Boldface
Boldface text is commonly used, but is appropriate only for specific usages. To create it, surround the text with **two asterisks**.
When bold text can or should be used:
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Usually: For the first occurrence of an article title or synonym / core concept on a page.
Advanced system administrators may consider setting up their own email server. Mail servers require attention and […]
Being well-informed about the data protection regulations in your own jurisdiction can be a significant asset […]
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Usually: For significant alternative titles of a page.
A custom Android distribution (sometimes referred to as a custom ROM) can be a way to achieve a higher level of privacy and security on your device.
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Always: For product names inside a recommendation card.
Mailcow is an advanced mail server perfect for those with Linux experience. It has everything you need in a Docker container […]
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Sometimes: Similarly to titles, for section titles or core concepts (once per section, usually in the first paragraph under a subheading). This should only be done if the section is clearly about a single, particular topic that is different from the article’s overall topic.
[…]
Where is the data subject
For most privacy regulations, legal protections will be applicable to data subjects who are citizens or reside in a specific region or country. […]
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Sometimes: To emphasize the main concept of a list item.
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Known identity - A known identity is used for […]
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Unknown identity - An unknown identity could be a stable pseudonym […]
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Anonymous identity - Even with experience, anonymous identities are […]
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Sometimes: In quotation blocks, when the original source uses boldface.
When bold text should not be used:
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Never: As a substitute for a heading. Appropriate header tags must always be used for accessibility reasons.
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Avoid: Using boldface to introduce new terms, instead italics are preferred.
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Never: Use boldface or other font gimmicks to expand acronyms.
Domain Name Server
Domain Name Server (DNS) -
Avoid: Emphasizing a sentence or phrase in an article.
For this, you need to investigate and remain highly skeptical of any dangerous or unproven marketing claims. The Fediverse was built from a desire for social connection, and not from a greed to make profits. This is a fundamental difference that leads to substantial benefits.
Italics
Italicized text is used occasionally in our articles. To create it, surround the text with a *single asterisk*. The use of italics in our articles should follow good English print style.
When to use italic text:
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Sometimes: To emphasize an important word or phrase within a sentence, when the point or thrust of a sentence may not be immediately obvious to readers, or especially to stress a contrast. This should not be used to emphasize an entire sentence, which is typically unnecessary.
With great knowledge comes great responsibility.
[This is especially relevant to highlight the word modified from the commonly known phrase “with great power comes great responsibility”] What will be the impact for the people who cannot protect themselves individually? The Fediverse was built from a desire for social connection, and not from a greed to make profits. This is a fundamental difference that leads to substantial benefits.Note it may be preferable to rewrite a sentence so that italics are not necessary in the first place. Use of emphasis more than once in a sentence is rarely helpful to readers.
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Usually: For certain names of major publications, especially when writing about Privacy Guides the project/organization.
You can follow Privacy Guides from our own self-hosted Mastodon server. […] as written in The New York Times. -
Always: When writing about words as words, or letters as letters. Especially when defining jargon for the first time.
A data subject is simply anyone from whom personal information is collected by an organization.
[The term “data subject” is italicized in this case to indicate the term we are defining in this sentence.] Organizations that meet the data subject’s local privacy law criteria are legally bound to comply with the laws of each region or country where their data subjects are residing.
[The term “data subject” is not highlighted later on when it is used in the article in accordance to its actual meaning.]Additionally, if we have a dedicated article about a term that we are defining in another article, that article should be linked on the first italicized usage of the word:
A threat model is an evaluation of what is dangerous for a certain person (or entity) in a given situation, and what protective measures should be prioritized. -
Sometimes: To mark a term’s first use, definition, introduction, or distinguished meaning on a page. Except when the the term is used as an alternative title for the page.
A custom Android distribution (sometimes referred to as a custom ROM) can be a way to achieve a higher level of privacy and security on your device.
[“Custom ROM” should instead be bolded here, if this is the beginning of an article about Android distributions] Even companies outside the ad-tech or tracking industry can share your information with data brokers (such as Cambridge Analytica, Experian, or Datalogix) or other parties.“Ad-tech” is a jargon word used for the first time on this page, so it can be emphasized here. However, if the term ad-tech was previously defined, then you would not italicize it again (in accordance with the previous rule on term definitions):
The ad-tech industry refers to companies like Google and Facebook which span the internet far beyond just the sites they control, tracking your actions along the way. Even companies outside the ad-tech industry can share your information with data brokers (such as Cambridge Analytica, Experian, or Datalogix) or other parties. -
Usually: To denote codenames for software, particularly malware.
NotPetya itself was a ransomware attack which impacted 2000+ companies in various countries, and was based on the EternalBlue exploit developed by the NSA to attack Windows computers over the network. -
Usually: For non-English words in English text. This does not apply to loanwords that are commonly understood in everyday English like “samurai,” “café,” “kindergarten,” etc.
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Very rarely: When text is already bolded. You typically will only want to use one style, and should be consistent with the style on a page. Don’t bold text in one paragraph and italicize it in another. Italics in the bolded title of an article may be appropriate under certain circumstances.
Tor is a group of volunteer-operated servers […] [This should only be bolded, not italicized] Privacy Guides is a socially motivated website […] [When this sentence is the beginning of an article about Privacy Guides] -
Rarely: As an action for a reader to take at the end of a section, especially in a tutorial.
What do I want to protect?
An “asset” is something you value and want to protect. […]
Make a list of your assets: data that you keep, where it’s kept, who has access to it, and what stops others from accessing it.
