Markdown Lazy Continuation
Last updated: 2026-10-14
Lazy Continuation CommonMark core
Lines following a paragraph, quote or list item may omit their prefix and still belong to the same block. Core to Markdown's plain-text feel — and a steady source of confusion.
| Group | Edge Cases & Rules |
|---|---|
| Spec level | CommonMark core |
| Spec version | CommonMark 0.31.2 + GFM |
📝 Syntax
> quote line
next line without > still quotes▶ Live Example
Edit Markdown on the left, see the result on the right
💡 Key points
ℹ️ Note Laziness covers paragraph-like content only; a new heading or list still breaks the block.
💡 Tip Style guides say: repeat prefixes on every line — cleaner diffs, fewer misreads.
❓ FAQ
Q Is this a bug?
A By design — CommonMark specifies lazy continuation explicitly.
Q Do code blocks lazily continue?
A No — fences need explicit closes and indented blocks indent every line.
Q Can laziness be disabled?
A No — insert blank lines or explicit prefixes to break blocks.
📚 See also
ParagraphsCommonMark core BlockquotesCommonMark core Hard & Soft BreaksCommonMark core