Communication Messengers have long ceased to be just an exchange of dry text messages. Modern users strive to convey not only the meaning, but also intonation, emotion or emphasis on a certain thought. This is where the text formatting capabilities provided by the popular instant messenger come to the rescue. One of the most popular styles is italicizing phrases, which allows you to gently emphasize an important detail or indicate the internal monologue of a character in correspondence. WhatsApp. One of the most popular styles is italicizing phrases, which allows you to gently emphasize an important detail or indicate a character’s internal monologue in correspondence.
Many owners of smartphones based on the operating system Android are faced with the question of how to activate this mode without using third-party keyboards or complex settings. In fact, the developers have implemented this function directly into the core of the application, making it available to every user. You don't need any programming skills or root access to change the font style in your chat. It is enough to know a few simple combinations of characters or use the built-in formatting menu, which appeared in the latest updates.
In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available methods for changing the text style, consider common mistakes when entering special characters, and give recommendations on the etiquette of using highlighting. Understanding the mechanics of formatting will help you make your correspondence more lively, structured and understandable for the interlocutor, regardless of the model of your smartphone.
The mechanism of special syntax
The basis of the message formatting system in WhatsApp lies the use of special control characters that surround the text. These characters act as markers for the start and end of a style block. When you send a message, the messenger server reads these characters and converts them into appropriate visual styles on the recipient's screen. To enable italics, use the underscore character.
The order in which characters are entered is critical. The symbol _ must appear immediately before the first word of the phrase and immediately after the last word, without spaces between the symbol and the letters. If you leave a space inside the construct, the system will not recognize the command and the text will remain normal. This is a common mistake of beginners, which leads to the fact that instead of a beautiful highlighting, the user sees strange underscores in the chat.
It is worth noting that this method works universally on all devices, be it a budget smartphone or a flagship model. The text processing logic is embedded on the server side, so the version Android or processor model does not play any role. The main thing is to correctly enter the sequence of characters in the message input field before sending.
⚠️ Attention: the underscore character is often found on the additional keyboard character page. Make sure you enter an underscore and not a hyphen or dash, as they have different ASCII codes and will not work for formatting.
To quickly access the underscore on the standard Gboard keyboard, long press the period key or go to the numbers and symbols tab (usually labeled ?123 or =\<).
Using the built-in formatting menu
With the release of new versions of the application, developers have made life easier for those users who do not want to remember special characters. Now WhatsApp for Android there is a context menu that allows you to change the text style in a couple of taps. This method is especially convenient if you want to format text that you have already typed or have forgotten which character is responsible for italics.
To use this function, type the desired message in the input field, but do not send it. Then highlight the piece of text you want to change by long pressing on it. In the pop-up menu that appears (usually at the top or bottom of the selection), you will see three dots or a letter icon B in the corner. By clicking on it, you will open the styles panel.
In the list that opens, select the option Italic. The app will automatically wrap your selected text in the required underscores, and you'll immediately see a preview of the result in the input field. This is a clear way to make sure everything is done correctly before the message goes out to the other person. This approach minimizes the risk of typos and saves time when typing long messages.
☑️ Formatting algorithm via menu
Table of all available text styles
In addition italics, the messenger supports other design options that can be combined to create complex visual effects. Knowing the full set of characters will allow you to make headings, strike out outdated information, or highlight quotes with code. Below is a summary table that will help you quickly navigate the syntax.
| Text style | Marker character | Input example | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italic | Underline | _text_ | text |
| Bold | Star | text | text |
| Strikethrough | Tilde | ~text~ | |
| Monospace | Back apostrophe | ``text`` | text |
Pay attention to the last item in the table - monospace font. It is used not for beauty, but for technical information, for example, when you need to send a piece of code or preserve the original formatting of a table so that it does not “display” on the screen of the interlocutor’s phone. To enter it, use the back apostrophe key `, which is usually located next to the number 1 on the keyboard.
You can also combine styles by nesting some markers within others. For example, to make text both bold and italic, you need to use both pairs of characters. However, be careful: the nesting order can sometimes affect the display on very old versions of the operating system, although in modern builds Android this problem has been resolved.
Solving problems with formatting display
Often users are faced with a situation where everything is done according to the instructions, but the text in the chat remains normal, and underscores are just visyat ryadom so slovami. Pervoy prichinoy takoy neudachi chasto stanovitsya nalichie probelov. The system requires that the opening and closing characters be adjacent to the text. The construction _ hello _ will not work, since spaces break the logical connection.
The second common problem is the use of incorrect characters. On some keyboard layouts, the underscore may look different or be replaced by an em dash. Ubedites, chto vy ispolzuete standartnyy znak iz nabora ASCII. Also check to see if you accidentally set the font mode to "monospace" for the entire message if you used triple quotes.
What if italic doesn't work on an old phone?
If you or the person you're talking to has a very old version of WhatsApp (for example, Android 4.4 or lower), some of the new formatting features may not be supported. In this case, update the application via Google Play Store to the latest available version.
If the problem persists after checking spaces and characters, try restarting the application. Sometimes the messenger cache may contain errors that prevent formatting commands from being processed correctly. Clearing the cache in the phone settings or simply rebooting the device often resolves such software glitches.
⚠️ Attention: if you copied text with italics from another source (for example, from Telegram or a website), special characters may not be copied or may be replaced by invisible characters. It is better to type formatting markers manually directly into the WhatsApp input field.
Etiquette and rules for using highlighting
The ability to change the font style is a powerful communication tool, but you need to use it wisely. Excessive use of italics, bold font, and other effects can make the message difficult to understand. Imagine reading a book where every third word is highlighted in a different color and size - this quickly tires the eyes and distracts from the point.
Italics are ideal for highlighting the titles of books, films, quotes, or for conveying a soft accent in a sentence. It is also used to indicate a character's thoughts in role-playing games or fictional correspondence. However, you should not write entire paragraphs or long messages in italics - this reduces readability, especially on small smartphone screens.
In business correspondence, use formatting sparingly. Highlighting key dates, amounts, or names can help organize information, but too many styles look unprofessional. Remember that your goal is to convey information, not to demonstrate all the capabilities of the application.
Golden rule of formatting: highlight only those parts of the text that are really important for understanding the meaning. If you select everything, nothing will be selected.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to italicize only part of a word?
It is technically possible to put underscores inside a word, but visually it will look weird and break the word apart. It is recommended to italicize entire words or phrases to maintain readability of the text.
Will the other person see italics if they have an iPhone?
Yes, text formatting in WhatsApp is cross-platform. Messages sent from Android using special characters will display correctly in italics on iOS devices and vice versa.
Why don't my underscores disappear after sending?
This means you made a syntax error. Most likely, there is a space between the character _ and the text, or you used only one character instead of a pair (at the beginning and at the end). Check the message and try sending it again with corrections.
Is it possible to change the text color in WhatsApp?
At the moment, the standard functionality of the messenger does not allow you to change the font color. The only styles available are italic, bold, strikethrough, and monospace. Changing the color is only possible through creating images or stickers.
Does formatting work in statuses (stories)?
Yes, you can use the same underscore characters to highlight text in WhatsApp statuses. Status text also supports bold and strikethrough, which allows you to create more visible and attractive stories.