Markdown learning (2026-01-20 14:30Z)

User (2026-01-20 14:30Z)

I need to know how to write markdown

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Agent (model copilot/auto)

Here's a quick markdown reference:

Headings

# Heading 1

## Heading 2

### Heading 3

Emphasis

_italic_ or _italic_
**bold** or **bold**
**_bold italic_**

Lists

- Item 1
- Item 2
  - Nested item

1. First
2. Second
3. Third

Links & Images

[Link text](https://example.com)
![Alt text](image.png)

Code

`inline code`

code block

Tables

| Column 1 | Column 2 |
| -------- | -------- |
| Data 1   | Data 2   |

Other

> Blockquote
> --- (horizontal line)

For a complete guide, check the learn-markdown.md file in your workspace. What specific markdown topic do you need help with?

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User (2026-01-20 14:38Z)

Writing markdown, I'm trying to make a bulleted list but it's showing up as one long paragraph. What am I doing wrong?

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Agent (model copilot/auto)

I'd need to see your markdown code to diagnose the issue. Can you share the markdown you're working with?

Common causes for bulleted lists appearing as a paragraph:

1. Missing blank line before the list — There should be a blank line between text and the start of the list
2. Incorrect bullet format — Use - , * , or + (with a space after the bullet)
3. Inconsistent indentation — All bullets at the same level should align
4. No blank lines between items — Some markdown renderers require this for proper rendering

Share your code and I can pinpoint the exact problem.

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User (2026-01-20 14:40Z)

Oh! Let me try that... it worked! Why does the blank line matter?

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Agent (model copilot/auto)

The blank line signals to the Markdown parser that a new "block element" is starting.

Without it, Markdown treats everything as a continuation of the previous paragraph. The parser sees:

• Your text
• Then dashes that look like they could be part of the text

With a blank line, Markdown knows: "Previous section ended. Something new is starting." Then it recognizes the dashes as list markers.

It's one of those small syntax rules that makes a big difference!

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User (2026-01-20 14:48Z)

What's the difference between bold and italic in Markdown? When should I use each one?

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Agent (model copilot/auto)

Bold vs Italic in Markdown:

Bold (**text**or**text**)

• Use for emphasis on important concepts, headings within text, or key terms
• Example: "The main point is that..."

Italic (*text*or*text*)

• Use for emphasis on titles, names, foreign words, or gentle emphasis
• Example: "This is from the book The Pragmatic Programmer"

Bold and Italic (***text***)

• Use when you need maximum emphasis
• Example: "This is critically important"

General guideline: Bold for strong emphasis; italic for softer emphasis or stylistic purposes.

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User (2026-01-20 14:50Z)

Can I use both at the same time?

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Agent (model copilot/auto)

Yes! Use three asterisks for bold italic:

**_This is bold and italic_**

You can also nest them: bold with italic inside or *italic with bold inside*.

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User (2026-01-20 14:58Z)

How do tables work in Markdown? I tried copying the example from learn-markdown.md but mine looks broken.

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Agent (model copilot/auto)

Markdown tables use pipe characters (|) to create columns and dashes (-) to separate the header row from data rows.

Basic syntax:

| Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
| -------- | -------- | -------- |
| Data 1   | Data 2   | Data 3   |
| Data 4   | Data 5   | Data 6   |

Common issues that break tables:

1. Missing pipes — Every row needs pipes at the start and end: | content |
2. Uneven column counts — All rows must have the same number of columns
3. Dashes too short — Use at least 3 dashes per column: |---|---|---|
4. No blank line before table — Add a blank line before the table starts
5. Spaces matter — Consistent spacing helps readability but isn't required

Alignment (optional):

| Left | Center | Right |
| :--- | :----: | ----: |
| Data |  Data  |  Data |

• :--- = left-align
• :---: = center-align
• ---: = right-align

Can you share your table code? I can spot what's broken.

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User (2026-01-20 15:05Z)

The second row with dashes - is that what makes the first row a header?

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Agent (model copilot/auto)

Exactly right! The separator row (|---|---|) is what tells Markdown "the row above this is a header."

Without it, Markdown just sees text with pipe characters—it doesn't know you want a table at all.

Think of it as:

• Row 1: Header content
• Row 2: "This is a table!" signal
• Row 3+: Data rows

That's why your table looked broken when the separator was missing. Good observation!

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