Whatsapp messenger has long ceased to be just a means for sending short text messages. Today it is a full-fledged communication tool, where it is important not only what you write, but also how what it looks like. Highlighting key ideas, quoting, or simply the desire to add emotional coloring to a message often requires the use of special formatting.
The most popular style is italic. It allows you to gently emphasize, highlight terms or imitate a whisper in dialogue. On the platform Android this feature is implemented in several ways, which depend on the version of your application and the type of keyboard. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the methods, from standard to advanced.
Regardless of whether you are using a flagship smartphone or a budget device, the principles of working with text remain the same for the entire ecosystem. Google. However, there are nuances that many users are not aware of. Understanding these mechanisms will help you save time and make correspondence more expressive without unnecessary actions.
Standard method through underscores
Historically, the main way to change the style of text in WhatsApp is to use special marker characters. This method works on absolutely all devices running Android, regardless of the processor model or amount of RAM. To activate italic you need to surround the desired word or phrase with a certain character.
The trigger symbol in this case is the underscore. You need to put this symbol before the first letter of the word and immediately after the last letter. It is important to ensure that there are no spaces between the marker and the text, otherwise the system will not recognize the command. If you include a space, the text will remain normal, and the characters will simply be sent to the recipient in visible form.
An example of correct writing is as follows: _hello_. After sending a message, the recipient will see the word "hello" written in italic font. This method is universal and does not require any additional settings in the application interface. It is ideal for quickly inserting accents in the middle of a long sentence.
If you want to italicize an entire sentence, make sure that the closing character comes immediately after the last period or punctuation mark, without a space.
It is worth noting that this syntax is part of the overall markup system of the messenger. In addition to italics, commands for bold text and strikethrough font work in the same way. Knowing these combinations turns your keyboard into a powerful formatting tool, available in any chat.
Using the built-in formatting menu
Whatsapp developers are constantly improving the user interface by adding visual controls. In modern versions of the application for Android it has become possible to format text without manually entering special characters. This is especially convenient for those who do not want to remember codes or are afraid of making a mistake in their placement.
To use this function, select the desired piece of text in the message input field with a long press. As soon as the text is highlighted with a blue marker, a pop-up menu will appear above or below it (depending on the OS version and theme). In this menu you will find three dots or a letter icon B with additional options.
By clicking on this icon, you will see a drop-down list of available styles. Select Italic, and the selected text will automatically be wrapped in the required underscores. Visually in the input field you will immediately see a change in style, which allows you to control the result before sending the message.
☑️ Algorithm for using the menu
This method significantly speeds up working with large amounts of text. You don't have to go back to the beginning of the phrase to put the opening character and then go to the end to put the closing character. Everything is done in two touches, which reduces the likelihood of typos and saves the user's time.
Setting up a custom dictionary and hotkeys
For those who use italic style all the time, manually entering characters or highlighting text may seem like a too slow process. In such cases, the capabilities of the operating system itself come to the rescue. Most modern keyboards, such as Android. Most modern keyboards such as Gboard or SwiftKey, allow you to create your own keyboard shortcuts or text replacements.
The essence of the method is to create a macro. You can configure the keyboard so that when you enter a certain short combination (for example, //To), it is automatically replaced by a pattern _text_ with the cursor moving to the center. This requires initial setup, but in the long run it gives a huge speed gain. Add a new entry, where in the "Phrase" field specify a template with underscores, and in the "Abbreviation" field - a combination convenient for you. Now, when you type this abbreviation, the system itself will substitute the necessary characters.
To implement this, go to your keyboard settings and look for the "Personal Dictionary" or "Text Replacement" section. Add a new entry, where in the "Phrase" field specify a template with underscores, and in the "Abbreviation" field - a combination convenient for you. Now, when you type this abbreviation, the system itself will substitute the necessary characters.
Nuints of working with Gboard
In some versions of the Google keyboard, the autocorrect function may not work inside the messenger input field due to security restrictions. In this case, use the clipboard to paste pre-prepared templates.
This approach turns a routine task into an automated process. This is especially true for users who maintain work chats or channels where constant structuring of information is required. Flexibility of customization Android allows you to adapt the tool to any individual needs.
