Adjusting Font Size in Markdown

Markdown doesn't support font size changes directly, but you can use HTML tags, inline CSS, or CSS classes to adjust text size and improve readability. Check specific platform documentation for details.

Adjusting Font Size in Markdown

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Markdown is a simple and widely-used markup language for formatting text. It is designed to be easy to read and write, but one area where Markdown doesn't provide direct support is font size adjustment. However, there are several ways you can work around this limitation, especially when using platforms that support Markdown with additional styling options, such as HTML or CSS.

Using HTML Tags

One straightforward way to change the font size in Markdown is to use HTML tags, which Markdown supports natively in many platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Jekyll.

Example

<p style="font-size: 12px;">This is a small font size.</p>
<p style="font-size: 16px;">This is a medium font size.</p>
<p style="font-size: 24px;">This is a large font size.</p>

This method is simple and effective, and it allows you to specify precise font sizes using CSS styles.

Using Inline CSS

Another method is to use inline CSS within your Markdown document. This approach is particularly useful for platforms that allow embedding CSS.

Example

<span style="font-size: 12px;">This is a small font size.</span>
<span style="font-size: 16px;">This is a medium font size.</span>
<span style="font-size: 24px;">This is a large font size.</span>

Like the HTML method, inline CSS provides precise control over your text appearance.

Using CSS Classes

If you have more control over the environment where the Markdown is rendered, such as in a static site generator like Jekyll or an extended Markdown editor, you can define CSS classes in a style sheet and apply them within your Markdown:

Example

Define the CSS classes in an external or embedded stylesheet:

.small-font {
    font-size: 12px;
}
.medium-font {
    font-size: 16px;
}
.large-font {
    font-size: 24px;
}

Then apply these classes in your Markdown:

<span class="small-font">This is a small font size.</span>
<span class="medium-font">This is a medium font size.</span>
<span class="large-font">This is a large font size.</span>

Conclusion

While Markdown itself does not offer direct syntax for adjusting font sizes, leveraging HTML and CSS within Markdown can effectively achieve the desired font sizing. Whether you choose inline styles or external stylesheets, integrating these methods can enhance the readability and visual hierarchy of your Markdown documents.


This article should give you a comprehensive understanding of how to manage font sizes in Markdown using various methods. For specific platforms, make sure to check their documentation for any unique instructions or limitations.