Messages: Markdown first
Discord formats messages with Markdown:
| You type | You get |
|---|---|
**bold** |
bold |
*italics* |
italics |
__underline__ |
underline |
~~strike~~ |
strikethrough |
That formatting is better than Unicode styles for normal chat, because the words stay ordinary text that people can search and screen readers read normally. Use Unicode styles in a message only for a look Markdown cannot make, such as blackletter or small caps, and keep it to a word or two.
Styles that work well for Discord names
- Bold Sans matches Discordโs clean interface and stays readable in member lists.
- Bold Fraktur is a favorite for gaming and roleplay servers.
- Small Caps fits role names and quiet nicknames.
- Monospace suits developer and bot-themed names.
Avoid heavy glitch text in names. It can overlap other names in the member list, and server moderators may remove it.
Make sure people can mention you
When someone types @ to mention you, they type plain letters. A fully styled name can be harder to find in the mention list. Keeping part of your display name plain helps people reach you.