Basic Formatting in R Markdown: Structure and Emphasis

Basic Formatting in R Markdown

R Markdown is a powerful tool that combines code, results, and prose commentary into a single document. It uses a simplified version of Markdown, which allows for easy formatting of text. Here’s a guide to the basic structure and emphasis techniques you can use in R Markdown.

Structure of R Markdown

1. Headers: You can create headers of different levels using the hash symbol (#). For example:

   • # 1st Level Header
   • ## 2nd Level Header
   • ### 3rd Level Header.

2. YAML Header: At the top of your R Markdown file, you will typically find a YAML header enclosed in --- tags. This section includes metadata such as the title, author, and output format.

3. Code Chunks: R Markdown allows you to include executable R code chunks. These are enclosed in triple backticks followed by {r}:

   javascript

   ```{r}
   # R code goes here
   ```
   ```
   

Emphasis Techniques

1. Bold and Italics:

   • To make text bold, use double asterisks or double underscores: **bold** or __bold__.
   • To make text italic, use single asterisks or single underscores: *italic* or _italic_ [[2]].

2. Strikethrough: You can create strikethrough text by wrapping the text in double tildes: ~~strikethrough~~.

3. Superscript and Subscript:

   • For superscript, use the caret symbol: x^2^.
   • For subscript, use the tilde: x2 [[3]].

4. Inline Code: To format inline code, wrap the text in backticks: code [[2]].

Lists

You can create ordered and unordered lists in R Markdown:

• Unordered lists: Use asterisks, plus signs, or hyphens:
  javascript

  - Item 1
  - Item 2
  

• Ordered lists: Use numbers followed by a period:
  javascript

  1. First item
  2. Second item
  

Conclusion

R Markdown is a versatile tool that allows you to create well-structured documents with various formatting options. By mastering these basic formatting techniques, you can enhance the readability and presentation of your reports and analyses. Happy writing!