diff --git a/common/util/parse.ts b/common/util/parse.ts
index 0bbd5cd9..bc5dc4d2 100644
--- a/common/util/parse.ts
+++ b/common/util/parse.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,18 @@ export function parseMentions(data: JSONContent): string[] {
   return uniq(mentions)
 }
 
+export const plainTextToProseMirror = (text: string): JSONContent => {
+  return {
+    type: 'doc',
+    content: [
+      {
+        type: 'paragraph',
+        content: [{ type: 'text', text }],
+      },
+    ],
+  }
+}
+
 // can't just do [StarterKit, Image...] because it doesn't work with cjs imports
 export const exhibitExts = [
   Blockquote,
diff --git a/functions/src/create-market.ts b/functions/src/create-market.ts
index 300d91f2..098080ea 100644
--- a/functions/src/create-market.ts
+++ b/functions/src/create-market.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../common/antes'
 import { Answer, getNoneAnswer } from '../../common/answer'
 import { getNewContract } from '../../common/new-contract'
+import { plainTextToProseMirror } from '../../common/util/parse'
 import { NUMERIC_BUCKET_COUNT } from '../../common/numeric-constants'
 import { User } from '../../common/user'
 import { Group, GroupLink, MAX_ID_LENGTH } from '../../common/group'
@@ -187,15 +188,7 @@ export const createmarket = newEndpoint({}, async (req, auth) => {
   // convert string descriptions into JSONContent
   const newDescription =
     typeof description === 'string'
-      ? {
-          type: 'doc',
-          content: [
-            {
-              type: 'paragraph',
-              content: [{ type: 'text', text: description }],
-            },
-          ],
-        }
+      ? plainTextToProseMirror(description)
       : description ?? {}
 
   const contract = getNewContract(