With the new update already available for Android and iOS, WhatsApp introduces an important innovation much requested by its millions of users: the text formatting, i.e. the possibility of introducing a new graphic look to the words you write thanks also to symbols and numbers. “Added new text formatting options for quotes, bulleted and numbered lists, and inline code“, we read on the latest version released. Now let’s see in more detail what it is and how it works.
What are they for
We remind you that the functions related to the formats were already available: from bold to italic, from strikethrough to monospaced by inserting either an asterisk or dashes from time to time to give a different graphic appearance to the text you want to write. The first novelty, as mentioned, concerns the quotation marks useful when a user wants to make a quote and make it stand out in longer messages: for this you will need to type the greater than symbol (>) before the text and the space.
As for the bulleted lists, on the other hand, are useful for dividing information on various topics which, for example, may include the shopping list or simply the things to do during the day. “To add a bulleted list to your message, add an asterisk or dash and a space before each word or phrase”, the developers explain on the specific WhatsApp section dedicated to FAQs (questions and answers).
The numbered lists, on the other hand, are similar to the dotted ones but this time there are numbers: very useful if you have to give priority to something in particular which will be marked by the number one and so on. “To add a numbered list to your message, add a number, period and space before each line of text”, like this: “1.text”, “2.text” and so on.
The last and fourth option introduced with this update which is part of the text formatting is the so-called inline code, faithful translation of “inline code”: this new option can be useful especially for programmers but also if you want to underline some key passage in the text, a bit like when reading a book or a newspaper. “To add an inline code to your message, place a grave accent on both sides of the message”, the developers explain, that is “`text`”.
“More effective communication”
The WhatsApp team lets you know that the new formats “They will help save time and help people communicate more effectively through their messages, especially in group chats“.