Common Markdown conversion issues and how to fix them

Reading order problems are common in PDFs, slide decks, and multi-column layouts. The source may store text by position, object creation order, or column fragments rather than human reading sequence. If the Markdown jumps between columns or sidebars, move sections manually.

Do not treat reading order as a cosmetic issue. A procedure, policy, or explanation can become misleading when paragraphs are rearranged. Compare the output with the original layout before publishing.

A real heading may stay as a paragraph if the source only used visual size or bold text. A label may become a heading if the source made it look prominent. Fix the document outline before editing words.

Use one main title, then sections and sub-sections. Avoid skipping from `##` to `####` unless the structure genuinely jumps. Clean headings make the Markdown easier for readers and retrieval systems.

Wide tables, merged cells, hidden spreadsheet rows, and PDF table drawings can all produce awkward Markdown. The fix is not always to preserve the table. Sometimes the right fix is to split it, summarize it, or turn each row into bullets.

Check values that can cause harm if shifted: totals, dates, account IDs, product numbers, quantities, and statuses. Tables can look tidy while one column is wrong.

Strange characters usually come from encoding problems, embedded PDF fonts, OCR mistakes, or copied symbols. Watch for curly quotes, bullets, em dashes, currency symbols, accented names, mathematical symbols, and non-Latin text.

If the source allows export to another format, try that. A DOCX or HTML export may give cleaner text than a PDF. For OCR, proofread uncommon words and numbers rather than only scanning the page visually.

Links named `here` or `more` often made sense in the source layout but fail in Markdown. Rewrite important anchors to describe the destination. Check relative URLs if the Markdown moves to a new site or repository.

Images need human judgment. If a screenshot or diagram is essential, add a caption or alt text. If an image is decorative, do not let it clutter the final Markdown.