Em is a limited hypertext markup language.

It is similar to Markdown, but it has a few key advantages:

1. It is more readable. 2. It is simpler to parse. 3. There is *not* more than one way to do it (sorry Larry).

Em takes plain-text readability seriously. You should be able to write em in a plain-text e-mail message without the recipient noticing.

Em is implemented as a portable awk script, whose simplicity speaks for the benefits of em.

Syntax

Block-level formatting

*A single empty line* always marks a block break. There is no exception to this rule. The line is removed in the final output.

All blocks support inline formatting, except headings, preformatted blocks and terms in definition lists.

One block cannot be put within another block. For example, it is impossible to put a paragraph or a preformatted block inside a list item. If you want paragraph lists, just use paragraphs:

1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit,
sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore
magna aliqua.

2. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation
ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Headings

Headings begin and end with the same number of equal signs:

= First-level heading =

== Second-level heading ==

Lists

Lists start with a single space. There are four types of lists:

 - This is an unordered list
 - With two items

 1. This is an ordered list
 2. With an item that spans
two lines

 this is: a definition list

 [1] This is a reference list
 [2] With two items

Unordered and ordered lists can be nested. An additional space at the beginning of the line increases the item level by one:

 - First level
  - Second level
 - First level

A reference list is a special type of list, unique to em. It is a type of footnote list, to which you can make inline referencess like this:

See footnote [1].

There is a special type of reference list item called a *hyperlink reference*. It contains only a single word, without whitespace:

 [1] http://example.com

Hyperlink reference items are removed in the final output, but you can still reference them inline:

You can download the file here [1].

Preformatted blocks

Preformatted blocks start with a single tab:

#include 
	main() { puts("Hello world!\n"); }

Paragraphs

Paragraphs start with no space:

This is a paragraph
with two lines.

This is another paragraph.

Inline formatting

_Italic, bold and teletype text_ is marked with the asterisk, the underscore and the backtick, respectively:

Example of *italic* text.

The marks are only valid in certain positions:

1. At word borders 2. After an opening parenthesis 3. Before any of `.,:;?!)` 4. Before a closing parenthesis any of `.,:;?!`

_Inline references_ are created with square brackets:

Example of an inline reference [12].

They are valid in positions 1, 3 and 4.

When referencing a hyperlink reference (see above), the reference is replaced with a link. For example:

It is available for download [1].

 [1] v1.tgz

translates into the following HTML:

It is available for download (link).

The default link text ("link") can be changed by setting the `linktext` environment variable.