Which tag would you use to make text bold in HTML?

The use of the or tags is the correct choice for making text bold in HTML. The tag is semantically meaningful, indicating that the text has strong importance, while is presentational and simply applies a bold style without implying any added emphasis or semantic weight. This distinction is important in web development, as using the appropriate tag enhances accessibility and search engine optimization by signaling the content's significance.

In contrast, , , and are not recognized HTML elements. Including them in your HTML code would result in non-standard and ineffective rendering of text, as browsers do not understand these tags. Thus, when aiming to bold text, utilizing or is the proper method, ensuring both visual emphasis and semantic clarity in your content.