Skip to main content
Set up the editor like your favorite writing desk. Editor settings only change the page you write on. The rest of 4thewords keeps the Color Theme you picked for the site.
Where to find it: Open any file → file actions menu (⋯) → Editor Settings Open in 4TW ↗

​
Typography

Pick from classics like Georgia, Garamond, and Times New Roman, or OpenDyslexic for easier reading. Writing in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean? Noto Sans fonts for each are in the list too. On a computer, turn on Full Width (Desktop) to let the page fill the space between the side panels, or turn it off and set a Max Width in px (Desktop) for the page.

​
Colors

Set a Background Color and a Font Color for your page. Leave them empty to match your site theme.
Writing late at night? Try a warm, dark background with a soft cream font color. Your eyes will thank you.

​
Autoscroll

Autoscroll keeps the line you’re typing in a comfortable spot on screen. Pick Top, Center, or Bottom to hold your cursor there, or None to scroll yourself. Center feels a lot like writing on a typewriter.

​
Typing helpers

Three helpers, all on by default:
  • Smart Typography. Turns two hyphens into a long dash, straight quotes into curly ones, and *** into a separator. It also turns Markdown shortcuts into formatting: # for a heading, *italic*, **bold**, - for a list, and > for a quote. Turn it off and the editor leaves what you type alone.
  • Auto-link URLs. Turns anything that looks like a web address into a link.
  • Slash Command Menu. Opens the formatting menu when you type /. See The slash menu.
Changes to these three kick in the next time you open a file.
In shared files, all three typing helpers stay on for everyone, whatever your own settings say.

​
Editor tools

Two switches control the small tools that appear as you work:
  • Show block handle on hover. Shows the move handle and the insert-a-line button next to the paragraph under your mouse.
  • Show floating toolbar on selection. Shows formatting and comment buttons above selected text. Comments stay available from the command palette.

​
Resetting

Each section has its own reset button. Reset all at the bottom puts every setting back to its default.

​
More editor options

You’ll find a few more options in the file actions menu (⋯):
  • Spellcheck. Uses your browser’s spellchecker, and it’s on by default. Turn it off if a very long page feels sluggish.
  • Header: classic or minimal. Choose a full header or a slim one. See Classic or minimal header.
  • Pin toolbar. Keeps the toolbar in view with the minimal header.

​
Pasted words

You decide whether pasted text counts. Words you type always count, whatever you pick.
Where to find it: In the editor, click the paste icon in the counter at the top of the page, or open the file actions menu (⋯) → Pasted words. You can also use Left sidebar → Account → Settings → Opt Out of Copy/Paste Open in 4TW ↗
Pick one of three options:
  • Always count pasted words. They count as soon as you paste.
  • Ask each time. They wait until you count or ignore them.
  • Never count pasted words. They stay in your file but never count.
Your choice covers everything a pasted word can earn: today’s words, your 444, your streak, your daily challenges, and battle damage. Always counts all of it, and Never counts none of it, battle damage included.
The one exception is a co-op room that doesn’t allow pasting. Pasted words don’t count there, whatever you pick.
Three things don’t change with this setting:
  • Your writing time. Pasting never adds to it.
  • File and project goals. They follow your document, so pasted words count toward them under every option. Your account goal follows your pasted-words setting.
  • Shared files. Pasted words in a shared file follow your own setting, and your co-writers’ words never count for you.

​
Counting words that are waiting

With Ask each time, a clipboard button with a dot appears in the top bar whenever pasted words are waiting. Click it to open Pasted words:
  • Words waiting. How many are waiting, and what counting them would do: today’s words go from one number to another, and the monster you’re fighting is named.
  • Count or ignore. Choose Count all to add them to today’s words and hit your current monster, or Ignore to leave them in your file uncounted.
  • From several places. If the words come from more than one place, open the list to count or ignore each place on its own.
  • Still saving. Words from a file that hasn’t saved yet show as still saving. You can count them once the file saves.
Counted words join today’s words and hit the monster you’re fighting at that moment. The panel also has a When you paste row, so you can change your option without leaving it.
Your option is saved to your account, so it applies on every device and updates on every screen you have open. This setting is for writing in 4thewords on the web. The Chrome Extension has its own Count pasted text switch.

​
Frequently Asked Questions

Typing helper changes kick in the next time you open a file. Open another file and come back. In a shared file, the helpers are always on.
Yes. They’re saved to your account, so they’re there wherever you sign in. Desktop and mobile margins are separate, so each screen gets its own.
Turn off Smart Typography in Editor Settings, then reopen your file.
Click the paste icon in the counter at the top of the editor to see your option. If it’s Never count pasted words, they stay in your file but don’t count. If it’s Ask each time, look for the clipboard button with a dot in the top bar and choose Count all. In a co-op room that doesn’t allow pasting, pasted words never count.
Back to writing

The Writing Editor

The header, panels, formatting, and shortcuts.

Account & Settings

Your profile, timezone, and account-wide preferences.