diff --git a/components/action-dropdown.js b/components/action-dropdown.js
index b922967d1..ea19ebaca 100644
--- a/components/action-dropdown.js
+++ b/components/action-dropdown.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ export default function ActionDropdown ({ children }) {
   }
   return (
     <Dropdown className={`pointer ${styles.dropdown}`} as='span'>
-      <Dropdown.Toggle variant='success' as='a'>
+      <Dropdown.Toggle variant='success' as='a' onPointerDown={e => e.preventDefault()}>
         <MoreIcon className='fill-grey ms-1' height={16} width={16} />
       </Dropdown.Toggle>
       <Dropdown.Menu>
diff --git a/components/comment.js b/components/comment.js
index 3be44802b..e9bdface2 100644
--- a/components/comment.js
+++ b/components/comment.js
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ export default function Comment ({
       ? 'fwd'
       : null
   const bountyPaid = root.bountyPaidTo?.includes(Number(item.id))
+  const replyRef = useRef()
+  const contentContainerRef = useRef()
 
   return (
     <div
@@ -165,6 +167,7 @@ export default function Comment ({
                   commentTextSingular='reply'
                   className={`${itemStyles.other} ${styles.other}`}
                   embellishUser={op && <><span> </span><Badge bg={op === 'fwd' ? 'secondary' : 'boost'} className={`${styles.op} bg-opacity-75`}>{op}</Badge></>}
+                  onQuoteReply={replyRef?.current?.quoteReply}
                   extraInfo={
                     <>
                       {includeParent && <Parent item={item} rootText={rootText} />}
@@ -207,7 +210,7 @@ export default function Comment ({
               />
               )
             : (
-              <div className={styles.text}>
+              <div className={styles.text} ref={contentContainerRef}>
                 {item.searchText
                   ? <SearchText text={item.searchText} />
                   : (
@@ -224,7 +227,7 @@ export default function Comment ({
           : (
             <div className={styles.children}>
               {!noReply &&
-                <Reply depth={depth + 1} item={item} replyOpen={replyOpen}>
+                <Reply depth={depth + 1} item={item} replyOpen={replyOpen} ref={replyRef} contentContainerRef={contentContainerRef}>
                   {root.bounty && !bountyPaid && <PayBounty item={item} />}
                 </Reply>}
               {children}
diff --git a/components/form.js b/components/form.js
index b4bcf2347..d135256c5 100644
--- a/components/form.js
+++ b/components/form.js
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ export function MarkdownInput ({ label, topLevel, groupClassName, onChange, setH
   const [, meta, helpers] = useField(props)
   const [selectionRange, setSelectionRange] = useState({ start: 0, end: 0 })
   innerRef = innerRef || useRef(null)
+  const previousTab = useRef(tab)
 
