How to make italic text in Telegram

Italic text in Telegram can be created using three methods: wrapping text in single underscores (_text_), using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+I (or Cmd+I on Mac), or selecting text and choosing "Italic" from the formatting menu. Italic formatting works across all Telegram platforms — mobile, desktop, and web — and is one of the most versatile styling options for adding emphasis, citing sources, or distinguishing certain types of content in your messages and channel posts.

Understanding Italic Formatting in Telegram

Telegram supports rich text formatting that goes well beyond plain text. Among all formatting options — bold, strikethrough, monospace, underline, and spoiler — italic is arguably the most widely used for adding subtle emphasis without overwhelming the reader.

Unlike bold text, which commands immediate attention, italic text gently draws the eye. It's the preferred choice for book titles, foreign words, internal thoughts, and soft emphasis. Telegram's implementation of italic formatting is consistent with standard typographic conventions, making it intuitive for anyone who has used word processors or other messaging platforms.

Where Italic Formatting Works

Italic text renders correctly in:

  • Private chats and group messages
  • Channel posts (including scheduled posts)
  • Bot messages (using HTML or Markdown parse modes)
  • Media captions (photos, videos, documents)
  • Channel bio and description (with some limitations)
  • Inline query results sent by bots

Note: Italic formatting does NOT work in channel names, usernames, or poll options. These fields accept only plain text.

Three Methods to Create Italic Text

Method 1: Markdown-Style Underscores

The quickest way to italicize text is to wrap it in single underscores:

_This text will appear in italic_

Result: This text will appear in italic

This method works on all platforms — Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Telegram Web. Simply type an underscore before and after the word or phrase you want to italicize, and Telegram will automatically convert it when the message is sent.

Important details:

  • The underscores must be directly adjacent to the text — no spaces between the underscore and the first/last character
  • _correct_ works, but _ incorrect _ does not
  • You can italicize a single word (_word_) or an entire sentence (_This whole sentence is italic_)
  • Underscores within words (like some_variable_name) will NOT trigger formatting — Telegram is smart enough to distinguish between formatting markers and natural underscore usage in most cases

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcuts

For desktop users, keyboard shortcuts are often the fastest approach:

Platform Shortcut Windows / Linux Ctrl + I macOS Cmd + I Telegram Web Ctrl + I / Cmd + I

How to use:

  1. Type your message in the input field
  2. Select the text you want to italicize (click and drag, or Shift + Arrow keys)
  3. Press the appropriate shortcut
  4. The selected text will appear italicized in the input field before you send

This method gives you a live preview of the formatting, which is especially helpful when combining multiple styles (e.g., bold italic).

Method 3: Context Menu / Formatting Bar

On both mobile and desktop, you can use the built-in formatting menu:

On Android:

  1. Type your text in the message field
  2. Long-press to select the text you want to format
  3. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the selection toolbar
  4. Choose "Italic" from the formatting options

On iOS:

  1. Type your text in the message field
  2. Tap and hold to select text
  3. Tap "BIU" in the selection popup
  4. Select "Italic"

On Desktop (Windows/macOS/Linux):

  1. Type your text
  2. Select it with your mouse
  3. Right-click the selected text
  4. Navigate to "Formatting" in the context menu
  5. Click "Italic"

Combining Italic with Other Formatting

Telegram allows you to stack multiple formatting styles on the same text. Here are the most useful combinations:

Bold + Italic

___bold and italic___

Or use three underscores. On desktop, select text, then press Ctrl+B followed by Ctrl+I.

Italic + Strikethrough

Select text, apply italic first via Ctrl+I, then apply strikethrough via the formatting menu. There is no single Markdown shortcut for this combination.

Italic + Hyperlink

You can make a hyperlink italic by first creating the link, then applying italic formatting to the linked text using the context menu. This is particularly useful for citing article titles in channel posts.

Italic + Spoiler

Apply italic formatting first, then wrap the text with spoiler formatting. The italic styling will be visible once the reader taps to reveal the spoiler.

Using Italic in Channel Posts and Bots

For Channel Administrators

When composing channel posts, italic text is invaluable for:

  • Source attribution: "According to The Wall Street Journal..."
  • Editorial commentary: Adding your perspective in italics to distinguish it from quoted material
  • Foreign terms and technical jargon: Introducing new terms like machine learning or zeitgeist
  • Captions and subheadings: Using italic as a visual separator in longer posts

If you manage a Telegram channel and publish its content to the web through services like tgchannel.space, italic formatting is preserved in the HTML output as <em> tags. This means your carefully formatted posts maintain their styling across both Telegram and the web version of your blog.