However, you would not use italics for a simple list of actions:
If you enjoy the platform and can contribute, consider supporting the project by:
- Donating to support Mastodon’s development and operations
- Donating to your Mastodon instance (ask your administrator)
- Buying cute merch from the Mastodon organization
When to not use italic text:
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Never: For quotations, unless the quoted text calls for italics. Using quotation marks or quote blocks are enough to signify a quote.
[…] the government has found that mass surveillance programs like Section 215 have had “little unique value” with respect to stopping actual crimes. […] the government has found that mass surveillance programs like Section 215 have had “little unique value” with respect to stopping actual crimes.
Highlights
Highlighted text should be used sparingly to denote important concepts or examples. To create it, surround the text with <mark></mark> HTML tags.
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Sometimes: To highlight very important concepts or phrases on a page. Usually the highlighted text should be able to be understood as a standalone sentence or concept. This type of text is very distracting to readers, which can be used intentionally to emphasize a key concept, but should never be overused.
If you wanted to use the most secure tools available, you’d have to sacrifice a lot of usability. And, even then, nothing is ever fully secure. There’s high security, but never full security. That’s why threat models are important.
Many are reluctant to quit commercial social media, despite the many issues that have only become worse in the past few years. It’s not always easy to leave a place that feels like home and rebuild elsewhere. However, when the house is on fire, it’s time to leave.
Note in both examples above, the entire sentence these phrases exist in are not highlighted, only the most core/succinct portion. You should highlight as little as possible while still getting your point across.
You should consider breaking apart paragraphs to add subtle emphasis instead of using highlights, if appropriate. For example, consider breaking up:
The digital privacy rights movement is in its infancy.
There are in fact many more potential customers and potential donors, more than enough for every current organizations and privacy-oriented businesses on the planet. The part that is scarce is people who understand why protecting their right to privacy is important, and how to do it.
Instead of:
The digital privacy rights movement is in its infancy. There are in fact many more potential customers and potential donors, more than enough for every current organizations and privacy-oriented businesses on the planet. The part that is scarce is people who understand why protecting their right to privacy is important, and how to do it.
This can naturally draw people’s attention to the first sentence without blasting it in their face.
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Always: To denote portions of code or other examples which should be modified by the reader.
Enter the following command, replacing the username and password with your own credentials:
curl https://example.com --user “username:password” -
Rarely: To emphasize the difference between two different parts of a sentence or paragraph where regular italics wouldn’t be appropriate.
In a previous example in this formatting guide, I used highlighting to denote the difference in italics between the first usage of ad-tech industry, and the second usage of ad-tech industry later in a paragraph. This makes sense to call attention to the italics itself. I’m not sure when an example like this would be used in normal articles, but it is included for completeness sake.
Quotation Marks
“Quoted” text should primarily only be used for actual quotes. You should always surround quoted text with straight "" or '' quotation marks, never with curly “” or ‘’ marks.
Do not use accent marks, backticks (`´), low–high („ “), corner brackets (「 」), or guillemets (« ») as quotation marks.
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You should typically always link to your source for a citation when applicable. Typically, a Markdown footnote is the ideal way to add a citation:
[…] the government has found that mass surveillance programs like Section 215 have had “little unique value” with respect to stopping actual crimes.[1]
However, inline citations are also acceptable:
[…] the government has found that mass surveillance programs like Section 215 have had “little unique value” with respect to stopping actual crimes.
[…] the government has found that mass surveillance programs like Section 215 have had “little unique value” with respect to stopping actual crimes (source).
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You can also use quotation marks around commonly said phrases which are not widely recognized or official terms, or to denote common beliefs, especially when they may not be true. In these cases there would be no source to cite with a link:
Finding the “best” solution for yourself doesn’t necessarily mean you are after an infallible solution with dozens of conditions […] Here’s why and how to move away from “Big Tech” and embrace alternatives. [We typically will use quotes for “Big Tech” because it is a commonly repeated phrase, but has a very widely varying definition depending on who you ask.] According to the “de-Googling” advocates on Reddit […] [Similarly, “de-Google” is a commonly said phrase in many privacy forums, but is not aligned with our general recommendations…]However, in the two preceding cases, it is typically preferable to avoid using these terms in the first place, in favor of more accurate and descriptive terminology that is aligned with our recommendations:
This is how to “de-Google” your life. This is how you can switch to privacy-respecting alternatives to mainstream products. […] [We generally prefer to focus on what people are switching to, rather than what they are switching away from] This is how you can replace Google products […] [If we are talking about Google specifically, we generally prefer to describe what we want to do, rather than use a term like “de-Google”] Many people who want to “de-Google” […] [If we are actually referring to people who use the term “de-Google” then using it in quotes would be acceptable]Quotes should not be used for jargon which is a well-known phrase in our industry:
The “ad-tech industry” refers to companies like Google and Facebook which span the internet far beyond just the sites they control, tracking your actions along the way.
The ad-tech industry refers to companies like Google and Facebook which span the internet far beyond just the sites they control, tracking your actions along the way. -
We can also use quotes when quoting ourselves, without needing to include a link or citation:
We talk about “shifting trust” a lot when discussing solutions like VPNs (which shift the trust you place in your ISP to the VPN provider).
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United States Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board: Report on the Telephone Records Program Conducted under Section 215 ↩︎
Last edited by @jonah 2026-02-26T23:49:37Z
