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Typing in Markdown — Faster Documentation Writing

Typing in Markdown — Faster Documentation Writing

· 2 min read · by Robin Érsek-Obádovics

Markdown is the universal documentation format — GitHub READMEs, blog posts, technical docs, Slack messages, this blog. Compared to clicking WYSIWYG editors, Markdown is dramatically faster for touch typists. Worth a 30-minute investment to learn.

Markdown-specific characters

  • # headers (# H1, ## H2, ### H3)
  • *** or _** emphasis (italic, bold)
  • - or ***** list items
  • > blockquote
  • ` `` inline code
  • ` ` ` code blocks (3 backticks)
  • text links
  • alt images
  • | tables

Most-typed Markdown patterns

Headers

# H1 Title
## H2 Section
### H3 Subsection

Hash + space + text. Simple, fast.

Lists

- Item one
- Item two
  - Nested item

Dash + space + content + Enter rhythm.

[link text](https://example.com)

Square + word + close + paren + url + close.

Code blocks

function example() { return "code"; }

Three backticks + language + Enter + code + Enter + three backticks.

Tables

| Header 1 | Header 2 |
|----------|----------|
| Cell 1   | Cell 2   |

Pipes everywhere. Most painful Markdown to hand-type.

Bold/italic

**bold**
*italic*
***bold italic***

Star clusters around words. Practice the rhythm.

Speed tools for Markdown

  • VS Code + Markdown extensions — preview pane, table editor
  • Typora — WYSIWYG markdown editor
  • iA Writer — distraction-free
  • Obsidian — note-taking
  • Pandoc — universal converter

Snippets to set up

  • h1, h2, h3 → header lines
  • lnk → [](url)
  • img → ![]()
  • cb → `` `` ` `` ``
  • tbl → table skeleton

Why Markdown beats WYSIWYG for typists

Word/Google Docs require mouse for formatting:

  • Bold: select + Ctrl+B (or button)
  • Header: dropdown selection
  • List: click button
  • Link: dialog box

Markdown: type symbols inline, never leave keyboard.

Result: 2-3x faster document creation for fluent Markdown typists.

Markdown flavors

  • CommonMark: standard spec
  • GitHub Flavored: + tables, task lists, code fence languages
  • Pandoc: + footnotes, citations
  • MDX: + JSX components (React docs)

Stick with GitHub Flavored — most common.

Realistic typing speed for Markdown

  • 60 WPM prose: handles 95% of Markdown easily
  • Tables: slower than prose for everyone
  • Long links: pasted, not typed (URL bar → clipboard)

Common Markdown typing patterns

**Key concept**: explanation here.

- First point with [link](url)
- Second point
- Third point

> Quote about the topic

For code examples: `inline code` or ```block```.

This structure repeats endlessly. Drill it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I learn Markdown if I'm not a developer?

YES. Blog platforms (Medium, Ghost), Notion, Slack, all use Markdown. Universal skill.

Best Markdown editor?

VS Code (free, powerful). Obsidian (note-taking). iA Writer (focus).

Will Markdown replace Word documents?

For technical docs: yes. For business letters: no (formatting needs).

How long until I'm fluent?

A few hours practice, weeks to muscle-memory all syntax.

Best layout for Markdown?

QWERTY. No special needs.

Does Markdown work in email?

Most email clients NO (HTML required). Apps like HEY support it.

Build Markdown typing flow

Typing Hero App — free, no signup. Get to 60 WPM, then practice Markdown patterns specifically.

For more: How to type code faster, Touch typing for bloggers, Touch typing for writers.