Have you ever wanted to emphasize a word in your Discord chats or properly format the latest game title you‘re obsessing over? Italics can help!
With Discord being one of the most popular chat platforms among gamers worldwide, the ability to properly format and italicize your text is critical.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll show you everything you need to know to start italicizing text seamlessly on Discord, including:
- When and why to use italics for better communication
- Step-by-step instructions for 3 easy methods to italicize text
- Formatting tips for improved readability
- Comparing the pros and cons of each technique
- Interactive examples so you can practice italicizing text like a pro
Sound good? Let‘s dive in and take your Discord chat to the next level!
Why Use Italics on Discord?
Before we get into the how, let‘s explore a few key reasons to use italics in your Discord chats and communities:
Emphasize Game Titles
Always italicize the proper names of games, expansions, and DLCs. This shows you care about proper formatting and sets you apart as an insider. For example:
Standard: We‘re playing Red Dead Redemption 2 tonight!
Italicized: We‘re playing Red Dead Redemption 2 tonight!
Call Out Key Words
Use italics to add emphasis to certain words or phrases in your messages. This helps stress the important points in your text. For example:
Standard: Dude, you always play terribly after eating hot pockets!
Italicized: Dude, you always play terribly after eating hot pockets!
Convey Tone and Sarcasm
Italics can help indicate tone, sarcasm, or contrast that might otherwise be lost in text communication. For example:
Standard: Fallout 76 is the best game in the series.
Italicized: Fallout 76 is the best game in the series.
Offset Quotes and Titles
Use italics to visually offset quotes, song lyrics, book titles, and other external sources in your messages. This clarifies what words are not your own. For example:
Standard: As Roosevelt once said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."
Italicized: As Roosevelt once said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."
Adds Visual Flair
Italics simply make your text pop! Little flourishes like this help you stand out in busy gaming chats and communicate your message effectively.
Method 1: Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts provide the fastest way to italicize text as you type messages on Discord. This method works like a toggle, allowing you to quickly italicize and un-italicize sections on the fly.
Here‘s how to do it:
On Windows
- Position your cursor where you want to start italicizing.
- Hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
- While holding Ctrl, press the I key once to italicize.
- Type your text as normal and it will appear italicized.
- When you want to un-italicize, press Ctrl + I again.
For example:
This is how you can emphasize certain words on Discord with keyboard shortcuts.
On Mac
- Position your cursor where you want to start italicizing.
- Hold down the Command key on your keyboard.
- While holding Command, press I once to italicize.
- Type your text and it will appear italicized.
- Press Command + I again to un-italicize.
For example:
This is how you can emphasize certain words on Discord on a Mac.
Why It‘s Useful
- Extremely fast and easy to toggle italics on/off
- No need to highlight text first
- Keys are easy to reach while typing
Limitations
- Doesn‘t work natively on mobile
- Can accidentally un-italicize if you press keys again
- Requires memorizing keyboard shortcuts
So for quick italicizing while your hands are on the keyboard, keyboard shortcuts are your best friend!
Method 2: Markdown Formatting
Markdown is a lightweight syntax used all around the web for formatting text without menus or buttons.
Discord has built-in support for Markdown italicizing using asterisks * or underscores _. This method works seamlessly across desktop and mobile.
Here‘s how simple it is:
- Place either an asterisk * or underscore _ before your text to italicize it.
- Type out your text as normal.
- Place an asterisk * or underscore _ after your text to complete the formatting.
For example:
This text will appear italicized using asterisks.
This text will also be italicized using underscores.
That‘s it! This gives you an easy Markdown method to quickly italicize any text on Discord, whether you‘re on desktop or mobile.
Why It‘s Useful
- Works on all platforms including mobile
- Italicizes any size passage, small or large
- Easy to remember syntax
Limitations
- Requires manually adding syntax before/after text
- Can be hard to read Markdown in long messages
- Easy to forget asterisks on either end
So if you want a platform-agnostic way to italicize that also works on mobile, Markdown is the way to go!
Method 3: Discord‘s Formatting Menu
Discord also provides handy built-in formatting menus for italicizing text visually. This method is simpler for italicizing larger passages.
On Desktop
- Type out the text you want to italicize as normal.
- Highlight your text by clicking and dragging your cursor across it.
- Click the "I" icon in the formatting menu bar above the message box.
- Your text will become italicized. Click the "I" icon again to un-italicize.
On Mobile
Unfortunately, Discord‘s formatting menu isn‘t available on mobile. For mobile, use the Markdown method above.
Why It‘s Useful
- Intuitive italicizing with clear buttons
- Easier for longer text passages
- Clear visual feedback before sending
Limitations
- Requires precise highlighting first
- Not available on mobile
- Slower than keyboard shortcuts
If you prefer bold menus over markdown syntax, this method makes italicizing large text passages simple.
Formatting Tips for Readability
Now that you know how to italicize text on Discord, let‘s cover some best practices for keeping your messages easy to read:
- Use Italics Sparingly: Don‘t overdo it! Italics lose their impact if used excessively.
- Keep Passages Short: Long blocks of italicized text are hard to read. Use italics selectively.
- Be Consistent: Pick one go-to method and stick with it. Jumping around is confusing.
- Double Check Your Work: Proofread your formatting before sending. No one likes typos!
Comparing Discord‘s Italicizing Methods
| Method | Platforms | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyboard Shortcuts | Windows, Mac (desktop only) | Fast and easy to toggle on/off | Requires memorizing shortcuts |
| Markdown | All platforms | Works on desktop + mobile | Easy to forget asterisks |
| Formatting Menu | Windows, Mac (desktop only) | Intuitive menus | Fiddly for longer text |
As you can see, each method has its own pros and cons. My recommendation is to learn both the shortcuts and Markdown methods.
This gives you a fast keyboard-based option on desktop, plus Markdown as a foolproof fallback for mobile and web.
Practice Italicizing on Discord
Now that we‘ve covered the fundamentals, let‘s switch gears and put your new skills into practice!
The best way to master italics on Discord is to intentionally practice using them in your chats and servers.
Try alternating between the different methods and formatting types of text. For example:
- Italicize game titles like Minecraft and Call of Duty
- Emphasize sarcastic adjectives like amazing and wonderful
- Offset song lyrics and quotes from your favorite books or movies
Make a habit of italicizing one or two words in your chat messages every day. With regular practice, formatting text on Discord will become second nature.
Step Up Your Chat Game with Italics
And that‘s a wrap! You now have all the tools you need to start taking your Discord chat game to the next level with italics.
Being able to properly emphasize text goes a long way in making your messages stand out in gaming communities worldwide.
So put your new skills to the test, get formatting, and wow your friends with clean, polished chats. Italicized text is right at your fingertips!
Now get out there and dominate those Discord discussions!
