HTML for bloggers

So, you have something important to say, the best comment ever for the latest post here at Tales (or some other blog... we forgive you...)  But you have some links you want to put in, or need to add emphasis to something you’re saying. Well, it's been suggested that I pass on some of my HTML wisdom to those not 'in the know' when it comes to these things. So here are a few basic HTML tips to help you out. It isn’t as hard as you think it is, I promise. :-)


An introduction to HTML:

• HTML is made up of bits of code, called “tags”, which tell your computer what to do.  For example, there is a tag which tells your computer to make text bold or italics or to create a link.


• Tags come in pairs, with a start tag and an end tag, so that your computer knows when to stop making text bold, etc.  So you always want to use them in pairs! (otherwise you will turn your entire paragraph bold, etc..)


• Tags are separated from your regular text by using brackets, < and > (these are found above the , and . keys on your keyboard).  Just like with parenthesis in a sentence, they always appear in pairs, framing your tag.  For example, the bold tag would look like this: <b>

So let's get down to it! Here are the tags.

General formatting tags:
These are pretty easy, they are represented by the first letter of the style they control:
<b> = bold
<i> = italics

These are the START tags for each of these styles.  The END tags look exactly the same, but with a backslash before the letter:   </b>  -- think of it as staying “stop!”  So the following code:

     Hi, my name is <b>marian</b>, and I am <i>awesome</i>.  

Would result in the following displayed on your computer:

     Hi, my name is marian and I am awesome.


The code to create links follows the same general guidelines (uses pairs and brackets) but looks a little scarier.  When in doubt, you can always copy and paste out of this post!  The code for a link looks like this:

<a href="ENTER URL HERE"> This is the text that is linked.</a>

where ENTER URL HERE would be the URL of the site you want to link to (ie http://talesfromthecrib.blogspot.com) and This is the text that is linked   is what will show up as clickable on your computer.  You can put any URL in there (meaning even long ugly Amazon.com URLs, for example).  Just be sure you put quotation marks around it, and you’ll be set.

A few last notes:

• Just like in email, CAPITAL LETTERS ARE LIKE YELLING.  So use them to your advantage, but don’t abuse them!


• Many blogs, such as Tales, allow you to preview your comments before you post them. This is a good way to make sure you've done all your coding correctly - take advantage of it and learn!