   props.as ||= TextareaAutosize
   props.rows ||= props.minRows || 6
@@ -100,6 +101,14 @@ export function MarkdownInput ({ label, topLevel, groupClassName, onChange, setH
     !meta.value && setTab('write')
   }, [meta.value])
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // focus on input when switching to write tab from preview tab
+    if (innerRef?.current && tab === 'write' && previousTab?.current !== 'write') {
+      innerRef.current.focus()
+    }
+    previousTab.current = tab
+  }, [tab])
+
   useEffect(() => {
     if (selectionRange.start <= selectionRange.end && innerRef?.current) {
       const { start, end } = selectionRange
@@ -125,53 +134,49 @@ export function MarkdownInput ({ label, topLevel, groupClassName, onChange, setH
             <Markdown width={18} height={18} />
           </a>
         </Nav>
-        {tab === 'write'
-          ? (
-            <div>
-              <InputInner
-                {...props} onChange={(formik, e) => {
-                  if (onChange) onChange(formik, e)
-                  if (setHasImgLink) {
-                    setHasImgLink(mdHas(e.target.value, ['link', 'image']))
-                  }
-                }}
-                innerRef={innerRef}
-                onKeyDown={(e) => {
-                  const metaOrCtrl = e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey
-                  if (metaOrCtrl) {
-                    if (e.key === 'k') {
-                      // some browsers use CTRL+K to focus search bar so we have to prevent that behavior
-                      e.preventDefault()
-                      insertMarkdownLinkFormatting(innerRef.current, helpers.setValue, setSelectionRange)
-                    }
-                    if (e.key === 'b') {
-                      // some browsers use CTRL+B to open bookmarks so we have to prevent that behavior
-                      e.preventDefault()
-                      insertMarkdownBoldFormatting(innerRef.current, helpers.setValue, setSelectionRange)
-                    }
-                    if (e.key === 'i') {
-                      // some browsers might use CTRL+I to do something else so prevent that behavior too
-                      e.preventDefault()
-                      insertMarkdownItalicFormatting(innerRef.current, helpers.setValue, setSelectionRange)
-                    }
-                    if (e.key === 'Tab' && e.altKey) {
-                      e.preventDefault()
-                      insertMarkdownTabFormatting(innerRef.current, helpers.setValue, setSelectionRange)
-                    }
-                  }
-
-                  if (onKeyDown) onKeyDown(e)
-                }}
-              />
-            </div>)
-          : (
-            <div className='form-group'>
-              <div className={`${styles.text} form-control`}>
-                <Text topLevel={topLevel} noFragments tab={tab}>{meta.value}</Text>
-              </div>
-            </div>
-            )}
+        <div className={tab === 'write' ? '' : 'd-none'}>
+          <InputInner
+            {...props} onChange={(formik, e) => {
+              if (onChange) onChange(formik, e)
+              if (setHasImgLink) {
+                setHasImgLink(mdHas(e.target.value, ['link', 'image']))
+              }
+            }}
+            innerRef={innerRef}
+            onKeyDown={(e) => {
+              const metaOrCtrl = e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey
+              if (metaOrCtrl) {
+                if (e.key === 'k') {
+                  // some browsers use CTRL+K to focus search bar so we have to prevent that behavior
+                  e.preventDefault()
+                  insertMarkdownLinkFormatting(innerRef.current, helpers.setValue, setSelectionRange)
+                }
+                if (e.key === 'b') {
+                  // some browsers use CTRL+B to open bookmarks so we have to prevent that behavior
+                  e.preventDefault()
+                  insertMarkdownBoldFormatting(innerRef.current, helpers.setValue, setSelectionRange)
+                }
+                if (e.key === 'i') {
+                  // some browsers might use CTRL+I to do something else so prevent that behavior too
+                  e.preventDefault()
+                  insertMarkdownItalicFormatting(innerRef.current, helpers.setValue, setSelectionRange)
+                }
+                if (e.key === 'Tab' && e.altKey) {
+                  e.preventDefault()
+                  insertMarkdownTabFormatting(innerRef.current, helpers.setValue, setSelectionRange)
+                }
+              }
 
+              if (onKeyDown) onKeyDown(e)
+            }}
+          />
+        </div>
+        {tab !== 'write' &&
+          <div className='form-group'>
+            <div className={`${styles.text} form-control`}>
+              <Text topLevel={topLevel} noFragments tab={tab}>{meta.value}</Text>
+            </div>
+          </div>}
       </div>
     </FormGroup>
   )
@@ -225,7 +230,8 @@ function FormGroup ({ className, label, children }) {
 
 function InputInner ({
   prepend, append, hint, showValid, onChange, onBlur, overrideValue,
-  innerRef, noForm, clear, onKeyDown, inputGroupClassName, debounce, maxLength, ...props
+  innerRef, noForm, clear, onKeyDown, inputGroupClassName, debounce, maxLength,
+  ...props
 }) {
   const [field, meta, helpers] = noForm ? [{}, {}, {}] : useField(props)
   const formik = noForm ? null : useFormikContext()
@@ -483,7 +489,7 @@ export function Checkbox ({ children, label, groupClassName, hiddenLabel, extra,
 const StorageKeyPrefixContext = createContext()
 
 export function Form ({
-  initial, schema, onSubmit, children, initialError, validateImmediately, storageKeyPrefix, validateOnChange = true, invoiceable, ...props
+  initial, schema, onSubmit, children, initialError, validateImmediately, storageKeyPrefix, validateOnChange = true, invoiceable, innerRef, ...props
 }) {
   const toaster = useToast()
   const initialErrorToasted = useRef(false)
@@ -538,6 +544,7 @@ export function Form ({
           toaster.danger(err.message || err.toString?.())
         }
       }}
+      innerRef={innerRef}
     >
       <FormikForm {...props} noValidate>
         <StorageKeyPrefixContext.Provider value={storageKeyPrefix}>
diff --git a/components/item-full.js b/components/item-full.js
index d40e44d8f..6c05f3176 100644
--- a/components/item-full.js
+++ b/components/item-full.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import Button from 'react-bootstrap/Button'
 import { TwitterTweetEmbed } from 'react-twitter-embed'
 import YouTube from 'react-youtube'
 import useDarkMode from './dark-mode'
-import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import Poll from './poll'
 import { commentsViewed } from '../lib/new-comments'
 import Related from './related'
@@ -122,10 +122,13 @@ function FwdUsers ({ forwards }) {
 
