Visual design of messages in instant messengers has long ceased to be just bliss, having turned into an important communication tool. When you want to highlight key idea, emphasize sarcasm, or simply add variety to your text communication, a standard font may seem too boring. Many users Android are wondering how to change the style of text without resorting to third-party applications.
The formatting system in WhatsApp works based on special separator characters that are recognized by the application engine. This means you don't have to look for hidden menus or complex system settings - just know the right combination of characters. Italics in WhatsApp on Android are created by surrounding a word or phrase with a single underscore on both sides. Understanding this principle opens up access to basic but effective stylistic tools.
However, despite the simplicity of the syntax, users often have questions about the compatibility and display of such messages on different devices. In this article, we will analyze in detail how formatting works, consider alternative input methods, and answer frequently asked questions.
Basic syntax of text formatting
The main operating principle of the WhatsApp text editor is to automatically recognize special characters. When you type a message, the app scans it for formatting markers. To create italics (italic) the underscore character is used. You need to put this sign before the first character of the word and after the last.
It is important to follow a strict sequence of actions, since spaces can disrupt the operation of the algorithm. If you put a space between an underscore and a letter, WhatsApp will treat it as normal text and will not apply the style. For example, the design _ text _ will remain unchanged, while _text_ will turn into text.
It is worth noting that this method is universal and works not only in personal chats, but also in group dialogues. You can format individual words, entire sentences, or even paragraphs. The main thing is to make sure that the closing character is immediately after the last character of the text, without indentation.
It is also possible to combine different styles to achieve a more complex visual effect. For example, you can make text bold and italic at the same time, although in the mobile version this does not always look as contrasting as on the desktop. To do this, you need to use a combination of asterisk and underscore characters.
Step-by-step guide for Android
The process of creating italic text on smartphones running the Android operating system has been simplified as much as possible by the developers. You won't need any additional keyboards or plugins. Everything you need is already built into the standard Gboard or Samsung Keyboard layout.
Follow a simple algorithm of actions to be guaranteed to get the desired result. First, open a dialogue with the desired contact or go to the status input field. Then type the underscore character, which is usually found on the numeric tab of the keyboard or in the symbols menu.
☑️ Algorithm for creating italics
After entering the opening character, immediately start typing the word or phrase you want to highlight. Don't pause or add spaces. Once you've finished typing, tap the underscore again. As you enter the closing character, you may notice that the message preview (above the input field) does not yet display the changes - this is normal, the final formatting occurs after sending.
If you did everything correctly, the sent message will be displayed in italic font. Visually, this helps to separate quotes, book titles, foreign words, or simply focus the interlocutor’s attention on a certain part of the dialogue. In some versions of the interface Android the preview can be updated in real time, showing how the text will look.
⚠️ Attention: On very old versions of Android or in heavily modified shell builds (MIUI, EMUI), the formatting preview may not work. In this case, focus only on the result after sending the message.
Alternative ways to enter characters
Although the standard method using underscores is the most common, there are other ways to enter special characters that can be useful in certain situations. Some users prefer to use a menu of additional symbols, which is called up by long pressing certain keys.
On a standard keyboard Gboard The underscore is often hidden in the second character level. To get to it faster, you can set up a custom dictionary or use voice input, although the latter method is less accurate for formatting commands. The voice assistant may interpret the "underscore" command as text rather than a character.
Another option is to use the clipboard. You can create a template with formatting symbols in your notes in advance, copy it, and paste it as needed. This is especially true if you often use complex structures or quotes that need to be constantly formatted.
Consider the main input methods in the table to compare their effectiveness:
| Input method | Speed | Convenience | Risk errors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual input (_) | High | High | Low |
| Copying from buffer | Medium | Average | Medium |
| Voice input | Low | Low | High |
| Third-party Keyboards | High | High | Low |
Using third-party keyboards such as SwiftKey or specialized code editors may provide faster access to punctuation characters. However, for most users, standard tools are sufficient. The main thing is to get used to the location of the symbol on your specific smartphone model.
Combining styles: bold and strikethrough
The WhatsApp functionality on Android allows you to go beyond just italics. You can combine different formatting styles to create complex text designs. This is especially useful for creating headings, lists, or highlighting critical information in work chats.
