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![Stephen Cole](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c318b8e289f72d3e9b157df9785c598a?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fecs-static.teamtreehouse.com%2Fassets%2Fcontent%2Fdefault_avatar-445fbbabfc8dc9188fb5967fe43322ee0c3e0dd1e10f378bf8343784af5a13eb.webp&r=pg)
Stephen Cole
Courses Plus Student 15,809 PointsHyphens and the Horizontal Rule
It appears, in my editor (VS Code), that when I use hyphens to make a horizontal rule, it must be preceded by a blank line. Otherwise, it makes text bold. Is this by design?
However, when using asterisks or underscores, this does not seem to be the case.
For example, I will put the words "Three Hyphens" before a line with three hyphens. At the bottom, there are no blank lines that separate the three hyphen characters, the three asterisks, or the three underscores.
Three Hyphens
vs.
Three Hyphens
Three Asterisks
Three Underscores
Also, it appears that, here in the Treehouse, I cannot make things bold and in italics at the same time using Markdown.
2 Answers
![Steven Parker](https://uploads.teamtreehouse.com/production/profile-photos/969492/micro_tool_chess_set_2.jpg)
Steven Parker
230,688 PointsMultiple hyphens or equal signs (without a blank line) denote a title.
You can see this discussed in the Markdown Basics page of the official website. So this is by design.
But not being able to create italics and bold and the same time can probably be considered a bug. Bug reporting instructions can be found on the Support page. You might even get a special "Exterminator badge".
![Stephen Cole](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c318b8e289f72d3e9b157df9785c598a?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fecs-static.teamtreehouse.com%2Fassets%2Fcontent%2Fdefault_avatar-445fbbabfc8dc9188fb5967fe43322ee0c3e0dd1e10f378bf8343784af5a13eb.webp&r=pg)
Stephen Cole
Courses Plus Student 15,809 PointsThanks!
I looked for this behavior in the docs but must not have used search terms that were specific enough.
I've sent a note to support about the bold and italics issue.
Stephen