 function TopLevelItem ({ item, noReply, ...props }) {
   const ItemComponent = item.isJob ? ItemJob : Item
+  const replyRef = useRef()
+  const contentContainerRef = useRef()
 
   return (
     <ItemComponent
       item={item}
+      replyRef={replyRef}
       full
       right={
         !noReply &&
@@ -137,7 +140,7 @@ function TopLevelItem ({ item, noReply, ...props }) {
       belowTitle={item.forwards && item.forwards.length > 0 && <FwdUsers forwards={item.forwards} />}
       {...props}
     >
-      <div className={styles.fullItemContainer}>
+      <div className={styles.fullItemContainer} ref={contentContainerRef}>
         {item.text && <ItemText item={item} />}
         {item.url && <ItemEmbed item={item} />}
         {item.poll && <Poll item={item} />}
@@ -157,7 +160,7 @@ function TopLevelItem ({ item, noReply, ...props }) {
       </div>
       {!noReply &&
         <>
-          <Reply item={item} replyOpen placeholder={item.ncomments ? undefined : 'start the conversation ...'} />
+          <Reply item={item} replyOpen placeholder={item.ncomments ? undefined : 'start the conversation ...'} ref={replyRef} contentContainerRef={contentContainerRef} />
           {!item.position && !item.isJob && !item.parentId && !item.bounty > 0 && <Related title={item.title} itemId={item.id} />}
           {item.bounty > 0 && <PastBounties item={item} />}
         </>}
diff --git a/components/item-info.js b/components/item-info.js
index e37191b48..783d70536 100644
--- a/components/item-info.js
+++ b/components/item-info.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import Link from 'next/link'
 import { useRouter } from 'next/router'
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
 import Badge from 'react-bootstrap/Badge'
+import Dropdown from 'react-bootstrap/Dropdown'
 import Countdown from './countdown'
 import { abbrNum, numWithUnits } from '../lib/format'
 import { newComments, commentsViewedAt } from '../lib/new-comments'
@@ -20,7 +21,8 @@ import MuteDropdownItem from './mute'
 
 export default function ItemInfo ({
   item, pendingSats, full, commentsText = 'comments',
-  commentTextSingular = 'comment', className, embellishUser, extraInfo, onEdit, editText
+  commentTextSingular = 'comment', className, embellishUser, extraInfo, onEdit, editText,
+  onQuoteReply
 }) {
   const editThreshold = new Date(item.createdAt).getTime() + 10 * 60000
   const me = useMe()
@@ -131,6 +133,8 @@ export default function ItemInfo ({
         </>}
       <ActionDropdown>
         <CopyLinkDropdownItem item={item} />
+        {(item.parentId || item.text) && onQuoteReply &&
+          <Dropdown.Item onClick={onQuoteReply}>quote reply</Dropdown.Item>}
         {me && <BookmarkDropdownItem item={item} />}
         {me && !item.mine && <SubscribeDropdownItem item={item} />}
         {item.otsHash &&
diff --git a/components/item.js b/components/item.js
index 34ad35ca1..ce12a6749 100644
--- a/components/item.js
+++ b/components/item.js
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export function SearchTitle ({ title }) {
   })
 }
 
-export default function Item ({ item, rank, belowTitle, right, full, children, siblingComments }) {
+export default function Item ({ item, rank, belowTitle, right, full, children, siblingComments, replyRef }) {
   const titleRef = useRef()
   const router = useRouter()
   const [pendingSats, setPendingSats] = useState(0)
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ export default function Item ({ item, rank, belowTitle, right, full, children, s
           </div>
           <ItemInfo
             full={full} item={item} pendingSats={pendingSats}
+            onQuoteReply={replyRef?.current?.quoteReply}
             embellishUser={Number(item?.user?.id) === AD_USER_ID && <Badge className={styles.newComment} bg={null}>AD</Badge>}
           />
           {belowTitle}
diff --git a/components/reply.js b/components/reply.js
index 859a695ee..9bdd16bf2 100644
--- a/components/reply.js
+++ b/components/reply.js
@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@ import { gql, useMutation } from '@apollo/client'
 import styles from './reply.module.css'
 import { COMMENTS } from '../fragments/comments'
 import { useMe } from './me'
-import { useEffect, useState, useRef, useCallback } from 'react'
+import { forwardRef, useCallback, useEffect, useState, useRef, useImperativeHandle } from 'react'
 import Link from 'next/link'
 import FeeButton from './fee-button'
 import { commentsViewedAfterComment } from '../lib/new-comments'
 import { commentSchema } from '../lib/validate'
 import Info from './info'
+import { quote } from '../lib/md'
 
 export function ReplyOnAnotherPage ({ parentId }) {
   return (
@@ -33,10 +34,36 @@ function FreebieDialog () {
   )
 }
 