To create bold text an asterisk is used. If you wrap a word with asterisks on both sides (for example, text), it will become bold. Strikethrough text is created using a tilde (~text~). By combining these characters with underlining, you can achieve the effect of bold italic.
To make text both bold and italic, you need to use a combination of characters asterisks and underscores. The design will look like this: _text_ or _*text*_. The order of opening and closing characters must be mirrored, otherwise formatting will not work correctly.
The secret of triple formatting
Is it possible to make text bold, italic and strikethrough at the same time? Theoretically, yes, using the ~_text_~ construction. However, in practice, on Android mobile devices this is often displayed incorrectly or appears as a regular bold font. It is better not to overload messages with unnecessary formatting.
Do not overuse combining styles. Overloaded text is difficult to read and can irritate the interlocutor. Use complex formats only for headings or very important warnings. In regular correspondence, it is better to limit yourself to one highlighting style.
Why formatting does not work: problem solving
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the entered characters are not converted into formatted text, but remain visible in the message. This can be caused by several reasons, related to both syntax and software glitches.
The most common error is the presence of spaces. As mentioned earlier, a space between the formatting character and the text breaks the connection. Check if you have a construction like _ text _. The problem may also arise if you use different types of quotes or characters copied from other sources (for example, from Word or websites) that WhatsApp does not recognize as control codes.
Another reason is an outdated version of the application. Formatting features have been introduced gradually and may not work correctly or may not work at all in very old versions of WhatsApp. Make sure your WhatsApp updated to the latest version via the Google Play Store.
⚠️ Attention: If you copied text with formatting from another source (for example, from Telegram or notes), the characters may be replaced with visually similar, but programmatically different characters. In this case, it is better to re-enter the underscores manually.
In rare cases, the problem may be related to the application cache. If all else fails, try clearing the WhatsApp cache in Android settings (Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Memory → Clear cache). This will not delete your conversations, but can fix interface display errors.
If you often forget the syntax, create a template message in the "Favorites" (Broadcast list for yourself) with examples of all styles and copy characters from there.
Displaying italics on different devices
It is important to understand that WhatsApp is a cross-platform application, and how your message looks depends on the recipient's device. The formatting mechanism is universal, but the visual implementation of fonts may differ.
On devices Android italics are usually displayed in a standard system font with an italic. On iOS (iPhone) the font may be slightly thinner or have a different angle since Apple uses its own fonts (San Francisco). Users WhatsApp Web or desktop versions will see text rendered by the browser or computer operating system.
This means that you cannot guarantee that your message will be 100% identical to all interlocutors. However, the basic text tilting feature is retained throughout. If the recipient's font does not support italics (which happens on feature phones or in specific localized versions), he will simply see the text with underlining.
Owners of smartphones with custom themes (for example, based on MIUI Themes or Samsung Good Lock) may notice that italic looks non-standard. Some themes change system fonts completely, ignoring standard styles. In this case, formatting is technically applied, but visually may not be noticeable.
The universality of the formatting code ensures that the message reaches the recipient in the desired form, regardless of the platform, but the visual style of the font depends on the settings of the recipient's device.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to do is italicizing only part of a word?
Technically, formatting characters are applied to the word or phrase between them. If you try to italicize part of a word (for example pr_ivet), WhatsApp will not recognize this as a command and will leave the text as is, with all the characters. Formatting only works with entire segments of text limited by spaces or the beginning/end of a message.
Does italics work in WhatsApp statuses?
Yes, text statuses (formerly known as My Status) can use all the same formatting techniques as chats. You can write the status using underscores to highlight the key idea. However, in photo or video statuses, where text is superimposed on top of the image, standard formatting with characters does not work - a regular text editor is used there.
Why are underscores visible in the sent message?
This happens if the syntax is broken. The most common cause is a space between the character and the text, or the wrong type of underscore (for example, an em dash instead of an em dash). Also check whether a pair of characters is closed: if you put an opening underscore, but forgot the closing one, the text will not be formatted.
Is it possible to disable text formatting in WhatsApp?
In the official version of the application for Android there is no function to completely disable the interpretation of formatting characters. If you want to send a message with visible underscores or asterisks, you'll have to use a special trick: insert an invisible character (such as a space) between the control character and the text, or use codes that WhatsApp has not yet learned to recognize.