# When posting using mail, please use markdown

**URL:** <https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/when-posting-using-mail-please-use-markdown/241>\
**Category:** Discourse forum Feedback\
**Created:** [February 10, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/when-posting-using-mail-please-use-markdown/241 "2019-02-10T12:26:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jan](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/swi-prolog.discourse.group/jan/32/4_2.png) [@jan](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/u/jan)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/when-posting-using-mail-please-use-markdown/241/1 "2019-02-10T12:26:45Z")

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Notably those posting using mail, be aware that the forum handles your message as markdown. In most cases the result is not too bad even if you are not aware of this. It is wise to respect a few rules though:

- When using **code blocks** , enclose them using three backticks (```) or indent the block with 4 spaces. That way your formatting is maintained and is represented correctly. See: [Language highlighting](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/language-highlighting/2260) for examples.

- For **inline code** that contains markdown special characters, use one (`) or two(``) backticks to avoid e.g., (\*) from starting emphasized text.

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**Author:** ![Boris](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/swi-prolog.discourse.group/boris/32/7486_2.png) [@Boris](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/u/Boris)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 12:37pm UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/when-posting-using-mail-please-use-markdown/241/2 "2019-02-10T12:37:03Z")

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It is great how the markdown turned your signature into a code block 😉

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**Author:** ![pmoura](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/swi-prolog.discourse.group/pmoura/32/11_2.png) [@pmoura](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/u/pmoura)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 11:39am UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/when-posting-using-mail-please-use-markdown/241/3 "2019-02-12T11:39:48Z")

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> [@jan](#):
>
> - When using **code blocks** , enclose them using three backticks (```) or indent the block with 4 spaces. That way your formatting is maintained and is represented correctly.

The opening three backticks can also be followed by the name of the language for syntax highlighting. E.g. ` ```prolog` or ` ```shell`. Preventing syntax highlighting, e.g. when the code block is a top-level query where highlighting may not work as expected, can be done using ` ```text`.

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**Author:** ![jamesnvc](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/swi-prolog.discourse.group/jamesnvc/32/14_2.png) [@jamesnvc](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/u/jamesnvc)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 9:17pm UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/when-posting-using-mail-please-use-markdown/241/4 "2019-03-10T21:17:30Z")

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**Author:** ![jan](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/swi-prolog.discourse.group/jan/32/4_2.png) [@jan](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/u/jan)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/when-posting-using-mail-please-use-markdown/241/5 "2019-03-13T15:19:50Z")

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It doesn’t seem to do much useful with `prolog` though ☹