Markdown Cheat Sheet

Every Markdown syntax em understands, including the Ghost Koenig cards.

Markdown is a writing syntax designed to get out of the way so you can focus on writing. em's implementation takes Markdown to the next level by adding customized support for Ghost's editor cards.

This document contains all of the Markdown formatting options available in em so you can learn the syntax and see what it looks like in the Reader.

You can access the Markdown selector by typing / in an em document so you don't have to remember any of this if you don't want to.

Headings

em supports up to six levels of headings:

Renders as

Heading 1

Heading 2 (After a Heading 1)

Heading 2 (Not after a Heading 1)

Heading 3

Heading 4

Heading 5
Heading 6

Markdown

# Heading 1
## Heading 2 (After a Heading 1)

## Heading 2 (Not after a Heading 1)
### Heading 3
#### Heading 4
##### Heading 5
###### Heading 6markdown

Notice that em has a special style when an H2 (##) immediately follows an H1 (#). It's very blog-coded for a reason.

Text Formatting

Renders as

em’s customized Markdown supports links[1], italics, bold, bold italics, strikethrough, highlights, inline code, #hashtags, and footnotes1.

1: Footnote Text.

Markdown

em’s customized Markdown supports [links](https://justincox.com/), *italics*, **bold**, ***bold italics***, ~~strikethrough~~, ==highlights==, `inline code`, #hashtags, and footnotes[^1].

[^1]: Footnote Text.markdown

Note: Ghost does not support strikethrough, highlights, or inline #hashtags.

Quotes

em supports block quotes and pull quotes:

Renders as

This is a block quote. It's typically used to highlight text someone else wrote that you're quoting or citing. Block quotes support links[1], italics, bold, bold italics, strikethrough, highlights, inline code, #hashtags, and footnotes1.

This is a pull quote. It's typically used to highlight text from somewhere else in the current document. Pull quotes support links[1], italics, bold, bold italics, strikethrough, highlights, inline code, #hashtags, and footnotes1.

Markdown

> This is a block quote. It's typically used to highlight text someone else wrote that you're quoting or citing.

>> This is a pull quote. It's typically used to highlight text from somewhere else in the current document.markdown

Lists

em supports both unordered and ordered list types:

Renders as

  • This is an unordered list item.
    • It's represented by a simple bullet.
      • You can change the bullet styles in em's Settings.
    • Unordered list items support links[1], italics, bold, bold italics, strikethrough, highlights, inline code, #hashtags, and footnotes1.
  1. This is an ordered list item.
    1. It's represented by a number or letter.
      1. You can change the style in em's Settings.
    2. Ordered list items support links[1], italics, bold, bold italics, strikethrough, highlights, inline code, #hashtags, and footnotes1.

Markdown

- This is an unordered list item.
  - It's represented by a simple bullet.
    - You can change the bullet styles in em's Settings.
  - Unordered list items support [links](https://justincox.com/).

1. This is an ordered list item.
  2. It's represented by a number or letter.
    3. You can change the style in em's Settings.
  3. Ordered list items support [links](https://justincox.com/).markdown

em also supports tasks (though, they Ghost does not). Pro tip: you can check and uncheck tasks in the Reader and they update the Markdown in the Editor!

Renders as

  • A task waiting to be completed
  • A completed task

Markdown

- [ ] A task waiting to be completed
- [x] A completed taskmarkdown

Tables

em supports tables with alignment formatting:

Renders as

HeaderHeaderHeader
Left Aligned ContentCenter Aligned ContentRight Aligned Content
ContentContentContent

Markdown

| Header | Header | Header |
| :--- | :----: | ---: |
| Left Aligned Content | Center Aligned Content | Right Aligned Content |
| Content | Content | Content |markdown

Dividers

em supports two versions of dividers that both render the same way:

Renders as

Markdown

***
---markdown

Code Blocks

em supports dedicated code bocks and highlights syntax for certain code formats. Spoiler alert, you’ve been looking at a lot of Markdown code blocks in this document so far!

Renders as

enum PreviewTypographyDefaults {
    static let contentMaxColumns = 70
    static let firstLineIndent: CGFloat = 0
    static let lineHeightMultiple = 1.0
    static let paragraphSpacing: CGFloat = 14
}swift

Markdown

```swift
enum PreviewTypographyDefaults {
    static let contentMaxColumns = 70
    static let firstLineIndent: CGFloat = 0
    static let lineHeightMultiple = 1.0
    static let paragraphSpacing: CGFloat = 14
}
```markdown

em also supports HTML blocks which embed HTML into the page when synced to Ghost. In em, these look like typical code blocks.

Renders as

<div>This is raw HTML content</div>HTML

Markdown

:::html
<div>This is raw HTML content</div>
:::markdown

Images

em supports image and galleries. Note that the Load External Content setting must be turned on in em's Reader Settings or remote images will not display. em is always thinking about your privacy.

