Help:Wikitext quick reference

Wikitext markup -- making your page look the way you want

• You can see some more detailed examples at Help:Wiki markup examples.
• If you want to try out things without danger of doing any harm, you can do so in the Wikiversity:Sandbox.

Basic text formatting

Name	Typing	Displays
Bold	Make text '''bold'''	Make text bold
Italic	Make text ''italic''	Make text italic
Internal Link	Link to [[Help:Editing|a page]] or [[#Basic text formatting|a section of a page]].	Link to a page or a section of a page.
External Link	Link to [http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Help:Editing a page] or [http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Help:Editing#Editing_basics a section of a page].	Link to a page or a section of a page.
Level 2 Heading	== Section Heading ==	Section Heading
Embed File	[[File:Button image.png]]
File link	[[Media:Button media.png]]	Media:Button media.png
Mathematical Formulas (LaTeX)	<math>2^3</math>	$2^3$
Ignore wiki markup	<nowiki><math>2^3</math></nowiki>	<math>2^3</math>
Signature	Thanks guys --~~~~	Thanks guys --Karl Wick 07:46, 27 November 2005 (UTC)
Horizontal line	----
Page Redirect	#redirect [[Help:Editing#Basic text formatting]]	Help:Editing#Basic text formatting

For a list of HTML tags that are allowed, see HTML in wikitext. However, you should avoid HTML in favor of Wiki markup whenever possible.

Just show what I typed

A few different kinds of formatting will tell the Wiki to display things as you typed them.

Name	Typing	Displays
<nowiki> tags	<nowiki> The nowiki tag ignores [[Wiki]] ''markup''. It reformats text by removing newlines and multiple spaces. It still interprets special characters: &rarr; </nowiki>	The nowiki tag ignores [[Wiki]] ''markup''. It reformats text by removing newlines and multiple spaces. It still interprets special characters: →
<pre> tags	<pre> The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]] and <strong>HTML</strong> ''markup''. It also doesn't reformat text. It still interprets special characters: &rarr; </pre>	The pre tag ignores [[Wiki]] and <strong>HTML</strong> ''markup''. It also doesn't reformat text. It still interprets HTML special characters: →
Leading spaces	Leading spaces are another way to preserve formatting. Putting a space at the beginning of each line stops the text from being reformatted. It still interprets [[Wiki]] ''markup'' and special characters: &rarr; but it puts the text in a box.	Leading spaces are another way to preserve formatting. Putting a space at the beginning of each line stops the text from being reformatted. It still interprets Wiki markup and special characters: → but it puts the text in a box.

Organizing your writing

What it looks like	What you type
Section headings Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a table of contents from them. Subsection Using more equals signs creates a subsection. A smaller subsection Don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs. Start with two equals signs; don't use single equals signs.	== Section headings == Headings organize your writing into sections. The Wiki software can automatically generate a table of contents from them. === Subsection === Using more equals signs creates a subsection. ==== A smaller subsection ==== Don't skip levels, like from two to four equals signs. Start with two equals signs; don't use single equals signs.
Unordered lists are easy to do: Start every line with a star. More stars indicate a deeper level. A newline in a list marks the end of the list. Of course you can start again.	* ''Unordered lists'' are easy to do: ** Start every line with a star. *** More stars indicate a deeper level. *A newline *in a list marks the end of the list. *Of course you can start again.
Numbered lists are also good: Very organized Easy to follow A newline marks the end of the list. New numbering starts with 1.	# Numbered lists are also good: ## Very organized ## Easy to follow A newline marks the end of the list. #New numbering starts with 1.
You can even do mixed lists and nest them or break lines in lists.	* You can even do mixed lists *# and nest them *#* or break lines<br />in lists.
Another kind of list is a definition list: word  definition of the word longer phrase phrase defined at length, such that, even with a relatively large window width one can see that the wrapping of the text maintains the indentation of the definition and thus a highlight of the defined term. This accentuates readability of the list.	Another kind of list is a '''definition list''': ; word : definition of the word ; longer phrase : phrase defined at length, such that, even with a relatively large window width one can see that the wrapping of the text maintains the indentation of the definition and thus a highlight of the defined term. This accentuates readability of the list.
A colon indents a line or paragraph. A newline after that starts a new paragraph. This is often used for discussion on Talk pages.	:A colon indents a line or paragraph. A newline after that starts a new paragraph. ::This is often used for discussion on talk pages.
You can make horizontal dividing lines to separate text. But you should usually use sections instead, so that they go in the table of contents.	You can make horizontal dividing lines to separate text. ---- But you should usually use sections instead, so that they go in the table of contents.

Images, tables, video, and sounds

This is a very quick introduction (please do not forget to upload your files). For more information, see:

• Images and sound files for help with media files
• w:Help:Extended image syntax for how to arrange images on the page
• Help:Table for how to create a table

What it looks like	What you type
A picture, including alternate text: You can put the image in a frame with a caption: The logo for this Wiki	A picture, including alternate text: [[Image:Wikiversity_beta.png|50px|The logo for this Wiki]] You can put the image in a frame with a caption: [[Image:Wikiversity_beta.png|frame|The logo for this Wiki]]
A link to Wikiversity's page for the image: File:Wikiversity beta.png Or a link directly to the image itself: Media:Wikiversity beta.png	A link to Wikiversity's page for the image: [[:File:Wikiversity beta.png]] Or a link directly to the image itself: [[Media:Wikiversity beta.png]]
Use media: links to link to sounds or videos. Sound File Example: A sound file pdf File Example: A pdf file	Use '''media:''' links to link to sounds or videos. Sound File Example: [[media:Sound_Of_Fear.ogg|A sound file]] pdf File Example: [[Media:Darkside-graphak1.pdf|A pdf file]]
This is a table	<center> {| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5 | This | is |- | a | '''table''' |} </center>

Templates

Templates are segments of Wiki markup that are meant to be copied automatically ("transcluded") into a page. You add them by putting the template's name in {{double braces}}.

Some templates take parameters, as well, which you separate with the pipe character.

What it looks like	What you type
This text comes from the page named Template:Transclusion demo. It has been transcluded into this page.	{{Transclusion demo}}
This template takes two parameters, and creates underlined text with a hover box: Hover your mouse over this text Go to this page to see the H:title template itself.	This template takes two parameters, and creates underlined text with a hover box: {{H:title|This is the hover text| Hover your mouse over this text}} Go to [[template:H:title|this page]] to see the H:title template itself.