More option is always better, especially when it comes to communication.
WhatsApp is the world's most famous messaging app in terms of number of users, and that it has always been a platform for a straightforward communicating app without too much gimmick.
To make texts more appealing and customizable to different needs, the messaging app has been offering text formatting for quite a while.
They include bold, italic, strikethrough, and monospace formats that were already available to all WhatsApp users.
This time, WhatsApp adds four more.
The four new formatting options WhatsApp introduces, include:
- Bulleted lists: Users can finally add bullet points to messages to break information into things like shopping lists. Just place a “-” symbol at the start of your text, followed by a space.
- Numbered lists: Another listing format, only with numbers, should come in handy while writing something down in a specific order, like instructions. To use this format, add one or two digits, followed by a period and a full space — like, for example, “1. ”
- Block quotes: Users can block quote text to highlight it and make it stand out in longer messages. Type the “>” symbol followed by a space before the text.
- Inline code: A format that is most-often used by programmers and coders, but also a good way to highlight specific information. To use it, just wrap the text with the “`” symbol.
These new formatting options have been in development for a while, but now they’re available on WhatsApp for Android, iOS, Web, and Mac, alongside support for Channels.
WhatsApp has updated its dedicated frequently asked question page on its website, to add these new options.
new text formatting shortcuts have entered the chat pic.twitter.com/nwNXzN4qZt
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) February 21, 2024
With a diverse community and billions of users, WhatsApp know that it needs to carter with their different needs.
Text formatting plays a crucial role in enhancing readership and improving the understandability of content and its context. This is why they affect how recipient of messages comprehend the intention of the sender.
Because communication is key, more options in formatting should make a difference.
In all, the new formats should add more ways for users to present their content, other than the boring plaintext.
The addition should help WhatsApp users communicate more effectively.