Input syntax reference
A reference for everything you can type to add formatting, links, dates and commands in the editor and input fields.
Applies to Web · Mac · iPhone app
This page collects the syntax that adds formatting, links, dates and commands in CommonNote just by typing. For how each feature works, follow the links in the tables.
Formatting syntax
At the start of a line
Type these at the start of an empty line; they convert as soon as you press the space.
| Type | Result |
|---|---|
# · ## · ### | Heading 1 · 2 · 3 |
- · * · + | Bulleted list |
1. | Numbered list. 3) starts the list at that number |
[ ] · [x] | Checklist item (a task) |
> | Quote |
--- · *** · ___ | Divider |
``` or ```python, then a space or Enter | Code block (optional language, syntax highlighting) |
$$$E=mc^2$$$ | Math block |
Inside text
| Type | Result |
|---|---|
**bold** · __bold__ | Bold |
*italic* · _italic_ | Italic |
~~strike~~ | Strikethrough |
`code` | Inline code |
==highlight== | Highlight |
$$E=mc^2$$ | Inline math (LaTeX) |
Automatic symbol replacements
| Type | Result | Type | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
-- | — | ... | … |
-> | → | <- | ← |
!= | ≠ | +/- | ± |
2x3 · 2*3 | 2×3 | ^2 · ^3 | ² · ³ |
(c) · (r) · (tm) | © · ® · ™ | << · >> | « · » |
Fractions such as 1/2 are deliberately not turned into ½, so dilution ratios stay intact. If you don’t want a replacement, press ⌘Z right away. Chemical subscripts (H2O shown as H₂O) are a separate, display-only feature — see Chemical subscripts and exceptions.
Input triggers
| Type | What it does | More |
|---|---|---|
/ | Block menu (headings, table, callouts, diagram, snippets and more). At the start of a line or after a space; keep typing to filter (/table) | The / menu |
[[ | Search your note titles and insert a note link (spaces allowed) | Note links |
@name | Mention someone who shares the note and notify them | @mentions |
#tag | Pick an existing tag or create a new one and add it to the note (no space after #; owner only — in a shared note just the text is added) | Tags |
;shortcut + space | Expand a saved snippet in place. Unknown shortcuts are left alone | Snippets |
@ dates and times
Write a due date with @ at the end of a checklist item, in quick add on To-dos, or in calendar quick add. Dates use Korea Standard Time. Both English and Korean expressions work.
| Kind | Examples |
|---|---|
| Relative days | @today @tdy @tomorrow @tmr @yesterday @in 3 days @in 2 weeks |
| Weekdays | @friday @next fri @this mon @weekend (Saturday) |
| Dates | @2026-10-03 @9/30 @9.30 @jul 30 |
| With a time | @tomorrow 3pm @9/30 5pm @friday 15:30 @3:30pm |
| Ranges | @9/30~10/2 @7/20~24 — join two dates with ~ |
| Korean | @오늘 @내일 @모레 @다음주 월 @월말 @월~금 @내일 3시 |
- A weekday on its own means the next one coming, including today. A past day of the month rolls over to next month; a past month/day more than six months back means next year.
- In Korean, an hour from 1 to 7 without 오전/오후 is read as afternoon (
3시→ 15:00). - In quick add, a date written in the text wins over the date you picked. A time on its own, such as
@3pm, attaches to the picked date.
Full rules are in Add due dates with @.
Other input fields
| Field | Examples | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Calendar quick add | Meeting @5pm · Conference ~7/24 | @time sets a time; ~date sets where a range ends |
| Time grid → alarm, typed time | 30 min 1h30m 2 hours later 3pm 15:30 | When the alarm rings. For another day, use the Korean words 내일 (tomorrow) or 모레 (the day after): 내일 9시 |
| Weekly timetable, one-line add | Data Structures Mon Wed 10:30-12:00 · Workout daily 07:00-08:00 | Name, days and time on one line. weekdays and weekends also work. Several lines at once; add with ⌘↩ |
Search syntax
⌘F (find in this note) and ⌘G (global search) have three search modes.
| Mode | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Literal text | PCR+temp | Finds the text exactly, spaces and + included |
| All terms (+) | PCR+temp | Results that contain both PCR and temp in the same item (in find-in-note, the same paragraph or cell, or the whole body) |
| Regex (.*) | PCR|ELISA · sample-\d+ | Type without /. Lookahead, lookbehind and backreferences aren’t supported |
Find in this note shows up to 500 matches, and there is no replace.
Paste rules
- Paste a bare URL on an empty line to get a bookmark card with its title, description and image.
- Paste cells copied from Excel or another spreadsheet (tab-separated) into a paragraph to get a table.
- Checklists pasted from UpNote, Apple Notes or Google Docs stay checklists.