Put the strong tag before the text and the closing strong tag after it. You can also use the CSS rule font-weight: bold. Both make the text bold.
Make text bold with an HTML tag
This is the fastest way to bold one phrase.
<p>This is <strong>important text</strong> in a sentence.</p>The words inside the tag show in bold. The rest of the sentence stays normal. This tag is part of HTML.
Make text bold with CSS
Add this rule to your stylesheet. Then use the class wherever you need it.
.my-text {
font-weight: bold;
}Now wrap the text in a tag that uses the rule, such as <div class="my-text">This is some text</div>. Every element with that class shows in bold. Keep the class name short and clear, such as my-text or price-bold, so you know its job later.
Strong or b: which tag is better
HTML has two tags that look the same on screen. The <strong> tag marks text that is important. Screen readers can pass that on to visitors who cannot see the page.
The <b> tag only changes the look. A good web designer uses strong for warnings and key points. Use b for words that just need to stand out, such as product names.
Common mistakes with bold
Do not bold whole paragraphs. Long bold text is hard to read and looks like shouting.
Do not use bold to make a heading. Use the heading tags, such as <h2>, so search engines and screen readers see the structure. Bold alone does not do that.
If the bold does not show, check that the closing tag has a slash. A missing slash makes the rest of the page bold.
Tag or CSS rule
The CSS rule is the better choice when many parts of your site share one style. Change the rule once and every bold part changes with it.
A tag is the better choice for a single phrase in one sentence. Pick the one that saves you work.
Use bold sparingly
If every other line is bold, nothing stands out. We bold the one phrase in a paragraph that you must not miss. Good examples are a price, a date or a phone number.
We write plain, useful text first. Then we add bold to help you scan.
Make text bold in WordPress
You do not need code in WordPress. The editor writes the tag for you.
Open the post
Go to Posts > All Posts and click the post.
Select the words
Highlight the text you want to bold.
Press the Bold button
Click the B button in the toolbar, or press Ctrl+B on Windows or Cmd+B on a Mac.
Update the post
Click Update and view the page.
Need help with your site
Do you want a site that looks right without coding? Our Omaha web design team builds a new website for $300 in 3 to 5 days. That includes up to 5 pages and a contact page.
Questions about tags or CSS? Call Websnoogie in Omaha at 402-813-4034 any day from 7 am to 10 pm, or write to us on our contact page.
Common questions
What is the difference between strong and b?
Strong marks important text and screen readers announce it. The b tag only changes how the text looks.
Can I make text bold without HTML tags?
Yes. Use the CSS rule font-weight: bold on a class or element. In WordPress, press the Bold button in the editor.
AboutRod and Tami Atwood
Rod and Tami Atwood and other Websnoogie contributors write the Websnoogie blog. Rod has built websites since 2004 and founded Websnoogie, LLC in Omaha in 2012. Tami is co-owner, content editor and billing expert. Call us at 402-813-4034 or write to staff@websnoogie.com.
