Writing guide
Markdown & Math Reference
Syntax supported in questions, answers, topics, and replies.
Comments (short notes on a post) are plain text only — Markdown and math are not rendered in comments.
Text formatting
Syntax
**bold text** *italic text* ~~strikethrough~~ `inline code`
Output
bold text
italic text
strikethrough
italic text
inline code
Headings
Syntax
# Heading 1 ## Heading 2 ### Heading 3
Output
Heading 1
Heading 2
Heading 3
Lists
Syntax
- Apples - Bananas - Cherries 1. First step 2. Second step 3. Third step
Output
- Apples
- Bananas
- Cherries
- First step
- Second step
- Third step
Code blocks
Syntax
```python
def factorial(n):
if n == 0:
return 1
return n * factorial(n - 1)
```Output
def factorial(n):
if n == 0:
return 1
return n * factorial(n - 1)Links & images
Syntax
[Gatherin](https://gatherin.net/) 
Output
Blockquotes & horizontal rules
Syntax
> This is a quoted passage > that spans multiple lines. ---
Output
This is a quoted passage that spans multiple lines.
Tables
Syntax
| Name | Score | | ------- | ----- | | Alice | 95 | | Bob | 87 |
Output
| Name | Score |
|---|---|
| Alice | 95 |
| Bob | 87 |
Inline math
Wrap a LaTeX expression in single dollar signs to render it inline with the surrounding text.
Syntax
The area of a circle is $A = \pi r^2$, where $r$ is the radius.
Output
The area of a circle is $A = \pi r^2$, where $r$ is the radius.
Block (display) math
Wrap a LaTeX expression in double dollar signs on its own line to render it centred on a separate line.
Syntax
$$
\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{-x^2}\,dx = \sqrt{\pi}
$$Output
$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{-x^2}\,dx = \sqrt{\pi}$$
More math examples
Syntax
$$E = mc^2$$
Output
$$E = mc^2$$
Syntax
$$
x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}
$$Output
$$x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$$
Syntax
$$
\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^2} = \frac{\pi^2}{6}
$$Output
$$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^2} = \frac{\pi^2}{6}$$
Syntax
$$
\begin{pmatrix}
a & b \\
c & d
\end{pmatrix}
\begin{pmatrix}
x \\ y
\end{pmatrix}
=
\begin{pmatrix}
ax + by \\
cx + dy
\end{pmatrix}
$$Output
$$\begin{pmatrix}a & b \\c & d\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}x \\ y\end{pmatrix}=\begin{pmatrix}ax + by \\cx + dy\end{pmatrix}$$
Syntax
Euler's identity: $e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0$Output
Euler's identity: $e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0$
Syntax
$$
\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sin x}{x} = 1
$$Output
$$\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sin x}{x} = 1$$