Table of basic formatting commands
In addition to italics, WhatsApp has many other ways to visually format messages. Understanding the complete table of commands will allow you to create complex and beautiful messages by combining different styles. Below is a summary table of all currently available markers.
| Text style | Marker character | Input example | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italic | Underline | _text_ |
text |
| Bold | Star | text |
text |
| Strikethrough | Tilde | ~text~ |
|
| Monospaced | Three quotes | ``text``` |
text |
| List (bulleted) | Hyphen and space | - Text |
• Text |
Pay attention to the combination of styles. You can make text bold and italic at the same time. To do this, you need to use both markers at the same time, observing the correct nesting. For example, the construction _text_ will turn a word into bold italic.
The use of a monospace font (with three quotation marks) is often used to highlight app code or preserve formatting when sending data. This makes the correspondence more professional and easier to understand technical information. Experiment with these tools to find your unique communication style.
Combining styles (bold + italics) only works if you follow a strict sequence of characters: first asterisks, then underscores (or vice versa), but without spaces between them.
Display problems on older versions of Android
Despite the widespread use of the formatting function, users of older devices may encounter display problems. If you have an older WhatsApp client installed or a lower version of the operating system Android 5.0, special characters may not be converted into stylized text.
In such cases, the recipient will see the message in its original form, with all the underscores and asterisks. This is not a sending error, but rather an indication that the recipient's application does not support rich text rendering. The solution to the problem lies in updating the software.
It is recommended to regularly check for updates in the store Google Play. Developers are no longer supporting very old versions of the application, so using the latest software is critical for the correct operation of all functions, including automatic conversion of formatting characters. Attention: On some custom firmware of Chinese smartphones, the system font may conflict with the display of italics in WhatsApp. If the text looks strange or “floats”, try changing the system font in the phone settings to the standard Roboto. automatic conversion of formatting characters.
⚠️ Attention: On some custom firmware of Chinese smartphones, the system font may conflict with the display of italics in WhatsApp. If the text looks strange or "floats", try changing the system font in the phone settings to the standard Roboto.
It is also worth considering that in the “traffic saving” mode or when using lightweight versions of the messenger (WhatsApp Lite), some formatting functions may be disabled to optimize performance. In such situations, returning to the standard version of the application becomes the only way out.
Secret tricks and hidden features
Few people know that formatting capabilities in WhatsApp go beyond basic styles. There are techniques that allow you to create unique visual effects that are not provided by the standard menu. For example, the use of special Unicode characters can simulate various types of italic or handwriting text.
These characters are not part of the standard keyboard, but they can be copied from specialized websites or font generator applications. Inserting such a character into a message will result in text that appears as italic, even if the recipient is using a device that does not support standard WhatsApp formatting.
Be careful, however, that using exotic fonts may make the message difficult to read for people with visual impairments using screen readers. In addition, some characters may not display correctly on very old phone models, turning into squares or question marks.
To search for beautiful fonts, use the "fancy text generator" query in your browser. Copy the option you like and paste it into the chat - it works like regular text pasting.
Another interesting trick is creating pseudo-italics using mathematical symbols. They often have an italic style and can be used to highlight formulas or variables in educational chats. This demonstrates the platform's flexibility and openness to creative use of the text field.
⚠️ Note: The WhatsApp interface and available features may change due to app updates. If the menus described above are not in their usual places, check the Help section within the application itself for up-to-date information about new features.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why are my underscores not turning into italics?
You most likely made a syntax error. Check for spaces between the character _ and the text. Also make sure you use paired symbols: one at the beginning and one at the end of the phrase. If there is a space, the system treats it as normal text.
Is it possible to italicize only part of a word?
No, formatting in WhatsApp only applies to whole words or phrases separated by spaces. Trying to highlight part of a word (for example, pr_ivet_) will not work and the characters will appear explicitly. This tool is not intended for highlighting roots or suffixes.
Does italics work in WhatsApp statuses?
Yes, all formatting rules, including italics, bold and strikethrough, are fully supported in the "Status" section. You can use the same underscores when writing a text status, and it will appear accordingly in your contacts.
How do I remove italics if I accidentally included it?
To remove the formatting, simply remove the underscores _ around the text. If you used the formatting menu, re-select the text, click on the styles icon and select the "Plain Text" option, or simply remove the bullets manually in the input field.
Does using italics affect the size of the message?
No, using formatting characters does not significantly affect the character limit of the message. The markers themselves take up space (one byte per character), but visually the text remains within the standard limitations of the messenger. This also does not affect the sending speed.