# Writing notes

> The "/" menu, Markdown as you type, note links and tags, find and replace, saving, and a note's version history.

Applies to Canto 1.0 beta 3 · Updated Oct 10, 2026 · https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/writing

Taken from the app's source for Canto 1.0 beta 3: `src/renderer/lib/slashMenu.ts`, `src/renderer/extensions/markdownShortcuts.ts`, `src/renderer/extensions/mathInputRules.ts`.

A note in Canto is a page you type into. Formatting comes from the "/" menu, from Markdown you type as you go, or from the bar that appears when you select text. Canto saves as you write, keeps earlier versions of every note on your Mac, and never marks a note edited just because you opened it.

## Start a note

| To                                    | Do this                                                                       |
| ------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Make a new note                       | `⌘N`, or **+** in the sidebar                                                  |
| Start from a template                 | `⌥⌘N` (see [Capture, daily notes and templates](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/capture#templates)) |
| Make a folder                         | `⇧⌘N`                                                                           |
| Link to a note that doesn't exist yet | Type `[[`, then the title, and choose **New note "…"**                        |

The first line of a note is its title. Under the title, one quiet line counts the words, the minutes it takes to read, and when you last edited it. Add tags in the same row with **Add tag…**.

## The "/" menu

Type `/` at the start of a line to open the menu, then keep typing to filter it ("math bl" finds **Math block**). `↩` runs the highlighted row. Each row shows its Markdown shortcut on the right, where it has one.

| Group          | Rows                                                                                                                                                      |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| AI · this note | Up to six of the note's actions, most recently used first, then **More AI actions…** (`⇧⌘K`)                                                                |
| Text           | Text, Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3, Quote, Callout                                                                                                     |
| Lists          | Bulleted list, Numbered list, To-do list                                                                                                                  |
| Media          | Image, File, Link, Citation, Live transcription…                                                                                                          |
| Blocks         | Code, Table, Divider, Toggle, Math block, Inline math, Diagram, Chart, the ten figure kinds, Table of contents, and Report cover (in research notes only) |
| Ask            | Ask about this note… (`⌘J`)                                                                                                                                |

A few rows need a word of explanation:

* **Image** adds a picture from the web. Canto fetches it once and keeps a copy in the note, so the site never learns when you open the note later.
* **File** attaches a file from your Mac. Canto reads PDFs, pictures, audio and video on your Mac so search and Ask can use them; see [Files, images and links](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/files).
* **Link** adds a web address as a link button, or turns the words you selected into a link.
* **Citation** adds a numbered citation to a web page or to another note. It joins the note's References.
* **Callout** is a box with an icon. The small picker in its header switches it between Info, Insight, Warning and Success.
* **Toggle** is a section that folds away under its title.
* **Diagram** is a Mermaid diagram (typing "mermaid" finds it). You edit its source right in the note; the drawing shows its source only while you edit it.
* **Chart** and the figure kinds are covered in [Figures, charts and tables](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/figures).
* **Table of contents** is a live outline of the note's headings. Click a line to jump there.

## Markdown as you type

You can format without the menu. Type the characters at the start of a line, then a space:

| Type                                                     | You get           |
| -------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- |
| `#`, `##`, `###`                                         | Heading 1, 2 or 3 |
| `-` or `*`                                               | Bulleted list     |
| `1.`                                                     | Numbered list     |
| `[ ]`                                                    | To-do list        |
| `>`                                                      | Quote             |
| ` ``` ` (optionally with a language, like ` ```python `) | Code block        |
| `---`                                                    | Divider           |
| `$$…$$` then a space                                     | Math block        |
| `$…$` then a space                                       | Inline math       |

Inside a line, `**bold**`, `*italic*`, `` `code` `` and `~~strikethrough~~` work too, as do `⌘B`, `⌘I` and `⌘E` (code). Prices like "$5 to $10" stay text: inline math only starts when what's between the dollar signs looks like a formula.

Math is LaTeX, drawn with KaTeX. Click a formula to edit its source. Formulas work inside tables and callouts too.

## The selection bar

Select text and a small bar appears above it. It opens on Canto's AI verbs:

* **Ask** (`⌘.`) opens Ask beside the note with your selection quoted.
* Your pinned **actions**: Rewrite, Shorten, Explain and Find a source until you change them. **⋯** lists every action that works on a selection. See [Actions and styles](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/actions).
* **Copy**.

