Design intent: A quick checkbox shouldn't require committing the whole note to being a list.
You don't need the list keyword to make a list. In any note, start a line with a marker and it becomes a real checkbox, bullet, or numbered item:
[] or - [ ] — an unchecked checkbox[x] or - [x] — a checked checkbox- — a bullet1. — a numbered item
For example:
Meeting notes
[] send the recap
[x] book the room
- ask about budget
How they behave:
- Press Return to continue a list — checkboxes and bullets repeat their marker, numbered items continue with the next number. Return on an empty item ends the list.
- Numbered lists keep themselves sequential: delete, insert, or move an item and the numbers rewrite to match. A list starts at whatever number you type —
4. starts a list at 4.
- Use
Tab / ⇧ + Tab to indent and outdent list items.
- Deleting the marker text removes the marker cleanly.
- Inline markers are ignored inside code notes, and in notes where the list keyword is already active.
- Each marker type has its own switch in Settings > Editor > Automatic lists — turn off the ones you don't want, and those characters behave like plain text again.