# Write in the note editor > Type, use the slash menu and the formatting bar, and move blocks around. How the Prior note editor works, with its Markdown shortcuts and keys. Source: https://priortasks.com/docs/notes/note-editor/ Last updated: 2026-11-05 A note is always shown formatted, and you edit it where it is. Click any block and it turns into its Markdown text so you can change it; click away and it is formatted again. There is no separate edit mode and no preview. ## Start a block with the slash menu Type / at the start of a line, or after a space. A menu lists the blocks. Keep typing to narrow it down, use the arrow keys, then press Enter or Tab. Esc closes it. The menu offers: **Heading 1**, **Heading 2**, **Heading 3**, **Bullet list**, **Numbered list**, **Task list**, **Quote**, **Code block**, **Divider**, **Link to note**, **Math**, **Tag**, **Table**, **Chart**, **Pie chart**, **Callout**, **Tip**, **Warning**, **Toggle**, **Diagram**, **Table of contents** and **Today's date**. The bar above the note has shortcuts for **Table**, **Chart**, **Pie chart**, **Callout** and **Toggle**. Viewers of a shared note do not see it. ## Type Markdown Notes are stored as Markdown, so you can type the marks yourself: | You type | You get | | --- | --- | | `# `, `## `, `### ` at the start of a line | A heading (up to six levels) | | `- ` or `* ` | A bullet list | | `1. ` | A numbered list | | `- [ ] ` | A checklist item. Click its box to tick it. | | `> ` | A quote | | `---` | A divider | | `**bold**`, `*italic*`, `~~strike~~` | Bold, italic, strikethrough | | `==highlight==` | A highlight | | `[text]{.red}`, `[text]{.bg-green}` | Colored text, or a colored highlight | | `[label](https://example.com)` | A link | | `[[Note title]]` | A link to another note of yours. It opens the note, or creates it when it does not exist. | | `#tag` | A tag. Click it to search for it. | | `$E = mc^2$` | Math, written in LaTeX. Use `$$ ... $$` on one line for display math. | The colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink and gray. Words between single backticks become inline code. Code goes in a block that starts with three backticks and a language name. A block that starts with three backticks and `mermaid` draws a diagram from its text. If a diagram or a formula cannot be drawn, the note keeps your text and shows a short message. ## Format selected words Select words and a small bar appears: **Bold**, **Italic**, **Strikethrough**, **Code**, **Highlight**, **Colors** (text or background), **Link** and **Ask AI**. Cmd+B and Cmd+I (Ctrl on Windows and Linux) work too. Paste a web address over selected words to turn them into a link. Paste cells copied from a spreadsheet to get a [table](https://priortasks.com/docs/notes/tables/). ## Move through blocks - Enter splits the block at the caret and continues a list or a quote. On an empty list item it moves the item out, then ends the list. - Shift+Enter adds a line break inside the block. - Tab and Shift+Tab indent and outdent list items. - Backspace at the start of a block removes its mark (heading, bullet, quote), then joins it to the block above. - The arrow keys move to the next or previous block at the edges of the text. - Esc stops editing. - Cmd+Z undoes, Cmd+Shift+Z redoes (Ctrl+Z and Ctrl+Y on Windows and Linux). ## Use the block handle Point at a block and two buttons appear on its left. **+** adds a block below and opens the slash menu. The grip drags the block to a new place; click it for **Turn into**, **Duplicate**, **Move up**, **Move down**, **Create a task from this**, **Ask Prior AI about this** and **Delete**. A deleted block can be brought back with Undo. ## Good to know - The Markdown you type is what is saved. The editor does not rewrite your text into another format. - An empty note shows templates to start from. See [Start a note from a template](https://priortasks.com/docs/notes/note-templates/). - Links between notes work in your own notes. In a [shared note](https://priortasks.com/docs/notes/shared-notes/) they do not open another note.