Text Formatting in ClickUp

ClickUp lets you quickly format text in tasks, Docs, comments, and more so your content is organized, scannable, and easy to understand. This guide explains how to use the formatting toolbar, keyboard shortcuts, and Markdown-style options to style your text efficiently.

Where text formatting works in ClickUp

You can use rich text formatting across many places in your workspace. The tools and shortcuts stay consistent so you do not have to relearn them in each area.

Task descriptions
Task comments and threaded replies
Docs and pages
Notepad and personal notes
Chat views

Because the experience is similar, once you know how to format text in one ClickUp location, you can reuse the same habits everywhere.

Open the formatting toolbar in ClickUp

The main way to style text in ClickUp is the inline formatting toolbar. It appears right where you are working so you can format as you type.

Select or click into any rich text area, such as a task description or Doc page.
Start typing your content.
Highlight the text you want to style.
Look for the floating toolbar that appears above or near your selection.

Depending on the location in ClickUp, the toolbar may show slightly different options, but common formatting controls are always available.

Core text styles available in ClickUp

The toolbar offers quick access to the most common text styles. Use these to make your content clearer and more structured.

Basic formatting tools in ClickUp

When the toolbar is visible, you can apply these core styles:

Bold: Emphasize key words and labels.
Italic: Highlight terms, references, or notes.
Underline: Draw attention to important phrases.
~~Strikethrough~~: Mark items as removed or outdated.
Inline code: Display code snippets or commands clearly.

To use them, either click the icon in the toolbar or use the matching keyboard shortcut while your text is selected.

Headings and structure in ClickUp

Headings create visual hierarchy in your content. In many ClickUp text areas, you can choose different heading levels.

Headings (H1, H2, H3): Organize Docs into sections.
Paragraph text: Standard body text for details.

Use headings to break long content into sections so teammates can scan and find what they need quickly.

Create lists and checklists in ClickUp

Lists are essential for tasks, meeting notes, and documentation. You can switch between several list types using the toolbar.

Bulleted and numbered lists

Bulleted and numbered lists help you summarize information and show order.

Bulleted lists for unordered points.
Numbered lists for ordered steps or sequences.

To create a list:

Place your cursor where you want the list.
Click the bullet or numbered list icon on the toolbar.
Type each item, pressing Enter to move to the next line.

You can also convert existing lines into lists by selecting them and clicking the list icons.

Checklists in ClickUp

Checklists are ideal for action items and quick to-dos inside text areas.

Highlight the lines you want to turn into a checklist.
Click the checklist or checkbox-style icon on the toolbar.
Click the box next to any item to mark it complete.

In many ClickUp locations, these checkboxes update visually to show progress.

Use links and media formatting in ClickUp

Beyond text styles, you can enrich content with links and other formatting helpers.

Add hyperlinks with the toolbar

Hyperlinks connect your text to other locations or resources:

Select the text you want to turn into a link.
Click the link icon in the formatting toolbar.
Paste or type the URL, then confirm.

You can link to web pages, internal resources, or the original help article at ClickUp text formatting documentation.

Quotes, dividers, and more

Depending on the specific ClickUp editor, you may also see options such as:

Block quotes to highlight references or statements.
Horizontal dividers to separate sections visually.
Alignment tools to adjust how text sits on the page.

Use these sparingly to keep content readable and professional.

Keyboard shortcuts for faster formatting in ClickUp

Keyboard shortcuts make formatting much faster than repeatedly clicking toolbar icons. Many standard shortcuts are supported where rich text is available.

Common formatting shortcuts

Typical shortcuts you can use include:

Bold: Use your system shortcut (for example, Ctrl + B or Command + B).
Italic: Use Ctrl + I or Command + I.
Underline: Use Ctrl + U or Command + U where supported.
Undo / Redo: Use standard undo and redo keys to reverse changes.

The exact behavior may vary by browser and operating system, but ClickUp follows familiar patterns where possible.

Speeding up list creation

In many modern editors, typing certain characters at the start of a line will convert it into a list automatically, such as a dash for bullets or a number for an ordered list. If supported in your ClickUp editor:

Start a line with - or * followed by a space for a bulleted list.
Start a line with 1. followed by a space for a numbered list.

If the automatic list is not what you want, you can usually undo it immediately.

Use Markdown-style shortcuts in ClickUp

Some ClickUp text areas accept Markdown-like patterns and turn them into formatted text as you type. This lets you stay on the keyboard and avoid leaving the main writing flow.

Examples of Markdown patterns

Where supported, try these patterns at the start of a line:

# followed by a space for a large heading.
## followed by a space for a smaller heading.
> followed by a space for a quote block.

After you type the symbol and space, the line converts to the matching style. Exact support can differ between Docs, tasks, and comments, but the goal is to keep formatting in ClickUp quick and intuitive.

Tips for clean formatting in ClickUp

Consistent formatting improves collaboration and makes your workspace easier to scan. Use these practices whenever you format text.

Use headings consistently: Decide which heading level you use for main sections versus subsections.
Keep paragraphs short: Break long ideas into multiple paragraphs to avoid cluttered blocks of text.
Use lists for steps: Any set of actions should usually become a numbered list so people can follow along.
Avoid over-formatting: Too many styles on one page can make information harder to read.
Test in different views: Open your formatted content in other ClickUp locations to confirm it looks correct.

Next steps with ClickUp documentation

Once you are comfortable with text formatting, you can build more advanced documentation and workflows. Combine headings, lists, and links to create structured Docs, task templates, and meeting notes. For broader workspace strategy and implementation help, you can also review resources from consultants such as Consultevo.

By mastering these formatting tools, you make every ClickUp page easier to read, update, and share with your team.

Need Help With ClickUp?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.

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