Notion Text Formatting
Text formatting changes how your words look on the page. Notion supports bold, italics, colors, and more. Good formatting makes long pages easier to scan and helps readers find key information fast.
Basic Formatting Options
| Style | Shortcut | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl+B | Highlight key terms |
| Italic | Ctrl+I | Show emphasis or titles |
| Underline | Ctrl+U | Mark important lines |
| Strikethrough | Ctrl+Shift+S | Show completed or removed items |
| Code | Ctrl+E | Display code snippets or commands |
Applying Formatting
Select any text with your mouse to open a small toolbar. This toolbar shows formatting icons above the selection. Click an icon to apply the style instantly. You can combine several styles on the same text, such as bold and colored text together.
Text Color and Highlight
The formatting toolbar includes a color option labeled with the letter A. Clicking it opens a list of text colors and background highlights. Colors help you flag priorities, such as red for urgent tasks. Background highlights work well for drawing attention to a phrase without changing the text color itself.
Color Use Example
| Color | Common Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Urgent or overdue |
| Yellow | In progress |
| Green | Completed |
| Blue | Reference or informational |
Headings for Structure
Notion offers three heading sizes. Heading 1 marks a major section. Heading 2 marks a subsection. Heading 3 marks a smaller detail inside that subsection. Consistent heading use also powers the automatic table of contents block, which builds a clickable outline from your headings.
Inline Links
Select text and press the link icon to attach a URL. The text turns into a clickable link while keeping its original wording. This method looks cleaner than pasting a raw web address and reads more naturally inside a sentence.
Mentions
Typing the @ symbol opens a mention menu. You can mention a page, a person, or a date. A date mention inserts a small calendar chip that updates reminders automatically. A person mention notifies that team member and links directly to their profile.
Equations
Typing two dollar signs opens an equation editor. This editor supports mathematical notation for students and researchers. The equation renders as a clean formula on the page instead of plain text symbols.
Text Alignment and Line Spacing
Notion keeps text left-aligned by default across most blocks, which keeps documents consistent and easy to read. Some block types, such as callouts, allow limited spacing adjustments through the block settings menu. Consistent alignment across a workspace makes shared pages feel more professional.
Practical Example: Formatting a Study Guide
Use Heading 2 for each subject and Heading 3 for each topic within that subject. Bold key terms the first time they appear in a paragraph. Highlight formulas or dates in yellow so they stand out during a quick review before an exam.