[GH-ISSUE #459] False MD401 Errors (First line in a file should be a top level heading) #2228

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opened 2026-03-07 20:05:47 +03:00 by kerem · 3 comments

kerem commented

2026-03-07 20:05:47 +03:00

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Originally created by @FrightRisk on GitHub (Nov 8, 2021).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/issues/459

This error comes up now everytime I create a new page. The page is no different than any other page. I use a line of asterisks above and below my H1 headings. The top asterisk like shows the squigglies and gives me an error. I can't see a pattern and there are no special characters in the .rtf file seen in a next editor. Yet if I delete the file and then cut and paste it all back in again and save, the error goes away. This has just started happening in the last couple of weeks.

Originally created by @FrightRisk on GitHub (Nov 8, 2021). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/issues/459 This error comes up now everytime I create a new page. The page is no different than any other page. I use a line of asterisks above and below my H1 headings. The top asterisk like shows the squigglies and gives me an error. I can't see a pattern and there are no special characters in the .rtf file seen in a next editor. Yet if I delete the file and then cut and paste it all back in again and save, the error goes away. This has just started happening in the last couple of weeks.

kerem

2026-03-07 20:05:47 +03:00

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kerem commented

2026-03-07 20:05:48 +03:00

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@nschonni commented on GitHub (Nov 8, 2021):

If you're putting those astrix lines above and below your heading, it is likely being interpreted as front matter rather than a plain H1

@nschonni commented on GitHub (Nov 8, 2021): If you're putting those astrix lines above and below your heading, it is likely being interpreted as front matter rather than a plain H1

kerem commented

2026-03-07 20:05:48 +03:00

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@DavidAnson commented on GitHub (Nov 8, 2021):

If the first line of the file is a line of asterisks as I think you are saying, then this rule is correctly reporting that the first line is not a top-level heading. If not, please show a small example of the Markdown you are using.

@DavidAnson commented on GitHub (Nov 8, 2021): If the first line of the file is a line of asterisks as I think you are saying, then this rule is correctly reporting that the first line is not a top-level heading. If not, please show a small example of the Markdown you are using.

kerem commented

2026-03-07 20:05:48 +03:00

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@DavidAnson commented on GitHub (Nov 8, 2021):

(What Nick suggested.)

@DavidAnson commented on GitHub (Nov 8, 2021): (What Nick suggested.)