Using Markdown Input in KERNIT

KERNIT accepts Markdown syntax including headers, bold, italic, lists, tables, blockquotes, and LaTeX math equations. Paste your Markdown manuscript and export it formatted for any supported journal in seconds.

How to Use Markdown Input

  1. Open KERNIT

    Go to kernit.org/formatter in your browser. No account or signup required for the first export.

  2. Switch to Markdown mode

    Click the "Markdown" tab in the input panel on the left side of the screen.

  3. Paste your Markdown

    Paste your manuscript written in Markdown syntax. KERNIT supports headers (# H1, ## H2), bold (**text**), italic (*text*), bullet lists, numbered lists, blockquotes, inline code, code blocks, and LaTeX math ($equation$, $display$).

  4. Select a journal preset

    Choose your target journal from the preset selector (IEEE, APA, Nature, and 6 more). KERNIT immediately reformats your content to match that journal's typography, margins, and citation style.

  5. Export

    Click Export DOCX, Export LaTeX, or Export HTML. Your formatted manuscript downloads instantly, ready for submission.

Supported Markdown Syntax

KERNIT supports all standard CommonMark syntax. Key elements for academic papers:

  • Headers: # Title, ## Section, ### Subsection
  • Emphasis: **bold**, *italic*
  • Math: $inline equation$, $display equation$
  • Tables: Standard pipe table syntax
  • Lists: Unordered (- item) and ordered (1. item)
  • Blockquotes: > text
  • Code: Backtick inline and triple-backtick blocks
Try it in KERNIT →

Free to try · No signup required · Export DOCX, LaTeX, or HTML

Frequently Asked Questions

What Markdown syntax does KERNIT support?
KERNIT supports standard CommonMark syntax: ATX headers (# through ######), bold (**text** or __text__), italic (*text* or _text_), unordered and ordered lists, blockquotes, inline code (backtick), fenced code blocks (triple backtick), and inline links. It also supports LaTeX math delimiters ($inline$ and $display$) and footnotes ([^1]).
Can I use LaTeX equations in Markdown input?
Yes. KERNIT parses LaTeX math inside Markdown. Use $...$ for inline equations and $...$ for display equations. KERNIT renders them correctly in the HTML preview and exports them as proper equation objects in DOCX and LaTeX output. KaTeX powers the rendering.
How do I format section headings in Markdown?
Use ATX heading syntax: # for H1 (paper title), ## for H2 (main sections like Introduction, Methods), ### for H3 (subsections). KERNIT maps these to the correct heading levels in each journal format. IEEE uses numbered section headings automatically — you do not need to add numbers yourself.
Does KERNIT support Markdown tables?
Yes. KERNIT converts Markdown tables (pipes and dashes syntax) to properly formatted tables in DOCX and LaTeX output. The table style follows the selected journal preset — IEEE uses ruled tables, APA uses lined tables. Column widths are distributed automatically.
Can I include citations and references in Markdown?
For citation formatting, write your references section as a Markdown numbered list at the end of your document, then cite them inline as [1], [2], etc. for numeric journals (IEEE, Nature, Springer) or as (Author, Year) for author-date journals (APA, Elsevier Harvard). KERNIT preserves the formatting you write rather than auto-generating citations from a library.
Last updated: March 2026