Core syntax / editable reference
These patterns are source text to copy. The printed sheet preserves the punctuation.
| Purpose | Write this | Result or condition |
|---|---|---|
| Heading | # Heading |
Heading; leave a space after the marker |
| Subheading | ## Section |
A nested section |
| Emphasis | *italic* |
Italic text |
| Strong emphasis | **bold** |
Bold text |
| Inline code | `value` |
Literal text in code style |
| Link | [label](https://example.com) |
A named link |
| Image |  |
Loads the referenced image |
| Quote | > Quoted words |
A blockquote |
| Literal symbol | \*not italic\* |
Asterisks remain visible |
| Paragraph | A blank line between paragraphs | A new paragraph |
Use a space after each marker. Keep a blank line around the block.
- Draft
- Review
1. Write
2. SaveThe outer fence below has four backticks at both ends. The inner example has three.
````markdown
```python
print("hello")
```
````CommonMark: spec.commonmark.org/0.31.2/
Extensions / print and reuse
Tables, task lists and strikethrough need a renderer that supports those extensions.
| Purpose | Write this | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Strikethrough | ~~removed~~ |
GFM extension |
| Task marker | - [ ] Open or - [x] Done |
Checkbox support varies |
| Table row | | Name | State | |
Needs a delimiter row below |
| Delimiter row | | --- | --- | |
Enables table parsing in table-capable readers |
| Alignment | :--- / :---: / ---: |
Left / center / right in supporting readers |
| Name | State |
| --- | --- |
| Draft | Ready || Symptom | Inspect | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Pipes appear as text | Is the table extension active? | Select a table-capable reader |
| Task markers stay visible | Are tasks supported separately? | Enable task support or keep text labels |
| Code example swallows later text | Does the outer fence close? | Match both outer fence lengths |
| Content is cut off on paper | Does the HTML already contain it? | Change print layout or shorten the example |
Edit the Markdown source. Use the PDF for a fixed visual reference. A PDF alone does not preserve the original Markdown punctuation or renderer settings.
Local comparisons use markdown-it-py CommonMark, Python-Markdown with tables and fenced_code, and Pandoc GFM. They do not test hosted GitHub, VS Code or Jupyter.
GFM: github.github.com/gfm/