Huge announcement for lovers of Android formatting: WhatsApp will soon support quotations, bullet points, and number lists.
Until today, communications that needed a little more layout love than a standard message—like a list of ideas for birthday presents or a catchy quote to win an argument—had to settle for clumsy handmade formatting for non-Apple users.
Meanwhile, over on iOS, iPhone owners have been littering their messages with funky formatting for weeks.
But *finally* WhatsApp is rolling out new formatting options in its Android beta platform, meaning it should hopefully soon follow for all.
That is:
- Excellent news
- About time
Lists will no doubt prove very popular, either in number or bullet point format, which look set to be simple and intuitive if iOS is anything to go by.
The quote block will also be very handy for replying to a specific part of a previous message without highlighting the whole block as has previously been the case.
And if you use it for work (we’re looking at you, Downing Street) it will also help keep professional messages clear and tidy.
In addition, WhatsApp has added a code block, very nifty for software engineers and programmers.
News of the new release was broken by WABetaInfo, a website dedicated to the latest updates and goings on around the popular app.
Writing on the site, the team said: ‘In our opinion, WhatsApp decided to release new text formatting tools to improve the user experience when sharing messages. These efforts aim to offer users simpler and more effective ways to format their messages, enhancing the overall efficiency of communication on WhatsApp, whether for casual conversations or professional discussions.
How to create a code block in WhatsApp
This one requires a nifty shortcut.
To create a code block you simply need to put whatever you’re writing in backtick characters – basically backwards quote marks. To find them, press and hold the quote mark key, then select the backtick.
Make sure this at the start and end of the words you want in the code block and `voilà`!
‘In fact, we think that offering these formatting options also elevates the professionalism of the platform: users can effectively communicate technical details or complex information with precision.
‘However, it’s important to note that these formatting tools also cater to a wide range of users, not just technical professionals.’
How to create lists and quotes in WhatsApp
- To start a bullet point list, simply type either an asterisk (*), dash (-), hit space, and start typing. WhatsApp will then automatically start formatting the list.
- To add another entry, hit return and keep typing.
- To end the list, hit return twice.
- For a numbered list, type 1. and space, then start typing. WhatsApp will again start formatting the list.
- Hit return to add the second entry and so on. Hit return twice to end the list.
- For a quote block, use the ‘greater-than’ arrow symbol (>), hit space, and type your quote.
- To end the quote, hit return.
