How To Italic In Whatsapp

June 29, 2025 admin

When chatting with friends, family, or colleagues on WhatsApp, sometimes you may want to emphasize certain words or phrases. One simple way to do this is by making text italic. Italic formatting can add subtle emphasis, distinguish a foreign word, or simply make your messages look more polished. Many WhatsApp users don’t realize that the app includes basic text formatting features such as italic, bold, strikethrough, and monospace. Learning how to italic in WhatsApp is quick and easy, and once you know the steps, you can enhance your conversations with just a few extra characters.

Table of Contents

Why Use Italic in WhatsApp Messages?

Before jumping into the methods, it’s helpful to understand why italics are useful. Italic text can serve several purposes

To highlight a specific word or phrase in a sentence.
To emphasize a point without using capital letters, which may seem aggressive.
To distinguish titles of books, movies, or topics in your chats.
To add style and variation to plain messages.

Whether you are sending casual messages or professional updates, italic text makes your words stand out in a subtle yet effective way.

The Basic Method Using Underscores

The simplest way to italicize text in WhatsApp is by using underscores. Here’s how it works

Steps to Italicize Text

Open WhatsApp and go to the chat where you want to type your message.
Type an underscore_before the word or phrase you want to italicize.
Write the word or phrase you want in italics.
Type another underscore_after the word or phrase.
Send the message, and WhatsApp will automatically format it in italics.

For example, typing_hello_will display ashelloin the chat. This method works the same way on Android, iPhone, and WhatsApp Web.

Using the Built-in Formatting Menu

If you don’t want to remember shortcuts, WhatsApp also has a built-in formatting menu that makes it easier to apply italics and other text styles.

On Android

Highlight the word or phrase you want to italicize.
Tap the three-dot menu (â®) that appears at the top of the screen.
Select Italic from the formatting options.

On iPhone

Highlight the text you want to format.
Tap the arrow icon in the pop-up menu until you see BIU.
Tap BIU and select Italic.

These steps allow you to apply italics without having to type underscores manually, which is useful for longer sentences or when formatting multiple words at once.

Italicizing Text in WhatsApp Web

For those who use WhatsApp Web or the desktop app, the process is just as easy. You can either use underscores or the formatting options available through right-clicking the highlighted text. The underscore method remains the most reliable because it works across all platforms consistently.

Combining Italics with Other Formats

WhatsApp doesn’t limit you to just italics. You can combine italics with other formatting styles for more expressive text

Italic and BoldUse underscores and asterisks together. For example, typing_hello_will display ashello.
Italic and StrikethroughUse underscores and tildes. Typing_~hello~_will show as~~hello~~.
Italic and MonospaceUse underscores and triple backticks. For instance,_```hello```_will display with monospace italic styling, though results may vary depending on the device.

These combinations allow you to craft more creative and dynamic messages, especially when you want to draw attention to something important.

Practical Uses of Italics in WhatsApp

Italics can be used in many scenarios in everyday communication. Some examples include

Work communicationItalics can emphasize deadlines, project names, or references to documents.
Academic discussionsItalics can be used for book titles, theories, or key terms when discussing school or university topics.
Personal chatsItalics can highlight emotions, jokes, or punchlines in a light-hearted way.
Event planningItalics can be used to emphasize dates, times, and locations in group chats.

Tips for Using Italics Effectively

While italics are useful, overusing them can reduce their impact. Here are a few tips

Use italics sparingly for emphasis instead of applying them to entire paragraphs.
Combine italics with bold or strikethrough only when necessary for clarity.
Keep messages readable avoid mixing too many formatting styles at once.
Practice by sending messages to yourself before using them in professional conversations.

Common Mistakes When Trying to Italicize

Beginners sometimes make small mistakes when trying to format text. Here are some issues to avoid

Forgetting both underscoresIf you only put one underscore, the text won’t format correctly.
Leaving extra spacesIf there’s a space between the underscore and the word, it won’t italicize. For example,_ hello _will not work.
Using incorrect symbolsOnly underscores_work for italics. Dashes or other characters will not.

How Italics Improve WhatsApp Communication

Adding italics to your messages does more than just change appearance. It can improve communication by

Making your intent clearer.
Helping readers focus on the most important words.
Adding a professional tone when necessary.
Making conversations more engaging and easier to follow.

Learning how to italic in WhatsApp is a small but valuable skill that can make your messages clearer and more expressive. Whether you use the underscore shortcut, the built-in formatting menu, or WhatsApp Web, italics are easy to apply and can be combined with other styles for more impact. With a little practice, you’ll find that italics are a powerful way to enhance both personal and professional chats. Next time you want to emphasize a word or phrase, try italics and see how much difference it makes in your conversation.