**Aa** turns the bar to formatting: bold, italic, code, text colour, highlight, headings, lists, alignment and a code block. Canto remembers which face you used last.

To quote a selection into a message you're already writing in Ask, press `⌘L`.

## Links and tags

**Note links.** Type `[[` and start typing a title. The list shows each note with its folder; choose one to link it. When nothing matches, the last row makes a new note with that title and links it. You can also drag a note from the sidebar into the text. The notes that link to the one you're reading are listed in the inspector's **Context**, with the sentence each one links from. See [Related notes and the graph](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/related).

**Tags.** Add them under the title with **Add tag…**. A tag can be in any language. Click a tag to open its page, which lists every note that has it; see [Organize your notes](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/organize#tags).

## Tables

**/ › Table** inserts a 3 × 3 table at once. Point at a row or a column to get its handle, and click it for its menu:

* A row's menu has **Set header row**, **Insert above**, **Insert below**, **Duplicate row**, **Color**, **Clear contents** and **Delete row**. A column's has **Insert left**, **Insert right**, **Duplicate column**, **Color**, **Clear contents** and **Delete column**.
* **Plain table** turns off the bars and marks Canto draws over numbers. See [Smart tables](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/figures#smart-tables).

## Code

A code block shows a language picker in its header and highlights the code as you type. Code without a language keeps its text exactly as written, including Korean, Japanese and tree diagrams.

## Find and replace

`⌘F` opens a small field at the top right of the note. `↩` and `⇧↩` walk through the matches, and `Esc` closes it. Click the chevron, or press `⌥⌘F`, for **Replace with**: **Replace** changes the current match and **All** (`⌘↩`) changes every one.

To search every note instead, use `⇧⌘F`. See [⌘K and search](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/search).

## Saving

Canto saves a note a moment after you stop typing. There's no Save command.

* Opening, reading or pinning a note never counts as an edit. It doesn't move up your lists or add a version.
* If Canto can't write a note, its header says **Not saved · Retry** and your edits stay in the open note until a save works. Press **Retry**. If it keeps failing, see [Troubleshooting](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/troubleshooting#saving-and-finding-notes).

## Version history

`⇧⌘Y` (or **⋯ › Version history…** in the note's header) opens the note's **Version history**:

* **All versions** lists every saved version, newest first. Select one to see it, with what restoring would add back and take away marked paragraph by paragraph. **Restore this version…** asks first, and keeps your current text as a version before it restores.
* **AI edits** lists the checkpoints Canto took before each change Ask made to the note. **Go back to before this edit…** takes that one change back.

Canto keeps a version every 30 seconds while you write and when you leave a note, up to 50 per note. Versions stay on this Mac; they aren't synced. You can turn them off, see how much space they use, or clear them in **Settings › Sync & storage › Version history**. More ways to get a note back are in [Backups, history and the Trash](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/backups).

## The note's header

Above the title, each note has two keys on the right:

* **Share** opens **Publish to the web…**, **Copy link** (a `canto://` link that opens this note in Canto), and **Export as Markdown**, **Export as HTML** and **Export as PDF**. See [Publishing a page](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/publishing) and [Import and export](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/import-export).
* **⋯** has **Version history…**, **Note info** and **Related notes and backlinks** (the inspector's Info and Context), **Move to…**, **Send to future me…**, **Open in split** and **Move to Trash**. A research note also has **References…** and **Refresh references**.

## Spelling

Canto checks spelling as you type, with macOS's spell checker. Turn it off in **Settings › Writing › Check spelling while typing**, or in **Edit › Spelling and Grammar**.

Each note follows its own language. Notes in Korean, Japanese or Chinese, and research notes (full of names and terms), aren't underlined.

## Writing settings

**Settings › Writing** also has:

* **Citation style**: how AI writing cites sources, as **Numbered \[1]**, **Author (p. 2)** or **Footnotes**. You can also ask for a style in a request.
* **Focused edits for a selection** (off, **Beta**): a quick edit of selected text that reads only the selection and what's around it.
* **Note templates**: see [Capture, daily notes and templates](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/capture#templates).

Every row is listed in [Settings, page by page](https://lonelyduck.io/docs/canto/settings#writing).