How to format text on LinkedIn: Bold and Italics

Trisha Sinha

Oct 7, 2024

Are you trying to grab attention with your LinkedIn posts in mere seconds? Then it’s time to bold and italicize your text to create an instant impact! Text formatting on LinkedIn, while often overlooked, can be a subtle yet powerful tool to make your content stand out in a sea of posts.

Aside from aesthetics, proper formatting enhances the readability of your content, making it easier for your audience to digest your message quickly. Well-structured text also improves engagement, though it may not influence the SEO crawlers.

In this article, we will walk you through how to master LinkedIn text formatting—from boldening key points to italicizing to add emphasis—ensuring your posts not only grab attention but hold it as well.

4 types of text formats for LinkedIn

With over 11 million creators posting on LinkedIn, all offering valuable insights and experiences, how can you ensure your content doesn’t get lost in the noise?

It’s all about capturing attention within the first few seconds and then sustaining that attention with quality content. You have just 2.5 seconds to make an impression. Formatting your text strategically can be the secret sauce to stopping the scroll and hooking your audience.

Let’s explore the three most impactful text formats on LinkedIn:

Bold: Make key points stand out.
Italic: Add subtle emphasis.
Underline: Highlight important phrases.
Uppercase and lowercase: Different tones for different messages.

Unfortunately, LinkedIn’s native editor does not provide direct options to bold, italicize, or change the case of your text. However, there are workarounds!

In this case it is best to use websites such as Perfect Font Generator, Text Cleaner by copy pasting the same text on your LinkedIn posting place. Or a simpler option is to use text formatting tools within social media marketing tools such as ContentRadar where you can format text and publish within the same dashboard. In this guide, we’ll explore both methods and best practices.

How to bold texts on LinkedIn

Bold text is an excellent way to emphasize specific points, results, or keywords. However, like any design tool, it’s essential to use bold sparingly. Overusing bold text can overwhelm readers and make the post harder to read. The key is balance.

When should you bold text?

Here are some scenarios where you should consider bolding text in your LinkedIn posts:

Highlight key data points or metrics: If your post contains statistics or facts, bolding them ensures that they stand out, grabbing attention and reinforcing their importance.
Example: “Our recent campaign resulted in a 35% increase in engagement and a 50% rise in website traffic.”
Call attention to keywords: If there are specific phrases that capture the essence of your post, bold them to ensure your readers take note of them.
Example: “One of the most effective ways to grow your network is through consistent engagement. Respond to comments, share valuable content, and be active daily.”

How to use italics on LinkedIn

Italicizing text adds a softer emphasis compared to bold text. It’s often used for nuanced elements such as quotes, phrases that require subtle emphasis, or foreign words. While italics don’t pop off the page the way bold text does, they play a critical role in giving your text a conversational or thoughtful tone.

When to use Italics

Here are some ways you can effectively incorporate italics in your LinkedIn posts:

Quoting someone: Italics are an excellent way to distinguish quotes from the rest of the text, making them stand out without being too forceful.
Example: “As Simon Sinek famously said, ‘People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.’”
Emphasizing thoughts or reflection: If you’re expressing a personal observation or reflection, italicizing that part can subtly differentiate it from the rest of your content.
Example: “I’ve found that consistency is the key to growing a LinkedIn audience—posting regularly, engaging with others, and always providing value.”
Highlighting names of works or publications: Italics are commonly used when mentioning the names of books, reports, or other formal documents.
Example: “You can learn more about this in The Lean Startup by Eric Ries.”

How to use underline on LinkedIn

Underlining is another useful way to draw attention to specific sections of your post. It helps emphasize on links and clearly communicate the content hierarchy of your post.

When should you underline text?

Here are some scenarios where underlining works well in LinkedIn posts:

Highlighting important takeaways: Underlining can signal the most important point of your message, drawing attention to it.
Example: “The most critical factor to consider when hiring is e͟x͟p͟e͟r͟i͟e͟n͟c͟e͟. It can make or break your team.”
Emphasizing links or calls to action: Underlining a link or a call-to-action helps guide readers toward the next step.
Example: “For more details, read our full report h͟e͟r͟e͟ - [link].”
Separating headings from content: Underlining headings or subheadings in longer posts helps break up the content, making it easier to skim.
Example: “How to improve LinkedIn engagement”

When to use uppercase and lowercase

The way you use uppercase and lowercase letters in your LinkedIn post can significantly impact how your message is perceived.

Uppercase: When to use it

Uppercase text can grab attention but often comes across as loud or aggressive. It’s the digital equivalent of shouting, so use it sparingly. That said, there are times when uppercase letters work well:

Titles and subheadings: If you’re structuring a long-form post, uppercase headings can help break up the content and make it more skimmable. However, it may still come across as “too bold”.
Example: “TOP 10 SEO TOOLS (2024)”
Short phrases to capture attention: If there’s a short, punchy phrase you want to highlight, uppercase text can emphasize its importance.
Example: “ACT NOW before the opportunity is gone!”

Lowercase: When to use It

Lowercase text, on the other hand, gives off a more relaxed and conversational tone. It’s generally easier to read in long blocks of text, and it conveys approachability. Consider using lowercase for:

Building rapport: Lowercase text can soften your message, making it feel more personal and less formal.
Example: “i’d love to hear your thoughts on this—drop a comment below!”
Casual, friendly tones: If your post is more lighthearted, lowercase can set the appropriate tone.
Example: “just a quick tip: always engage with comments on your posts to increase visibility.”

How to bold and italicize your text on LinkedIn with ContentRadar

If you are a frequent LinkedIn content creator, using tools like ContentRadar can significantly streamline your workflow. This tool allows you to format your text into bold and italics while drafting your post—no need to rely on third-party formatting generators or copy-pasting between multiple tools. Let’s explore the benefits and step-by-step process of using ContentRadar for your LinkedIn text formatting needs.

Draft your LinkedIn post on post editor

Select the text you want to format, choose the type of formatting you want from the options

After formatting, simply schedule for publishing!

Schedule publish from your account on LinkedIn

10 things to keep in mind when formatting your LinkedIn posts

Here are ten essential tips to ensure your LinkedIn text formatting is effective and engaging:

Use formatting sparingly: Don’t overwhelm your audience with too much bold or italic text. Stick to key points.
Balance visuals with text: If you’re using bold or italics, ensure they complement the accompanying visuals in your post.
Avoid formatting whole paragraphs: Focus on key words or phrases instead of bolding or italicizing entire sections.
Consider readability: Remember that LinkedIn is a professional network, so keep your formatting clean and easy to read.
Test different formatting combinations: Sometimes bold and italics can work together for more emphasis—use them wisely.
Keep mobile users in mind: Many LinkedIn users browse on mobile, so be mindful of how your formatting looks on smaller screens.
Use formatting for emphasis, not decoration: Each bold or italicized word should serve a purpose in your post.
Proofread your formatted text: Sometimes formatting can cause spacing issues, so always review before publishing.
Use third-party tools efficiently: Make sure to test the output of text generators before publishing to avoid formatting errors.
Formatting may impact algorithm crawling: Excessive third-party text formatting can hinder LinkedIn's algorithm from properly crawling and indexing your content.

Summary

While LinkedIn doesn’t offer built-in options for bolding, italicizing, or changing the case of text, third-party tools make it easy to format your posts for maximum impact. Thoughtful use of bold and italic text can help you emphasize key points, guide readers through your content, and ultimately make your posts more engaging and easier to digest.

By following the tips and examples outlined above, you’ll be able to create professional, attention-grabbing posts that stand out in the competitive world of LinkedIn content creation.