Blockquotes in Markdown
Start a line with > to quote it: > quoted text. This guide covers quotes of several paragraphs, nested quotes, other Markdown inside a quote, and the extra quote types some apps add.
Quick answer
How do you write a quote in Markdown?
Start the line with > and a space: > quoted text. It becomes a <blockquote> element in HTML, usually shown indented with a bar on the left. Put > at the start of every line of the quote, including the blank lines between its paragraphs.
> Ship small changes often.
> Each one is easier to review.Result
Ship small changes often. Each one is easier to review.
Blockquote syntax and examples
A quote can hold anything a document can: paragraphs, lists, code and even other quotes.
Several paragraphs
Put a lone > on the blank line between paragraphs so they stay in one quote.
> The first paragraph of the quote.
>
> The second paragraph, still inside it.Result
The first paragraph of the quote.
The second paragraph, still inside it.
Nested quotes
Each extra > goes one level deeper, as in an email thread.
> Can we release on Friday?
>
>> Only if the tests pass.
>>
>>> They pass.Result
Can we release on Friday?
Only if the tests pass.
They pass.
Other Markdown inside
Headings, lists, bold text and code all work inside a quote.
> ### Release notes
>
> - **Faster** start-up
> - A new `--quiet` flagResult
Release notes
- Faster start-up
- A new
--quietflag
Ending a quote
A line without > right after a quote still belongs to it. Leave a blank line to end the quote.
> This line is quoted
and so is this one.
This paragraph is not.Result
This line is quoted and so is this one.
This paragraph is not.
GitHub alerts
GitHub turns a quote whose first line is [!NOTE], [!TIP], [!IMPORTANT], [!WARNING] or [!CAUTION] into a colored box with an icon. Other renderers show an ordinary quote.
> [!NOTE]
> Useful information that readers should know.
> [!WARNING]
> Urgent information that needs attention.GitHub only. Other Markdown apps display this differently, so there is no preview.
Obsidian callouts
Obsidian does the same with any type name and an optional title. A - after the type folds the callout.
> [!tip] Keyboard shortcut
> Press Ctrl+P to open the command palette.
> [!faq]- Can I fold a callout?
> Yes, it starts folded.Obsidian only. Other Markdown apps display this differently, so there is no preview.
Quotes in popular apps
The > quote works almost everywhere. Chat apps and Notion add their own rules.
| App | Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub / GitLab | Supported | Quotes work in files, issues and comments. GitHub adds alerts such as > [!NOTE]. |
| Discord | Differs | > quotes one line; >>> quotes the rest of the message. |
| Slack | Supported | > at the start of a line quotes it. |
| Obsidian | Supported | Quotes work, and > [!note] makes a callout. |
| Notion | Differs | Typing " and a space makes a quote; > and a space makes a toggle. |
| Supported | > quotes work, nested ones too. |
Questions and answers
How do I make a quote of several lines?
>. For several paragraphs, put a lone > on the blank lines between them so the quote does not end.How do I end a blockquote?
> directly below a quote is still part of the quote.Can I nest blockquotes?
> per level: >> is a quote inside a quote.How do I add who said it?
> — Ada Lovelace, or use the HTML <cite> tag where HTML is allowed.What are GitHub alerts?
[!NOTE], [!TIP], [!IMPORTANT], [!WARNING] or [!CAUTION]. GitHub shows them as colored boxes with an icon; other renderers show an ordinary quote.How do I quote in Discord?
> and a space to quote one line, or >>> and a space to quote everything after it in the message.How do I make a callout in Obsidian?
> [!tip] Title. Add - after the type, as in > [!tip]-, to fold it.How do I put a quote inside a list item?
> to line up with the item's text: a line - Item followed by > quoted text.