Format Notes with titles, headings and body text
In Notes, Shift-Command-T applies Title, Shift-Command-H applies Heading, and Shift-Command-B applies Body. These paragraph formats differ from ordinary bold text.
Notes · Reviewed 2026-11-05 · Review method
Platform, keyboard and verification notes
- Scope
- Notes · macOS app; Apple Mac documentation source checks on 4 November 2026 and editorial review on 5 November 2026. No running-app compatibility test is claimed.
- Keyboard and customization
- English-language Apple documentation. Modifier and punctuation keys may differ on other keyboard layouts.. Documented defaults, not a reading of your current menu. Check the app menu and custom App Shortcuts if a binding differs; focus and selected content can change its effect.
- Review basis
- Documentation reviewed 2026-11-05 by Codex — primary-documentation and editorial review; no hands-on runtime test. These bindings were not tested in a running app for this guide.
Keyboard shortcuts for this task
| Action | Keys | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Title paragraph | Shift-Command-T | Use for the current paragraph’s title role. Source ↗ |
| Heading paragraph | Shift-Command-H | Use for a major section label in the note. Source ↗ |
| Subheading paragraph | Shift-Command-J | Use for a level below a heading when that extra structure is useful. Source ↗ |
| Body paragraph | Shift-Command-B | Returns the current paragraph to body formatting. Source ↗ |
| Monostyled paragraph | Shift-Command-M | Use for a deliberately distinct technical passage, not as a substitute for a heading. Source ↗ |
Give each level a clear purpose
For a project note, reserve the title for the project name, use headings for decisions or next steps, and keep explanations as body text. Put the insertion point in the paragraph you want to format before choosing its role. A paragraph style helps structure a note; merely making a few words visually bold is a different editing decision.
Return to body text when the label ends
A common source of messy notes is continuing a section label’s formatting into the explanation underneath it. Check the new paragraph’s appearance and apply Body when it should be ordinary prose. Subheading is available for a smaller level within a section. Monostyled text can distinguish a short technical sample, but it should not be the default for an entire meeting record.
Review a note at a glance
Use a disposable note with the lines Project outline, Decisions, and Next steps. Apply the title and heading formats, then add one body paragraph under each heading. Read only the labels first: can you tell what belongs in each section? Then check that the explanatory paragraphs remain comfortable to scan. Your goal is a readable hierarchy, not using every format that has a shortcut.
Sources and corrections
- Keyboard shortcuts and gestures in Notes on Mac — Apple Support — checked 2026-11-04
Found a mismatch? Email pashaseenainc@gmail.com with your app version, macOS version, keyboard layout and the command. Please leave personal document names out.
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