Tips on Formatting Announcements on Quercus

When you post an announcement in Quercus, students receive an email notification. Within that notification, unfortunately much of the complex formatting and visuals (such as tables, images, colors, and certain spacing) are stripped away. The announcement itself is stored with full formatting on Quercus, but most students will only read the email and won’t click through. To make sure your message is clear and visually appealing in that plain-text format, here are a few strategies:

Keep It Simple #

• Avoid tables, columns, and complex layouts.
• Use short paragraphs and plain text where possible.

Use Minimal Formatting That Transfers #

• Bold and italics appear in both Quercus and the email.
• Add blank lines between sections for readability.
• Use emojis sparingly to highlight key items (📅, ✅, ⚠️).
• ALL CAPS can also provide emphasis.

Break Up Long Text #

• Email notifications for Quercus Announcements tend to have narrower margins, so short text blocks can look longer.
• Keep paragraphs to 2–3 sentences max if possible.

Link Out for Full Formatting #

• If you do need to share tables, images, or structured content, or large amounts of text, create a Quercus Page.
• In your announcement, include a short note + link: “📄 Full details available here: [Link to the formatted Quercus Page]”

Structure for Quick Scanning #

• Start with a one-line headline or summary.
• Use bullet points for dates, deadlines, or steps.
• End with a clear call to action.

Example Template #

Feel free to use/copy the template below for inspiration for your announcements!

📢 Midterm Reminder  
Hi everyone,  
Here are the key details for the upcoming midterm:  
- 📅 Date: Tuesday, Oct 15  
- 🕑 Time: 2–4pm  
- 📍 Location: Room 101, Rotman  
👉 Please review the [Midterm Guide Page] for full details, including permitted materials.  
Thanks,  
[Your Name]