polysemy.vercel.app

Overview

Polysemy is an experimental block-based text editor I built around a single idea: what if we could edit text at a higher level of abstraction than characters? It lets writers navigate at the word and paragraph level, making the editing process more efficient and enjoyable.

The Problem

Traditional text editors operate primarily at the character level. Tasks like restructuring a sentence, swapping phrases, or refining word choice require tedious fine-grained selection and editing. There is no easy way to navigate and manipulate text at higher levels of abstraction without moving your hands away from the keyboard to reach for a pointing device.

The Solution

Polysemy rethinks the text editing experience by taking inspiration from keyboard-centric programming editors. All functionality is invoked via the keyboard, allowing the writer to maintain focus on their content rather than breaking their flow to click around.

Key features include:

• Block-based navigation – Move and edit at the word, phrase, and paragraph levels, not just character by character.
• Word cursor – Navigate text semantically, jumping between words and phrases with precision.
• Instant synonym search – Find the right word without leaving the editor.
• Markdown support – Format text naturally without toolbar buttons.

Development & Implementation

I started building Polysemy during my freshman year of college and have slowly iterated on it since. I focused on making the editing experience enjoyable by adding subtle animations and visual cues that provide feedback on interactions. One of the things I like about programming is the zen-like feel of moving quickly with just the keyboard. I wanted that same feeling in Polysemy, so I reduced the number of moving parts so everything feels instant and clicky.

Branding

I wanted the branding to reflect the craft and beauty of writing. I think serif fonts best capture that. They’re what books and literary works are written in. I chose a serif font for the logo and the name “Polysemy” because it means “multiple meanings”, which I think is fitting for an editor that lets writers explore different ways of expressing their ideas.

Continuing to Evolve

This project is still an ongoing experiment and lacks many key features. I have plenty of ideas for where to take it next:

• AI-powered writing assistance – Suggestions for improving clarity, style, and grammar.
• Export options – Support for exporting to formats like PDF, DOCX, and HTML.
• Word suggestions based on user dictionary – Allow users to build a personal dictionary of preferred words and phrases, with suggestions drawn from it while writing.

I’m excited to continue exploring the possibilities of this editor and seeing how it can evolve to better serve the writing process.