The Markdown Misinterpretation
Google Docs recently introduced support for Markdown, a popular lightweight markup language used by developers and writers. Because of this new feature, Docs now actively monitors your keystrokes for Markdown syntax. If you attempt to type a literal backtick character (`) before and after a word, Docs will assume you are trying to write inline code. It will instantly consume the backticks and automatically format the word inside them with a monospaced font and a grey background. If you are actually writing documentation about Markdown, writing mathematical formulas, or using backticks for a different stylistic reason, this aggressive auto-formatting is incredibly disruptive.
Disabling Markdown Auto-Formatting
To retain full control over your typographic symbols and stop Google Docs from automatically formatting text as code blocks when you type backticks, you must disable the Markdown recognition feature in the application settings.
Open your Google Docs document. In the top navigation menu, click on Tools and select Preferences from the dropdown list. A settings dialogue box will appear on your screen. Ensure you are on the General tab (it usually opens to this by default). Look down the list of configuration options for a checkbox labeled Automatically detect Markdown. If this box is checked, Docs is actively watching for backticks, asterisks, and hash symbols. Click the checkbox to uncheck it. Click the blue OK button to save your changes and close the dialogue box. From now on, when you type a backtick (`), Google Docs will simply print a backtick on the screen without altering the surrounding text formatting.