About Markdown Blockquotes

Blockquotes are used to highlight quoted text, important notes, or to visually separate content sections in markdown documents.

Basic Blockquote Syntax

Use the greater-than symbol (>) at the start of each line:

> This is a blockquote.
> It can span multiple lines.

Multi-Paragraph Blockquotes

Add > on blank lines between paragraphs:

> First paragraph in the quote.
>
> Second paragraph in the quote.

Nested Blockquotes

Use multiple > symbols for nesting:

> Level 1 quote
>> Level 2 nested quote
>>> Level 3 deeply nested quote
>
> Back to level 1

Blockquotes with Other Elements

You can include other markdown formatting within blockquotes:

> ### Heading in Quote
>
> Paragraph with **bold** and *italic* text.
>
> - List item 1
> - List item 2
>
> Code: `inline code`

GitHub Callouts/Alerts

GitHub supports special callout syntax (preview feature):

> [!NOTE]
> Useful information that users should know.

> [!TIP]
> Helpful advice for doing things better.

> [!IMPORTANT]
> Key information users need to know.

> [!WARNING]
> Urgent info that needs immediate attention.

> [!CAUTION]
> Advises about risks or negative outcomes.

Blockquote Best Practices

• Quotations: Use for actual quotes from sources
• Emphasis: Highlight important information
• Callouts: Draw attention to notes, warnings, tips
• Attribution: Include source/author when quoting
• Context: Provide context before or after quote

Citation/Attribution

Add attribution after the quote:

> The only way to do great work is to love what you do.
>
> — Steve Jobs

Styling Tips

• Use em dash (—) for attribution, not hyphen (-)
• Keep quotes concise and relevant
• Ensure proper citation to avoid plagiarism
• Use blank lines to separate quote from regular text

Common Use Cases

• Documentation: Notes, warnings, important info
• Blog posts: Pull quotes, expert opinions
• README files: Highlights, announcements
• Tutorials: Pro tips, cautions
• Reviews: User testimonials

Accessibility

Blockquotes improve accessibility by:

• Semantically marking quoted content
• Visual distinction aids scanning
• Screen readers announce quoted text
• Clear attribution shows credibility

Platform Support

• GitHub/GitLab: Full support including callouts
• Reddit: Basic blockquotes with >
• Stack Overflow: Supports nesting
• Static Sites: Jekyll, Hugo, MkDocs all support
• Note Apps: Obsidian, Notion, Typora