Escaping Underscores in Microsoft Learn Image Alt Text
Escaping Underscores in Microsoft Learn Image Alt Text records a distinct Microsoft Learn authoring convention and keeps it scoped to that documentation environment rather than presenting it as a universal writing rule.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionWriting & Style
Quick answer
In Microsoft Learn’s standard conceptual-image Markdown, escape an underscore in alt text with a backslash (`\_`) if the underscore must appear literally.
Key details
Core Issueunderscores in conceptual-image alt text
RegisterMicrosoft Learn technical documentation
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
Microsoft also advises against copying file names into alt text. Prefer meaningful human-readable alt text; escaping an underscore is a syntax fix, not a substitute for a useful description.
Further guidance
Content
In Microsoft Learn’s standard conceptual-image Markdown, escape an underscore in alt text with a backslash (`\_`) if the underscore must appear literally.
Purpose
Keep Microsoft Learn source readable, accessible, reusable, and predictable while following current contributor-platform conventions.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
Markdown reference for Microsoft Learn — Contributor guide↗ (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Current Microsoft Learn contributor reference for Markdown authoring, including headings/navigation, conceptual images and icons, includes, lists/checklists, nonlocalized strings, alerts, comments, tables, and other Learn extensions.
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