# markdown-authoring > Markdown style patterns to use when writing documents. - Author: Clay Loveless - Repository: claylo/bito-lint - Version: 20260208202202 - Stars: 0 - Forks: 0 - Last Updated: 2026-02-09 - Source: https://github.com/claylo/bito-lint - Web: https://mule.run/skillshub/@@claylo/bito-lint~markdown-authoring:20260208202202 --- --- name: markdown-authoring description: Markdown style patterns to use when writing documents. --- When writing Markdown files: * **Start with an H1 as the first heading.** The first heading in the file should be a top-level `# Heading` (not `##` or deeper). * **Use ATX headings only.** Headings must use leading `#` characters (`#`, `##`, `###`, …), not Setext (`Heading` + `====`). * **Unordered list marker is flexible.** You may use `-`, `*`, or `+` for bullet lists (no enforcement). * **Indent nested unordered lists by 2 spaces.** When a list item contains a nested list, indent the nested list by **2 spaces**. * **Blank lines are allowed more freely.** Extra consecutive blank lines are permitted (no “single blank line only” restriction). * **Line length limit is effectively very high; but follow sembr** For prose, follow the Semantic Line Breaks convention, described in `reference/sembr.md`. Table rows are **not** checked for line length. * **Headings must be surrounded by blank lines.** Put a blank line **before and after** each heading (where applicable). * **Duplicate headings are allowed.** Reusing the same heading text in multiple places is acceptable. * **Lists must be surrounded by blank lines.** Put a blank line **before** a list and a blank line **after** a list. * **Inline HTML is allowed.** HTML (like `
`, `
`, etc.) is permitted in Markdown. * **Add Table of Contents.** If there are more than 4 sections, add a table of contents