[GH-ISSUE #218] MD037 does not detect spaces in `***` inlines when used to apply emphasis+strong together #2035

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opened 2026-03-07 20:03:55 +03:00 by kerem · 3 comments

kerem commented

2026-03-07 20:03:55 +03:00

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Originally created by @TheJaredWilcurt on GitHub (Aug 27, 2019).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/issues/218

MD037 only handles strong, not em or both. This is inconsistent with how it is documented.

https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/blob/master/doc/Rules.md#md037---spaces-inside-emphasis-markers

~~❌ This does not throw an error~~
✔️ This throws error:

Text * text *.

✔️ This throws error:

Text ** text **.

❌ This does not throw an error

Text *** text ***.

Originally created by @TheJaredWilcurt on GitHub (Aug 27, 2019). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/issues/218 **MD037** only handles strong, not em or both. This is inconsistent with how it is documented. * https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/blob/master/doc/Rules.md#md037---spaces-inside-emphasis-markers ~~❌ This does not throw an error~~ ✔️ This throws error: ```md Text * text *. ``` ✔️ This throws error: ```md Text ** text **. ``` ❌ This does not throw an error ```md Text *** text ***. ```

kerem

2026-03-07 20:03:55 +03:00

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kerem commented

2026-03-07 20:03:56 +03:00

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@DavidAnson commented on GitHub (Aug 28, 2019):

As written, the first example is a single-item list, so should not error. If used in a paragraph context, it errors as expected. The third example is not a valid emphasis, so should not error.

Here are those examples as parsed by markdown-it: https://dlaa.me/markdownlint/#%25m%23%20218%0A%0A*%20text%20*%0A%0AText%20*%20text%20*%0A%0A**%20text%20**%0A%0A***%20text%20***%0A

@DavidAnson commented on GitHub (Aug 28, 2019): As written, the first example is a single-item list, so should not error. If used in a paragraph context, it errors as expected. The third example is not a valid emphasis, so should not error. Here are those examples as parsed by `markdown-it`: https://dlaa.me/markdownlint/#%25m%23%20218%0A%0A*%20text%20*%0A%0AText%20*%20text%20*%0A%0A**%20text%20**%0A%0A***%20text%20***%0A

kerem commented

2026-03-07 20:03:56 +03:00

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@TheJaredWilcurt commented on GitHub (Aug 28, 2019):

Padding with spaces on any of them is invalid.

This is *em*.
This is **strong**.
This is ***em and strong***.

This is invalid * em *.
This is invalid ** strong **.
This is invalid *** em and strong ***.

https://dlaa.me/markdownlint/#%25m%23%20218%0A%0AThis%20is%20em.%20%20%0AThis%20is%20strong.%20%20%0AThis%20is%20em%20and%20strong.%0A%0AThis%20is%20*%20em%20*.%20%20%0AThis%20is%20**%20strong%20**.%20%20%0AThis%20is%20***%20em%20and%20strong%20***.%0A

Line 9 should still be caught.

@TheJaredWilcurt commented on GitHub (Aug 28, 2019): Padding with spaces on any of them is invalid. ```md This is *em*. This is **strong**. This is ***em and strong***. This is invalid * em *. This is invalid ** strong **. This is invalid *** em and strong ***. ``` * https://dlaa.me/markdownlint/#%25m%23%20218%0A%0AThis%20is%20*em*.%20%20%0AThis%20is%20**strong**.%20%20%0AThis%20is%20***em%20and%20strong***.%0A%0AThis%20is%20*%20em%20*.%20%20%0AThis%20is%20**%20strong%20**.%20%20%0AThis%20is%20***%20em%20and%20strong%20***.%0A Line 9 should still be caught.

kerem commented

2026-03-07 20:03:56 +03:00

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@DavidAnson commented on GitHub (Aug 28, 2019):

Agreed. Thanks for the example!

@DavidAnson commented on GitHub (Aug 28, 2019): Agreed. Thanks for the example!