For Bot Developers

When sending messages via the Telegram Bot API, you can apply italic formatting using two parse modes:

HTML mode:

bot.send_message(chat_id: id, text: "<i>italic text</i>", parse_mode: "HTML")

MarkdownV2 mode:

bot.send_message(chat_id: id, text: "_italic text_", parse_mode: "MarkdownV2")

Important: In MarkdownV2, you must escape special characters like ., !, (, ), -, and others with a backslash. For example: _italic text with a period\._

Tips & Best Practices

  • Use italic for emphasis sparingly. If everything is emphasized, nothing stands out. Reserve italic for genuinely important words or phrases — typically no more than 1-2 italic passages per paragraph.

  • Prefer italic over ALL CAPS. Writing in capitals feels like shouting. Italic text conveys emphasis in a more refined, reader-friendly way. Compare: "This is VERY important" vs. "This is very important."

  • Use italic for titles and names. Following standard editorial conventions, use italic for book titles (War and Peace), film names (Inception), and publication titles (The New York Times). This adds a professional polish to your channel posts.

  • Preview before sending in channels. For public channel posts, always use the formatting preview (available on desktop) to verify your italic text renders correctly. A misplaced underscore can break the formatting entirely.

  • Combine with bold for maximum impact. When you need strong emphasis, bold italic (like this) is more effective than either style alone. Use it for critical warnings, key takeaways, or headlines within longer posts.

  • Keep italic readable in long passages. Extended blocks of italic text become harder to read. If you need to italicize more than two sentences, consider using a blockquote or a different visual treatment instead.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Adding spaces between underscores and text
Why it's wrong: _ this won't work _ — Telegram requires underscores to be directly adjacent to the text with no leading or trailing spaces.
How to avoid: Always type _text_ with the underscores touching the first and last characters.

Mistake 2: Forgetting to close the formatting
Why it's wrong: Typing _started italic but forgot to close will send the underscores as literal characters, looking unprofessional — especially in a public channel with thousands of subscribers.
How to avoid: Always match your opening underscore with a closing one. On desktop, use Ctrl+I instead, which automatically applies formatting to selected text.

Mistake 3: Using asterisks instead of underscores
Why it's wrong: In Telegram, single asterisks (*text*) create bold text, not italic. This is the opposite of standard Markdown conventions used on platforms like Reddit or GitHub.
How to avoid: Remember the Telegram-specific rule: *text* = bold, _text_ = italic.

Mistake 4: Attempting italic in unsupported fields
Why it's wrong: Trying to use _italic_ in a channel name, username field, or poll option will just display the raw underscores, since these fields don't support rich formatting.
How to avoid: Only use formatting in message bodies, captions, and bot content where Telegram's rich text engine is active.

Mistake 5: Mixing parse modes in bot messages
Why it's wrong: Using <i>text</i> with parse_mode: "MarkdownV2" (or _text_ with parse_mode: "HTML") will not render formatting and may cause API errors.
How to avoid: Choose one parse mode per message and use the corresponding syntax consistently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use italic in Telegram group chats?
Yes, italic formatting works in all chat types — private conversations, group chats, supergroups, and channels. All three methods (underscores, keyboard shortcuts, and the context menu) work in every chat context.

Does italic formatting appear in Telegram notifications?
No. Push notifications and notification previews display plain text only. The italic formatting will be visible when the recipient opens the chat and reads the full message.

Can I make italic text in Telegram on iPhone without the menu?
Yes. You can type underscores manually (_your text_) on iOS just as you would on any other platform. However, many iPhone users find the "BIU" selection menu faster since iOS makes text selection straightforward with tap-and-hold.

Is italic preserved when forwarding messages?
Yes. When you forward a message that contains italic text, the formatting is fully preserved in the forwarded copy. The same applies to copying and pasting — italic styling carries over within Telegram.

How do I remove italic formatting from text I've already typed?
Select the italicized text and press Ctrl+I (or Cmd+I) again to toggle the formatting off. On mobile, select the text, open the formatting menu, and tap "Italic" again to remove it. You can also choose the "Plain Text" option from the formatting menu to strip all formatting at once.