How to Italicize Text in WhatsApp
Italic text in WhatsApp adds a subtle emphasis to your messages. It's perfect for quoting someone, adding a gentle stress to a word, writing notes or asides, or simply making your messages feel more expressive. This guide walks you through the exact steps for every platform, shows common pitfalls, and introduces a visual tool that makes formatting effortless.
The Quick Answer
To make text italic in WhatsApp, place an underscore (_) before and after the text:
_This text will be italic_
When sent, WhatsApp renders it as: This text will be italic. The underscores disappear and the text appears in an italic style.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Open your chat — navigate to the conversation where you want to send an italicised message.
- Type your message — write the full message, then go back to add formatting.
- Add underscores — place a
_character directly before and after the text you want to italicise. No spaces between the underscore and the text. - Send — the formatted text will appear in italics for all recipients.
Italic on Different Platforms
iPhone (iOS)
Type the underscores manually, or use the iOS text selection shortcut: select the text, tap “BIU” in the pop-up menu, and choose “Italic.” WhatsApp adds the underscores automatically.
Android
Type the underscores manually. Some keyboards and WhatsApp versions support a contextual menu when you select text, but the underscore method is universal and reliable.
WhatsApp Web & Desktop
Type underscores manually or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+I (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+I (Mac) after selecting text. The shortcut works the same way as in word processors and email clients.
Examples
| You type | WhatsApp shows |
|---|---|
_hello_ | hello |
_Please note: meeting moved to 4pm_ | Please note: meeting moved to 4pm |
She said _thank you_ and left | She said thank you and left |
_*bold and italic*_ | bold and italic |
Common Mistakes
- Spaces next to underscores —
_ hello _will NOT work. The underscores must touch the text:_hello_. - Confusing with bold — bold uses asterisks (
*), italic uses underscores (_). They look similar when typing quickly — double-check you're using the right character. - File names and URLs — if your text contains underscores as part of a URL or file name (like
my_file_name), WhatsApp may accidentally interpret them as italic markers. In these cases, send the URL separately or use a link shortener. - Missing closing underscore — if you only type
_hello, the text appears as plain text with the underscore visible.
When to Use Italic
Italic text is commonly used for:
- Emphasis — adding gentle stress to a word: “That was _really_ helpful”
- Quotes and references — “As the saying goes, _actions speak louder than words_”
- Notes and asides — “_Note: office closed on Monday_”
- Titles — book names, article titles, or product names
- Foreign words — “The French word _bonjour_ means hello”
Combining Italic With Other Formats
You can combine italic with bold, strikethrough, or monospace for richer formatting:
_*italic and bold*_→ italic and bold_~italic and strikethrough~_→italic and strikethrough
Nesting order doesn't matter — _*text*_ and *_text_* both produce the same bold-italic result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What character makes text italic in WhatsApp?
The underscore character (_) makes text italic in WhatsApp. Place one underscore before and one after the text: _like this_. The underscores disappear when the message is sent and the text appears in italics.
Can I italicise entire paragraphs in WhatsApp?
You can italicise multiple words and sentences within a single line, but italic formatting does not span across line breaks. Each line needs its own set of underscores. For multi-line italic text, add underscores to each line separately.
Does italic formatting work in WhatsApp Business?
Yes, italic formatting works in WhatsApp Business exactly the same way as in the regular WhatsApp app. Use underscores (_text_) to italicise text in business conversations, quick replies, and template messages.
Why do my underscores show as text instead of making italic?
This usually happens when there are spaces between the underscore and the text (e.g., _ hello _ won't work). Make sure the underscores are directly adjacent to the text with no spaces. Also check that you're using the standard underscore character and that your WhatsApp app is up to date.