Markdown Syntax Cheat Sheet: From Beginner to Advanced

Introduction

Markdown is a lightweight markup language that allows you to write documents using an easy-to-read and easy-to-write plain text format. This cheat sheet covers all Markdown syntax from basic to advanced, with practical examples. Whether you're new to Markdown or looking for a specific syntax reference, this guide has you covered.

Basic Syntax

Headings

Markdown supports six levels of headings, using the # symbol:

# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3
#### Heading 4
##### Heading 5
###### Heading 6

You can also use underline style (only for levels 1 and 2):

Heading 1
=========

Heading 2
---------

Paragraphs and Line Breaks

Paragraphs are separated by blank lines. To create a line break without starting a new paragraph, add two spaces at the end of the line.

This is the first paragraph.

This is the second paragraph.

This is one line  
This is the next line (note the two spaces at the end of the previous line)

Text Formatting

Style	Syntax	Example
Bold	**text** or __text__	bold text
Italic	*text* or _text_	italic text
Bold Italic	***text*** or ___text___	bold italic text
Strikethrough	~~text~~	strikethrough text
Underline	<u>text</u>	underlined text

Lists

Unordered Lists

Use -, +, or * to create unordered lists:

- Item 1
- Item 2
  - Subitem 2.1
  - Subitem 2.2
- Item 3

+ You can also use plus signs
* Or asterisks

Ordered Lists

Use numbers followed by periods to create ordered lists:

1. First item
2. Second item
   1. Subitem 2.1
   2. Subitem 2.2
3. Third item

Task Lists

GitHub-style task lists:

- [x] Completed task
- [ ] Todo task
- [ ] Another todo task

Links

Inline Links

[Link text](https://www.example.com)
[Link with title](https://www.example.com "Link title")

Reference Links

[Link text][reference label]

[reference label]: https://www.example.com "Optional title"

Automatic Links

<https://www.example.com>
<[email protected]>

Images

![Alt text](image-url)
![Image with title](image-url "Image title")

Reference-style images:
![Alt text][image reference]

[image reference]: image-url "Optional title"

Blockquotes

> This is a blockquote
> It can span multiple lines
> 
> > And can be nested

Code

Inline Code

Use `backticks` to surround inline code

Code Blocks

Use three backticks or indent with four spaces:

```javascript
function hello() {
    console.log("Hello, World!");
}
```

    Or use indentation (four spaces)
    function hello() {
        console.log("Hello, World!");
    }

Horizontal Rules

Use three or more hyphens, asterisks, or underscores:

---
***
___

Advanced Syntax

Tables

| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Data 1   | Data 2   | Data 3   |
| Data 4   | Data 5   | Data 6   |

Alignment:
| Left-aligned | Center | Right-aligned |
|:-------------|:------:|--------------:|
| Left         | Center | Right         |

Footnotes

Here's a footnote example[^1].

[^1]: This is the footnote content.

Definition Lists

Term 1
: Definition 1

Term 2
: Definition 2a
: Definition 2b

Abbreviations

HTML is Hyper Text Markup Language.

*[HTML]: Hyper Text Markup Language

GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM)

Syntax Highlighting

Specify a language in code blocks:

```python
def hello():
    print("Hello, World!")
```

```json
{
  "name": "example",
  "version": "1.1.0"
}
```

Emoji

:smile: :heart: :thumbsup: :star:

User Mentions and Issue References

@username
#123 (issue number)
organization/repository#123

HTML Support

Markdown supports inline HTML:

<div style="color: red;">
  This is red text
</div>

<details>
  <summary>Click to expand</summary>
  Hidden content
</details>

Escaping Characters

Use backslash to escape special characters:

\* Not italic
\# Not a heading
\[Not a link\]

Characters that need escaping:

\ ` * _ {} [] () # + - . ! |

Best Practices

1. Maintain Consistency

• Choose one heading style and stick to it
• Use either * or - consistently for lists
• Keep indentation consistent (typically 2 or 4 spaces)

2. Prioritize Readability

• Add blank lines before and after headings
• Separate paragraphs with blank lines
• Avoid overly long lines (recommend 80-100 characters)

3. Use Semantic Markup

• Use headings hierarchically, don't skip levels
• Use appropriate markup (lists, quotes, etc.)
• Provide descriptive text for links and images

Common Mistakes

1. List Formatting Errors

Wrong:
-Item one (missing space)
- Item two

Correct:
- Item one
- Item two

2. Link Format Errors

Wrong:
(link text)[URL]

Correct:
[link text](URL)

3. Code Block Indentation

Wrong:
```
code
```

Correct:
```
code
```

Tools & Tips

Using MD-PDF-WORD

MD-PDF-WORD perfectly supports all these Markdown syntaxes and accurately converts them to PDF and Word formats:

• Preserves all formatting
• Renders tables correctly
• Supports code highlighting
• Handles typography properly

Shortcuts (Common Editors)

Function	Windows/Linux	Mac
Bold	Ctrl + B	Cmd + B
Italic	Ctrl + I	Cmd + I
Link	Ctrl + K	Cmd + K
Code	Ctrl + `	Cmd + `

Learning Resources

• Official Specification: Markdown Official Documentation
• GitHub Guide: GitHub Markdown Guide
• Interactive Tutorial: Markdown Tutorial
• Live Preview: Use MD-PDF-WORD's real-time preview feature

Conclusion

Mastering Markdown syntax enables you to create formatted documents more efficiently. From basic text formatting to advanced tables and code blocks, Markdown provides rich yet concise syntax. Combined with tools like MD-PDF-WORD, you can easily convert Markdown documents to professional PDF or Word formats, meeting various document needs.

Remember, Markdown's core philosophy is to let you focus on content rather than formatting. Choose the syntax you need, keep it simple, and make your documents both beautiful and maintainable.