Writing and research

Writing goes better when your sources are in view but your draft stays the center of attention.

Set it up

1. Open your draft first, so it’s the primary window on the left.
2. Open your sources: a browser, a PDF, your notes. Each takes half of the newest space on the right.

With the default of three windows per screen, the two sources split the right side, one above the other. If you only need one source, press ⌃⌥⌘2 to tile two windows on this screen.

Tips

• Widen the draft. Drag the line between the draft and the sources. Your draft keeps that width as you open and close sources.
• Read without clicking. Turn on Hover focus in the menu bar panel, and whichever window you point at becomes active, so scrolling a source is one move. It waits a moment and ignores the pointer while you type, so it won’t pull you out of your draft.
• Swap in the source you need. Press ⌃⌥ with an arrow to bring a source next to the draft, or ⌃⌥↩ to give it the big space for a while.
• See where you are. A thin glow on the active window (Settings → Highlight → Glow on active) makes it obvious which window your typing goes to.