WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in the world, with over 2 billion users. One of the great things about WhatsApp is that you can use it not only on your smartphone, but also on your computer through the WhatsApp Web application. WhatsApp Web allows you to access your WhatsApp messages and chats directly in your browser.
While the functionality of WhatsApp Web is very similar to the mobile app, the interface is a bit different. One key difference is how to format your text with things like bold, italics, and strikethrough. In this article, we’ll walk through exactly how to make text bold on WhatsApp Web.
Why would you want to make text bold?
Here are some of the main reasons you may want to format text as bold in your WhatsApp Web chats:
- To emphasize important words, phrases, or sections of text
- To highlight key points you want to stand out
- To make headings and titles stand out from regular text
- To draw attention to specific items like dates, names, locations
- To mimic the effect of shouting or raising your voice digitally
Using bold strategically is a great way to communicate more effectively in your digital conversations. It helps guide the reader and identify the key pieces of information you want them to focus on.
How to make text bold on WhatsApp Web
Making text bold in WhatsApp Web is very easy, it just involves adding an asterisk on either side of the text you want to format. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
- Open WhatsApp Web in your internet browser and open the chat where you want to send the bolded text.
- Type out your message as normal, using the text box at the bottom of the screen.
- To make a word or phrase bold, add an asterisk (*) on either side of it. For example: *This text is bold*
- You can also select a section of text and press the bold (B) button above the text box.
- Once your message looks right with the bold formatting, hit enter or the send arrow to send it.
And that’s all there is to it! The bold asterisks will render properly when your message is received. You’ll see the text in bold type on both WhatsApp Web and the recipient’s mobile device.
Examples of using bold text
Here are some examples of good ways to use bold formatting in your WhatsApp messages:
- Meeting is on *Friday at 3pm* – bold the key detail
- *Do not forget* to email the file when you’re done – bold the important instruction
- My favorite snacks are *popcorn*, *pretzels*, and *peanuts* – bold items in a list
- *WARNING:* Very long message ahead – bold critical alerts
- The winner of the contest is *Mary Smith* – bold names
As you can see, strategic use of bold text allows you to quickly convey meaning and highlight the most important details you want recipients to notice.
Tips for using bold text effectively
Here are some tips to keep in mind for using bolding effectively in WhatsApp Web:
- Don’t overuse it – Bold loses its impact if used excessively.
- Keep bold sections short – A few words or a short sentence in bold works best.
- Bold complete thoughts/phrases – Broken up or disjointed bold text is hard to read.
- Use bolding consistently – Be consistent with how you apply bold formatting.
- Pair bolding with line breaks and paragraphs – This improves readability and creates contrast.
- Make key items stand out – Use bolding strategically on your most important content.
Troubleshooting bold text issues
In some cases, the bold text formatting may not come through as you expected. Here are solutions for some common issues:
Text appears bold in the text box, but not when sent
– Make sure you are using asterisks and not underscores or other characters. WhatsApp Web only recognizes asterisks for bold.
Asterisks appear in the sent message instead of bold
– Make sure there is no space between the asterisks and the text. It should be *bold*, not * bold *.
Part of the text is bold but not all
– Check that you placed asterisks on both sides of the text you want bolded. Asterisks must be used at the start and end.
Bold works on phone but not WhatsApp Web or vice versa
– Formatting can sometimes glitch when sending cross-platform. Try deleting the message and resending.
Conclusion
Adding bold text formatting in WhatsApp Web is easy and can add visual interest to your chats. Simply place asterisks before and after the words or phrases you want to stand out. Use bold strategically to highlight key information, but don’t overdo it.
With the right bold text formatting, you can communicate more effectively on WhatsApp Web. Just be sure to avoid common issues like missing asterisks, extra spaces, and cross-platform glitches. Follow the tips in this guide and you’ll be a WhatsApp Web bold text expert in no time!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the keyboard shortcut to make text bold in WhatsApp Web?
There is no dedicated keyboard shortcut to make text bold in WhatsApp Web. You have to manually add asterisks before and after the text.
Can I make an entire message bold at once?
No, WhatsApp Web does not allow formatting an entire message as bold. You have to select the specific words or phrases you want bolded using asterisks.
How do I unbold text in WhatsApp Web?
To unbold text, simply remove the asterisks around the bolded words or phrases. There is no specific unbold function. Just delete the asterisks from the start and end of the text.
Can I use bold and italic formatting together in WhatsApp Web?
Yes, you can combine formatting like bold and italics in WhatsApp Web. For example, you could have *This text is bold and _italicized_*
Why are my asterisks not showing up as bold format?
If your asterisks display normally instead of bolding text, make sure you do not have spaces between the asterisks and text. The asterisks must be placed right next to the words you want bolded without spaces.
Related formatting options
In addition to bold, WhatsApp also supports other text formatting options to enhance your messages:
Italic
Italic text can add emphasis while being a bit more subtle than bold. On WhatsApp Web, add underscores around the text:
_This text is italicized_
Strikethrough
Strikethrough is used to cross something out. On WhatsApp Web add tildes around the text:
~crossed out~
Monospace
Monospace formatting displays text in a fixed-width font. To activate in WhatsApp Web, use 3 backticks:
“`This text is monospace“`
Bold, Italic, Strikethrough together
You can even combine multiple formatting like bold, italic, and strikethrough:
*~This text is bold, italic, and struckthrough~*
So get creative with text formatting to make your WhatsApp messages stand out!
Other WhatsApp Web formatting tips
In addition to text formatting, there are other formatting options available in WhatsApp Web:
New Lines
To create a new line, add 2 spaces at the end of the line before hitting enter
Like
this
Quotes
You can quote a message by selecting it and hitting reply. Quoted messages have a line indicating they are a reply.
Code Blocks
Format text as code by using 3 backticks on a new line before and after the text:
“`
This is formatted
as code
“`
Headings
You can simulate headings by using line breaks and formatting:
**Title**
_Subtitle_
Text paragraph here
Conclusion
That covers the basics of using bold for text formatting in WhatsApp Web. With the power to make text bold, you can better call attention to the key parts of your messages. Use this guide to learn how to master bolding in WhatsApp Web chats and elevate your formatting skills. Just remember to use it selectively and pair it with other formatting for optimal effect. Bold on!