HTML Text Styles

Introduction: What are HTML Text Styles?

Text is at the core of almost every webpage. Whether you’re writing blog posts, product descriptions, or form instructions, styling text in HTML is essential for creating visually engaging and readable content.

In this guide, you’ll learn about the various HTML text styling tags, how they differ, and how to use CSS for advanced and consistent formatting.

We’ll also cover semantic HTML tags, inline vs external styling, and accessibility best practices to help your text not only look good but also work well across devices and for all users.

1. Basic Text Style Elements in HTML

HTML offers a variety of tags to apply text styles directly within your markup. Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly used HTML text styling elements, their purposes, and how to use them.

1.1 <b> – Bold (Non-semantic)

Usage: Makes text bold without conveying importance.

<p>This is a <b>bold</b> word.</p>

<p>This is a <b>bold</b> word.</p>

Use when visual boldness is needed, but the text isn’t semantically important.

1.2 <strong> – Important Text (Semantic Bold)

Usage: Denotes text of strong importance. Screen readers may emphasize it.

<p>This is a <strong>very important</strong> message.</p>

<p>This is a <strong>very important</strong> message.</p>

Recommended for accessibility and SEO.

1.3 <i> – Italic (Non-semantic)

Usage: Applies italic styling with no semantic meaning.

<p>This word is in <i>italics</i>.</p>

<p>This word is in <i>italics</i>.</p>

1.4 <em> – Emphasized Text (Semantic Italic)

Usage: Highlights emphasis. Screen readers change tone when reading it.

<p><em>Don’t forget</em> to bring your ID card!</p>

<p><em>Don’t forget</em> to bring your ID card!</p>

Prefer <em> over <i> when conveying meaning.

1.5 <mark> – Highlighted Text

Usage: Highlights text, usually with a yellow background.

<p>The most <mark>critical part</mark> is here.</p>

<p>The most <mark>critical part</mark> is here.</p>

Useful for search keywords, emphasis in articles.

1.6 <small> – Smaller Text

Usage: Reduces text size slightly.

<p>This is <small>fine print</small> text.</p>

<p>This is <small>fine print</small> text.</p>

1.7 <del> – Deleted Text

Usage: Strikes through the text to show deletion.

<p>Old price: <del>$499</del></p>

<p>Old price: <del>$499</del></p>

1.8 <ins> – Inserted Text

Usage: Highlights newly added content, typically underlined.

<p>New price: <ins>$399</ins></p>

<p>New price: <ins>$399</ins></p>

1.9 <sub> – Subscript

Usage: Text is placed below the baseline.

<p>CO<sub>2</sub> emissions are rising.</p>

<p>CO<sub>2</sub> emissions are rising.</p>

1.10 <sup> – Superscript

Usage: Text appears above the baseline.

<p>E = mc<sup>2</sup></p>

<p>E = mc<sup>2</sup></p>

2. Difference Between Semantic and Non-Semantic Tags

What are Semantic Tags?

Semantic tags describe the meaning of the content. Non-semantic tags only affect appearance.

Tip: Always prefer semantic tags for accessibility and better SEO.

3. Inline Styling for Text in HTML

The style attribute allows direct CSS styling within HTML tags.

Example:

<p style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">This is styled text.</p>

<p style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">This is styled text.</p>

While convenient, inline styles are discouraged in large projects because they:

• Mix content with styling
• Are hard to maintain
• Override external CSS rules

4. Styling Text with CSS

CSS gives you full control over text appearance across your entire website.

Font Properties:

p {
  font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif;
  font-size: 16px;
  font-style: italic;
  font-weight: 600;
}

p {
  font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif;
  font-size: 16px;
  font-style: italic;
  font-weight: 600;
}

Text Properties:

p {
  color: #333;
  text-align: justify;
  line-height: 1.6;
  letter-spacing: 0.5px;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  text-decoration: underline;
}

p {
  color: #333;
  text-align: justify;
  line-height: 1.6;
  letter-spacing: 0.5px;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  text-decoration: underline;
}

CSS Class Example:

<p class="highlight">Special styled text</p>

<style>
.highlight {
  color: orange;
  font-weight: bold;
}
</style>

<p class="highlight">Special styled text</p>

<style>
.highlight {
  color: orange;
  font-weight: bold;
}
</style>

Use classes for reusability and IDs for unique styling.

