punctuation.

3. Assuming a line break creates a new paragraph

In Markdown, to split text into two paragraphs you usually need a blank line in between.

Hitting Enter only once β€” many editors will treat both lines as the same paragraph.

4. Mistaking Markdown for gibberish

Seeing #, **, or three backticks doesn't mean the file is broken.

Switch to a Markdown editor that can render it, and they'll turn into headings, bold text, and code blocks.

Related reading

Taking notes with Markdown? Once you know the syntax, here's how to actually use Markdown to take notes. What is Markdown? If you want to first understand what Markdown actually is and why AI keeps using it, start here. How do you open a .md file? If you already have a .md file, here are 3 ways to open it. How do you keep the formatting of an AI answer? If copying leaves you with just # and **, here's how to preserve the Markdown structure. How do you open the Markdown ChatGPT gives you? If your content comes from ChatGPT, here's how to save, read, and edit it.

FAQ

Is Markdown hard to learn?
Not at all. For everyday writing you only need to remember a few: # for headings, ** for bold, - for lists, and [](url) for links. Look up the rest when you need it. It's simpler than memorizing Word's menu buttons.
What software do you use to write Markdown?
Even a plain text editor works, but it only shows the source symbols, not the formatting. If you want to see the result as you type, a Markdown editor is a better fit, such as NoteLoom, which you can open right in your browser.
What happens if I type a symbol wrong?
It won't damage the file. Markdown is plain text, so a mistyped symbol simply won't render the way you wanted. Just fix it. The live view lets you spot mistakes right away.
How is Markdown different from plain text?
Plain text has no formatting, while Markdown uses a few symbols to mark up structure like headings, bold text, and lists. It's still a plain text file that any text editor can open, but a Markdown editor can display those symbols as the formatted result.
Can I write Markdown on my phone?
Markdown itself can be written anywhere, but NoteLoom currently mainly supports Chromium-based desktop browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Arc. Firefox, Safari, and mobile are not supported for now.
How do I save a Markdown file I've written?
Just save it as a file with the .md extension. It's a universal format, so you can keep opening it in any Markdown editor later. NoteLoom writes the content straight back to the local folder you choose, and also supports one-click export.
Does NoteLoom have AI features?
No. NoteLoom currently has no AI chat, AI summaries, or semantic search. It solves how you write, read, and store Markdown locally.

Write your first line of Markdown

Open NoteLoom, choose a local folder, switch to the live view, type a few symbols from the syntax table above, and watch the formatting change in real time.

Try NoteLoom now