When writing a post, Steemit has two options:
1 - Markdown
2 - Editor
The options can be changed by toggling the Editor/Markdown button before starting to write anything into the Create a post tab.
Steemit is missing from the markdown form of editing the shortcuts that other interfaces of the Steem blockchain have as Utopian or Busy for example.
Here is a screenshot from the Busy interface where there are highlighted the formatting shortcuts for Markdown.
The Steemit interface has not implemented yet these shortcuts while they are already in many text editors which accept markdown formatting.
Implementing shortcuts for markdown will make writing of the articles easier for all the users and also will increase the learning curve for users who are not aware of using markdown because they will be able to see tool-tips and examples of the formatting like in the following screenshot:
Posted on Utopian.io - Rewarding Open Source Contributors