var placeholder = "This is a line \nthis should be a new line" $(document).ready(function(){ if($('#recruit_info_jd').val() == ''){ $('#recruit_info_jd').val(placeholder) $('#recruit_info_jd').css('color', "#999") } } $('#recruit_info_jd').focus(function(){ if($(this).val() === placeholder){ $(this).val(''); $(this).css('color', '#404040'); } }); $('#recruit_info_jd').blur(function(){ if($(this).val() ===''){ $(this).val(placeholder); $('#recruit_info_jd').css('color', "#999") } });