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The file is plain Markdown. The editor shows it styled — headings larger, emphasis in weight, code in a box — but leaves every mark in place, dimmed to the theme’s syntax colour, so what you see is what is in the file. There is no rendered mode to fall out of and no hidden formatting; Review, when you want the finished page, is one key away.

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What gets styled

Emphasis follows the usual rules: the marks have to hug the text (**bold**, not ** bold **) and underscores inside words are left alone.

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Keys that write the syntax

Each of these wraps the selection in the right marks, or inserts a placeholder to type over when nothing is selected. Pressing the key again with the caret sitting between the marks removes them. They are all in the Format menu as well.

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Lists

Return inside a list continues it: a new bullet, the next number, an empty task box. Return on an empty item ends the list. Settings → Editor → Continue lists on Return turns this off. Tab nests the item under the one above it — bullets, numbers and tasks alike — and Shift-Tab un-nests it. Numbered lists renumber themselves to fit, and Return on an empty nested item steps back out one level rather than ending the list. You can also drag a bullet, a number or a task box up or down to reorder the list; nested items travel with their parent.

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Headings

Headings are drawn larger and centered by default, in the editor and in Review alike. Settings → Editor has one switch for each: Larger headings and Center headings.

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Smart typing

Settings → Editor → While typing controls the Mac’s own text services: smart quotes and smart dashes (both on by default), spell checking, automatic correction and inline predictions (all off by default). They apply only to what you type; the file is never rewritten behind you.

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The placeholder

An empty document shows Start writing at the caret, in the syntax colour. It disappears at the first character.

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Where the caret opens

A document opens with the caret after its last character, where writing usually continues. The window itself reopens at the size and position you left it.

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Text size

⌘+ and ⌘− change the type size a point at a time (it is the same Size as in Settings → Editor); ⌘0 returns it to the default, 16 pt. In Review the same keys scale the rendered page independently, and ⌘0 puts that back to 100%.