LinkedIn Text Formatting Guide: Bold, Italic & Special Characters
LinkedIn doesn't give you a formatting toolbar for posts. No bold button, no italic, no headers. But you can still make your posts stand out using Unicode characters and a few clever tricks. This guide covers every formatting option available on LinkedIn in 2026 — from bold and italic text to bullet points, line breaks, and special symbols.
How to Bold Text on LinkedIn
LinkedIn posts don't support native bold formatting, but you can use Unicode bold characters that look bold on every device. Here's how:
- Go to FancyTextPaste LinkedIn Font Generator
- Type or paste your text in the input box
- Select the Bold or Bold Sans style
- Click the copy button
- Paste into your LinkedIn post
Example:
Regular: "5 tips for better networking"
Bold Unicode: "𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗽𝘀"
Unicode bold works because these are actual characters in the Unicode standard (Mathematical Bold letters), not formatting markup. They display correctly on every device and browser.
How to Italicize Text on LinkedIn
Just like bold, LinkedIn doesn't support native italic in posts. Use Unicode italic characters:
- Go to the LinkedIn Font Generator
- Type your text
- Select the Italic or Italic Sans style
- Copy and paste into LinkedIn
Italic text is perfect for quotes, emphasis, or book/article titles in your LinkedIn posts.
LinkedIn Formatting Cheat Sheet
| Formatting | How To Do It | Works In |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Unicode bold generator | Posts, comments, profile headline |
| Italic | Unicode italic generator | Posts, comments, profile headline |
| Bullet points | Copy • or – or use emojis | Posts, articles, comments |
| Line breaks | Press Enter/Return twice | Posts (single Enter also works) |
| Headers (articles only) | Built-in H1/H2 in article editor | Articles only (not posts) |
| Special symbols | Unicode symbol picker or copy-paste | Everywhere on LinkedIn |
| Strikethrough | Unicode strikethrough generator | Posts, comments |
Bullet Points for LinkedIn Posts
Bullet points make LinkedIn posts easier to scan. Since there's no built-in bullet feature for posts, use these characters:
| Symbol | Character | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| • | Bullet (standard) | Professional lists |
| – | En dash | Clean, minimal lists |
| ▶ | Triangle pointer | Action items |
| ✓ | Check mark | Achievement lists |
| ★ | Star | Highlights and key takeaways |
| ☞ | Pointing finger | CTAs and important points |
LinkedIn Post Formatting Best Practices
Well-formatted posts get more engagement. Here are the formatting rules top LinkedIn creators follow:
- Start with a bold hook — Your first line determines if people click "see more." Make it bold using Unicode.
- Use single-sentence paragraphs — Short paragraphs are easier to read on mobile (where 60%+ of LinkedIn users are).
- Add white space — Leave a blank line between each point. Walls of text get scrolled past.
- Use bullet points for lists of 3+ — Lists are scannable. Paragraphs are not.
- Bold key numbers and insights — If you share a stat like "47% increase," make it bold so it pops.
- End with a CTA or question — Posts that ask a question get 50%+ more comments.
LinkedIn Post Template (Formatted)
Here's a proven post structure using Unicode formatting:
I just learned something surprising about [topic].
Here's what most people get wrong:
• Point 1 (with specific detail or number)
• Point 2 (with specific detail or number)
• Point 3 (with specific detail or number)
The biggest takeaway?
[One bold, memorable sentence]
What's your experience with [topic]? Drop a comment below.
LinkedIn Profile Formatting Tips
You can use Unicode formatting in several parts of your LinkedIn profile:
- Headline: Add separators like | or • between specialties. Example: "Marketing Director | B2B SaaS | Growth Strategy"
- About section: Use Unicode bold for section headers and bullet points for key achievements
- Experience descriptions: Use bullet points and bold for metrics (e.g., "Grew revenue 47% in 12 months")
- Featured section: Bold titles in your featured posts and articles
What Formatting Works in LinkedIn Articles vs Posts
| Feature | LinkedIn Posts | LinkedIn Articles |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Unicode only | Native + Unicode |
| Italic | Unicode only | Native + Unicode |
| Headers (H1, H2) | Not supported | Supported |
| Bullet points | Unicode symbols only | Native bullet tool |
| Links | Paste URL (auto-preview) | Hyperlinks on text |
| Images | Attach up to 20 | Inline in content |
| Max length | 3,000 characters | ~110,000 characters |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I bold text on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn doesn't have a native bold button for posts. To create bold text, use a Unicode bold text generator. Type your text, select the bold style, copy it, and paste it into your LinkedIn post. The bold characters are Unicode symbols (Mathematical Bold alphabet) that display as bold on any device without any special formatting support from LinkedIn.
Can I use italic text on LinkedIn?
Yes, you can use italic text on LinkedIn using Unicode italic characters. LinkedIn doesn't have a built-in italic button for posts, but you can generate italic text using a font generator tool, then copy and paste it. The italic characters are part of the Unicode standard and display correctly on all devices and browsers.
Does LinkedIn support bullet points?
LinkedIn articles support bullet points natively through the rich text editor. However, LinkedIn posts (regular feed posts) do not have a bullet button. You can add bullet points manually by typing or pasting bullet characters like •, ▪, ▸, or ✓ at the start of each line. Many people also use emojis as visual bullet points for a more casual tone.
Will formatted text hurt my LinkedIn engagement?
No, formatted text generally increases LinkedIn engagement. Posts with bold headers, bullet points, and visual structure get more reads because they're easier to scan. LinkedIn's algorithm favors posts with higher dwell time (time spent reading), and well-formatted posts keep people reading longer. However, don't overdo it — use formatting to highlight key points, not to make every word bold or italic.
Does Unicode bold text affect LinkedIn SEO?
Unicode bold text doesn't negatively affect LinkedIn's internal search indexing. LinkedIn indexes the content of your posts regardless of formatting. However, keep in mind that Unicode characters may not be searchable by exact keyword match on some platforms, so use regular text for important keywords and save bold/italic formatting for emphasis and headers within your post.