5. Combining Multiple Text Styles

You can nest HTML tags or apply multiple CSS classes for complex styling.

HTML Nesting Example:

<p>This is <strong><em>important and emphasized</em></strong> text.</p>

<p>This is <strong><em>important and emphasized</em></strong> text.</p>

Using <span> for Custom Styling:

<p>This is a <span class="highlight">highlighted</span> word.</p>

<p>This is a <span class="highlight">highlighted</span> word.</p>

.highlight {
  color: blue;
  background-color: yellow;
  font-weight: bold;
}

.highlight {
  color: blue;
  background-color: yellow;
  font-weight: bold;
}

6. Best Practices for Styling Text in HTML

• Use semantic tags when appropriate (<strong>, <em>)
• Keep inline styles minimal or avoid them entirely
• Ensure readability and contrast
• Use classes and external CSS files for maintainability
• Structure content semantically for SEO and accessibility

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overusing <b> and <i> without semantic purpose
• Using inline styles everywhere
• Poor font contrast (light gray on white)
• Not optimizing for screen readers

Use tools like WebAIM contrast checker for accessibility.

8. Accessibility and SEO Considerations

Accessibility:

• Use semantic elements (<strong>, <em>, <mark>) so screen readers can interpret them properly
• Avoid using text styles solely for visual effects

SEO:

• Semantic tags give context to content
• <strong> and <em> help search engines understand content hierarchy

9. Real-World Examples of HTML Text Styling

Blog Post:

<article>
  <h2>Why You Should Learn HTML</h2>
  <p>HTML is the <strong>foundation</strong> of all websites. Without it, your pages won’t render correctly.</p>
</article>

<article>
  <h2>Why You Should Learn HTML</h2>
  <p>HTML is the <strong>foundation</strong> of all websites. Without it, your pages won’t render correctly.</p>
</article>

Product Description (E-commerce):

<p><strong>Features:</strong></p>
<ul>
  <li><mark>Fast charging</mark></li>
  <li><del>$799</del> <ins>$699</ins></li>
</ul>

<p><strong>Features:</strong></p>
<ul>
  <li><mark>Fast charging</mark></li>
  <li><del>$799</del> <ins>$699</ins></li>
</ul>

News Article:

<p>According to experts, CO<sub>2</sub> levels have increased dramatically.</p>

<p>According to experts, CO<sub>2</sub> levels have increased dramatically.</p>

10. Conclusion

HTML offers a rich set of text styling tools to format content visually and semantically. Whether you’re using simple tags like <b> or more meaningful ones like <strong>, understanding when and how to use them is critical for:

• Creating accessible content
• Improving SEO
• Maintaining readability

When to Use What:

Mastering these elements helps build clean, structured, and accessible websites—and that’s what modern web development is all about.

FAQ – HTML Text Styling

Q1: What is the difference between <b> and <strong>?

<b> is purely visual (bold), while <strong> gives semantic importance and is recognized by screen readers.

Q2: Should I use inline styles?

Use external CSS or classes instead of inline styles for better maintainability and separation of concerns.

Q3: What’s the purpose of <mark>?

The <mark> tag is used to highlight text, especially useful in search results or to show keywords.

Q4: Are semantic tags important for SEO?

Yes. Tags like <strong> and <em> help search engines understand which parts of your content are important.

Q5: Can I use multiple styling tags together?

Yes, you can nest tags like <em> inside <strong>, or use <span> with CSS classes for combined styling.

Have questions about HTML text styling? Drop them in the comments below, and we’ll help you master it!

About The Author

Pavan Kalyan

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