HTML Text Formatting

HTML contains several elements for defining text with a special meaning.

Example

This text is bold

This text is italic

This is _subscript and ^superscript

HTML Formatting Elements

Formatting elements were designed to display special types of text:

• <b> – Bold text
• <strong> – Important text
• <i> – Italic text
• <em> – Emphasized text
• <mark> – Marked text
• <small> – Smaller text
• <del> – Deleted text
• <ins> – Inserted text
• <sub> – Subscript text
• <sup> – Superscript text

HTML <b> and <strong> Elements

The HTML <b> element defines bold text, without any extra importance.

Example

<b>This text is bold</b>

The HTML <strong> element defines text with strong importance. The content inside is typically displayed in bold.

Example

<strong>This text is important!</strong>

HTML <i> and <em> Elements

The HTML <i> element defines a part of text in an alternate voice or mood. The content inside is typically displayed in italic.

Tip: The <i> tag is often used to indicate a technical term, a phrase from another language, a thought, a ship name, etc.

Example

<i>This text is italic</i>

The HTML <em> element defines emphasized text. The content inside is typically displayed in italic.

Tip: A screen reader will pronounce the words in <em> with an emphasis, using verbal stress.

Example

<em>This text is emphasized</em>

HTML <small> Element

The HTML <small> element defines smaller text:

Example

<small>This is some smaller text.</small>

HTML <mark> Element

The HTML <mark> element defines text that should be marked or highlighted:

Example

<p>Do not forget to buy <mark>milk</mark> today.</p>

HTML <ins> Element

The HTML <ins> element defines a text that has been inserted into a document. Browsers will usually underline inserted text:

Example

<p>My favorite color is <del>blue</del> <ins>red</ins>.</p>

HTML <sub> Element

The HTML <sub> element defines subscript text. Subscript text appears half a character below the normal line, and is sometimes rendered in a smaller font. Subscript text can be used for chemical formulas, like H₂O:

Example

<p>This is <sub>subscripted</sub> text.</p>

HTML <sup> Element

The HTML <sup> element defines superscript text. Superscript text appears half a character above the normal line, and is sometimes rendered in a smaller font. Superscript text can be used for footnotes, like WWW^[1]:

Example

<p>This is <sup>superscripted</sup> text.</p>

HTML Text Formatting Elements