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Tags: #markdown #productivity #writing

The 80/20 of Markdown syntax: Learn What Actually Matters

You don’t need to memorize every Markdown rule. Learn the 80/20 of Markdown syntax—the small set that covers most real writing cases.

What is Markdown (in one paragraph)

Markdown is a lightweight way to format plain text so it turns into clean HTML (or PDFs, docs, sites). You write with simple marks—like # for headings or - for lists—and keep total control because the result is still just a .md text file you own.

The 80/20 of Markdown syntax

Memorize these handful of patterns and you’re done:

Headings

# Title
## Section
### Subsection

Emphasis

**bold**   // double asterisks
*italic*   // single asterisks

Lists

- item
- another item
  - nested item
1. first
2. second

Links & Images

[link text](https://example.com)
![alt text](path-or-url-to-image.jpg)

Code & Quotes

`inline code`
# fenced code block
```
print("hello")
```
> Blockquote for notes, callouts, or quoted text.

### Horizontal rule
---

Pro tip: Headings are just “hash + space.” Lists are “dash + space.” If you remember those two, you can write 80% of your notes.

A 10-minute practice routine

Follow this once, and you’ll have the muscle memory.

  1. Create a new note and add a title:# My First Markdown Note
  2. Add a short intro with bold/italic:I’m learning *Markdown* the **easy way**.
  3. Make a task list:- [ ] Install a Markdown editor - [ ] Write a quick outline - [ ] Export as .md
  4. Drop a code block:```bash mkdir notes && cd notes echo "Hello" > hello.md
  5. Insert a link and an image:Read more at [CommonMark](https://commonmark.org) ![A helpful diagram](./diagram.png)
  6. Finish with a horizontal rule + quote:--- > Writing improves when formatting gets out of the way.

You just used the whole 80/20 set.

Common mistakes (and quick fixes)

  • Heading without a space##Heading ❌ → ## Heading ✅
  • List without a space-item ❌ → - item ✅
  • Weird line breaks Some renderers need a blank line between blocks (e.g., after a list) to separate sections.
  • Fenced code blocks not closing Use three backticks to open and three to close. Don’t mix backticks with quotes.
  • Image not showing Check the path. If your image is in a subfolder, use ./images/pic.jpg and confirm the file actually exists there.

.md files, backups, and portability

Your notes are just text files with the .md extension. That’s great because:

  • Portable: Open them in any editor (VS Code, Obsidian, Mdit, etc.).
  • Diffable: Track changes with Git if you want version history.
  • Future-proof: Plain text won’t lock you in.

In Mdit, notes save as .md directly to your folders (iCloud/Google Drive/Dropbox or a local directory). You choose the workspace; your files stay yours.

Starter templates

Meeting notes

# Meeting: {Topic}
**Date:** {YYYY-MM-DD}  
**Attendees:** {Names}

## Agenda
- 

## Notes
- 

## Decisions
- 

## Action Items
- [ ] Owner – Task (Due)

Daily log

# {YYYY-MM-DD}
## Top 3
1. 
2. 
3. 

## Notes
- 

## Wins
-

Project README

# {Project Name}
{One-sentence description.}

## Setup
# commands here

## Usage
- 

## Roadmap
- [ ] Milestone 1
- [ ] Milestone 2

Try Mdit (free, local-first)

If you like the “zero-memorization” approach, Mdit gives you:

  • Slash command UX for fast block inserts
  • Clean, distraction-free editor under 10 MB
  • Local-first storage to regular .md files (you own your notes)

Start writing in minutes—no heavy setup, no vendor lock-in.

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