How to highlight text in Confluence Cloud

[#1]

Are users missing key messages on your Confluence pages? There's an easy way to make your text stand out - highlight it!

Using Confluence macros and built-in features, we’ve rounded up three handy ways to make text more visible in an instant.

Option 1: Confluence’s built-in Highlight feature

Commenting is useful for highlighting text to suggest quick changes to content on a Confluence page.

Simply click and drag over your chosen text, click Comment, write in the comment box, and press Save. This highlights your text in yellow.

Pros:

• Highlighting is quick and easy, with no macros needed.

• Anyone can highlight text - even if they don't have edit permissions.

Cons:

• It can look unprofessional, so it isn't suited for external or customer-facing pages.

• The text only stays highlighted while your comment is unresolved.

Option 2: Confluence’s built-in Highlight feature

Using Confluence's new Highlight tool, you can highlight text in five different colours to help it stand out.

In Edit mode, simply click and drag over your chosen text, select the highlight icon in the toolbar, and choose your colour from the palette.

Pros:

• It’s a built-in feature, meaning it’s free to use.

• Unlike commenting, this permanently highlights text.

 Cons:

• Colours are limited, meaning it isn't suitable for branded company pages.

• Changing the colour of your text removes the highlighting, so this isn't suitable if you want more customisation on your page

• It isn’t the most professional option for making text stand out.

Option 3: Panel macro

The Panel macro is great for drawing attention to important notices and giving extra context. 

To add one to your page, simply type /panel in Edit mode and choose one of the available presets (or configure a custom Panel).

Pros: 

• Highlight text in a more engaging way with several background colours and emojis.

• Unlike commenting, this option highlights text permanently.

 Cons:

• You can only highlight in a limited number of shades, which isn't ideal for branded Confluence pages.

• Because the Panel macro scales to the width of your Confluence content, text can look lost if a message is short.

• You can't embed pictures or embed other macros, making it unsuitable for more complex messages.

Option 4: Content Formatting Macros for Confluence

Content Formatting Macros is a toolkit designed to help you create engaging pages. It’s the perfect tool for highlighting text in various ways and making your content more memorable.

Here are some included macros that you can use to highlight your text:

Advanced Cards: Share related messages together in a highly customisable grid of cards.

Alert: For urgent notices, you can create an Alert macro that pops up as soon as a user opens a Confluence page.

 Interactive Banner: Highlight multiple announcements and links in an engaging carousel, saving space on your page. You can even use the built-in AI wizard to set up your banner in seconds.

Background: Frame your text with a customisable visual background. Customise its dimensions, choose any background colour, or choose an image background. You can even embed other macros such as buttons and a search bar.

⭐️ To try any of these macros, simply install Content Formatting Macros and type its shortcut (e.g. /background or /alert) in the edit mode on your Confluence page.

Pros: 

• It’s the most flexible and customisable option for highlighting a range of messages in different ways.

• Unlike commenting, these macros highlight text permanently on your page.

• You can choose any background colour you like and add images too, helping to boost engagement and consistently brand your pages.

Cons:

• You'll need admin permissions to install the app on your Confluence account.

• The app is paid for teams of more than 10. The good news is that you can try it completely free for 30 days to decide if Content Formatting Macros is right for you.

Which is right for you?

How you decide to highlight text depends on your goal. Here’s a quick rundown of when to use each:

• Use Comments if you're collaborating on internal content or writing a memo for a colleague.

• Use the Highlight macro if you're drawing attention to messages on internal pages.

• Use Content Formatting Macros if you want to flexibly highlight pages or create engaging branded sections.

What’s your favourite way to make Confluence pages more engaging? Let us know in the comments!

[Isaac Adebayo]

The use of divider macro to separate different sections of a confluence page.

[Vronik]

I try to personalize it as much as I can with colors, icons, standard layout and a consistent structure, I try to adapt each space to the needs of the project and its infographics.

Sometimes I also use an addon that allows me to add some extra functionality and allows me to give it that personal touch that it sometimes needs.