Renders as

A small house on a green hillside above still water
Image Caption (TSD Studio / Unsplash)

Markdown

![Image Caption (TSD Studio / Unsplash)](https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_photo-1785104547207-797a73e17e54)markdown

Wide image width:

Renders as

A wide landscape
Wide Width Image Caption (martin bennie / Unsplash)

Markdown

:::image
source: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1776695799247-b15851a1aa2d
caption: Wide Width Image Caption (martin bennie / Unsplash)
width: wide
:::markdown

Full image width:

Renders as

An observatory on a hill at dusk
Full Width Image Caption (Venti Views / Unsplash)

Markdown

:::image
source: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1766548729668-30bd92a37856
caption: Full Width Image Caption (Venti Views / Unsplash)
width: full
:::markdown

Image gallery:

Renders as

Fellipe Ditadi Benjamin Taman T Rafael Peier Sara Canonici Kestner Brae (KB) De Vera
Image Gallery (Fellipe Ditadi, Benjamin Taman, T, Rafael Peier, Sara Canonici, and Kestner Brae (KB) De Vera / Unsplash)

Markdown

:::gallery
sources: https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_photo-1784809463929-68bb69503357, https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_photo-1786551854346-c47b56c64156, …
alts: Fellipe Ditadi, Benjamin Taman, T, Rafael Peier, Sara Canonici, and Kestner Brae (KB) De Vera
caption: Image Gallery (… / Unsplash)
width: wide
:::markdown

Media

em also supports multiple file types, including video:

Renders as

Open in Browser
Video Caption

Markdown

:::ghost-card embed
title: Maarva's Message
url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaKrm5txGCQ
caption: Video Caption
:::markdown

Audio:

Renders as

Nemik's Manifesto

Markdown

:::audio
url: https://soundcloud.com/noshuniverse/nemiks-manifesto-freestyle-1
title: Nemik's Manifesto
:::markdown

and literal files:

Renders as

Write Now Worksheets

Markdown

:::file
url: https://justincox.com/content/files/2023/05/worksheets.pdf
title: Write Now Worksheets
:::markdown

Callouts

em supports callouts to really get your point across! Each one can support an emoji or not, it's up to you.

Renders as

😂Blue is a sad color, but it doesn't have to be!
It should go without saying, but green is the best color.
👤Callouts support any HEX color code, links, italics, bold, and bold italics in Ghost. In addition, em also supports strikethrough, highlights, inline code, #hashtags, and footnotes1 in callouts.
⚠️Callouts also make great warnings in your documents.

Markdown

:::ghost-card callout
emoji: 😂
color: #007AFF
Blue is a sad color, but it doesn't have to be!
:::

:::ghost-card callout
color: #4E7C61
It should go without saying, but green is the best color.
:::

:::ghost-card callout
emoji: 👤
color: #FFCC00
Callouts support any HEX color code, [links](https://justincox.com/), *italics*, **bold**, and ***bold italics*** in Ghost. In addition, em also supports ~~strikethrough~~, ==highlights==, `inline code`, #hashtags, and footnotes[^1] in callouts.
:::

:::ghost-card callout
emoji: ⚠️
color: #FF3B30
Callouts also make great warnings in your documents.
:::markdown

Interactive Blocks

em supports multiple interactive elements that render well on a connected Ghost site.

Buttons:

Renders as

I'm a Button!

Markdown

:::button
title: I'm a Button!
url: https://justincox.com/
alignment: center
:::markdown

Toggles:

Renders as

Toggle Card
Make text unfold when clicked!

Markdown

:::toggle
title: Toggle Card
Make text unfold when clicked!
:::markdown

Bookmarks:

Renders as

Justin Cox
Justin Cox is a Star Wars-loving, word-writing, nonprofit educator in Orlando, FL. He also runs The Writing Cooperative on Medium. Come say hello! 👋🏼
Justin Cox

Markdown

:::bookmark
url: https://justincox.com/
title: Justin Cox
description: Justin Cox is a Star Wars-loving, word-writing, nonprofit educator in Orlando, FL.
thumbnail: https://justincox.com/content/images/size/w256h256/format/jpeg/2023/12/IMG_1460-1.JPG
caption: Bookmark Caption
:::markdown

Header:

Renders as

Check out This Just In
That's Justin's Somewhat Regular Newsletter
Read

Markdown

:::header
style: dark
alignment: left
title: Check out This Just In
subtitle: That's Justin's Somewhat Regular Newsletter
url: https://justincox.com/
button: Read
:::markdown

Products:

Renders as

Write Now, by Justin Cox
Buy My Book! ★★★★☆
I wrote a book on writing. It's pretty meta.
Buy My Book

Markdown

:::product
title: Buy My Book!
description: I wrote a book on writing. It's pretty meta.
image: https://justincox.com/content/images/2025/07/Cover---Front.png
rating: 4
url: https://justincox.com/book/
button: Buy My Book
:::markdown

Ghost Membership and Newsletter Formats

em supports multiple features that are specific to Ghost emails or membership content, including email-only content:

Renders as

Hey {first_name, "there"}, Email Only

Markdown

:::email
Hey `{first_name, "there"}`,
:::markdown

Paywall dividers:

Renders as

Public Preview Ends

Markdown

:::paywall
:::markdown

Email-Only CTA:

Renders as

Thanks for reading, {first_name, "friend"}!

Enjoyed this post? Leave a one-time tip to help fund more writing like this. And let me know what you think by hitting reply.

Leave a Tip
Email Only

Markdown

:::email-cta
segment: free
alignment: left
showButton: true
showDividers: true
button: Leave a Tip
buttonUrl: https://tip.justincox.com/
Thanks for reading, {first_name, "friend"}!

Enjoyed this post? Leave a one-time tip to help fund more writing like this.
:::markdown

Universal CTA:

Renders as

Thanks for reading this post. Consider supporting the writer.

Leave a Tip

Markdown

:::cta
layout: immersive
color: accent
alignment: center
showButton: true
showDividers: true
sponsor: true
buttonText: Leave a Tip
buttonUrl: https://tip.justincox.com/
buttonColor: #000000
buttonTextColor: #ffffff
linkColor: text
webAnonymous: true
webFree: true
webPaid: true
emailFree: true
emailPaid: true
Thanks for reading this post. Consider supporting the writer.
:::markdown