-export default function Reply ({ item, onSuccess, replyOpen, children, placeholder }) {
+export default forwardRef(function Reply ({ item, onSuccess, replyOpen, children, placeholder, contentContainerRef }, ref) {
   const [reply, setReply] = useState(replyOpen)
   const me = useMe()
   const parentId = item.id
+  const replyInput = useRef(null)
+  const formInnerRef = useRef()
+  useImperativeHandle(ref, () => ({
+    quoteReply: ({ selectionOnly }) => {
+      if (!reply) {
+        setReply(true)
+      }
+      const selection = window.getSelection()
+      const selectedText = selection.isCollapsed ? undefined : selection.toString()
+      const isSelectedTextInTarget = contentContainerRef?.current?.contains(selection.anchorNode)
+      if ((selection.isCollapsed || !isSelectedTextInTarget) && selectionOnly) return
+      const textToQuote = isSelectedTextInTarget ? selectedText : item.text
+      let updatedValue
+      if (formInnerRef.current && formInnerRef.current.values && !formInnerRef.current.values.text) {
+        updatedValue = quote(textToQuote)
+      } else if (formInnerRef.current?.values?.text) {
+        // append quote reply text if the input already has content
+        updatedValue = `${replyInput.current.value}\n${quote(textToQuote)}`
+      }
+      if (updatedValue) {
+        replyInput.current.value = updatedValue
+        formInnerRef.current.setValues({ text: updatedValue })
+        window.localStorage.setItem(`reply-${parentId}-text`, updatedValue)
+      }
+    }
+  }), [reply, item])
 
   useEffect(() => {
     setReply(replyOpen || !!window.localStorage.getItem('reply-' + parentId + '-' + 'text'))
@@ -96,7 +123,6 @@ export default function Reply ({ item, onSuccess, replyOpen, children, placehold
     setReply(replyOpen || false)
   }, [upsertComment, setReply, parentId])
 
-  const replyInput = useRef(null)
   useEffect(() => {
     if (replyInput.current && reply && !replyOpen) replyInput.current.focus()
   }, [reply])
@@ -108,45 +134,51 @@ export default function Reply ({ item, onSuccess, replyOpen, children, placehold
         : (
           <div className={styles.replyButtons}>
             <div
-              onClick={() => setReply(!reply)}
+              onPointerDown={e => {
+                if (!reply) {
+                  e.preventDefault()
+                  ref?.current?.quoteReply({ selectionOnly: true })
+                }
+                setReply(!reply)
+              }}
             >
               {reply ? 'cancel' : 'reply'}
             </div>
             {/* HACK if we need more items, we should probably do a comment toolbar */}
             {children}
           </div>)}
-      {reply &&
-        <div className={styles.reply}>
-          <Form
-            initial={{
-              text: ''
-            }}
-            schema={commentSchema}
-            invoiceable
-            onSubmit={onSubmit}
-            storageKeyPrefix={'reply-' + parentId}
-          >
-            <MarkdownInput
-              name='text'
-              minRows={6}
-              autoFocus={!replyOpen}
-              required
-              placeholder={placeholder}
-              hint={me?.sats < 1 && <FreebieDialog />}
-              innerRef={replyInput}
-            />
-            {reply &&
-              <div className='mt-1'>
-                <FeeButton
-                  baseFee={1} parentId={parentId} text='reply'
-                  ChildButton={SubmitButton} variant='secondary' alwaysShow
-                />
-              </div>}
-          </Form>
-        </div>}
+      <div className={styles.reply} style={{ display: reply ? 'block' : 'none' }}>
+        <Form
+          initial={{
+            text: ''
+          }}
+          schema={commentSchema}
+          invoiceable
+          onSubmit={onSubmit}
+          storageKeyPrefix={`reply-${parentId}`}
+          innerRef={formInnerRef}
+        >
+          <MarkdownInput
+            name='text'
+            minRows={6}
+            autoFocus={!replyOpen}
+            required
+            placeholder={placeholder}
+            hint={me?.sats < 1 && <FreebieDialog />}
+            innerRef={replyInput}
+          />
+          {reply &&
+            <div className='mt-1'>
+              <FeeButton
+                baseFee={1} parentId={parentId} text='reply'
+                ChildButton={SubmitButton} variant='secondary' alwaysShow
+              />
+            </div>}
+        </Form>
+      </div>
     </div>
   )
-}
+})
 
 export function ReplySkeleton () {
   return (
diff --git a/lib/md.js b/lib/md.js
index 1084e274e..35dc48892 100644
--- a/lib/md.js
+++ b/lib/md.js
@@ -35,3 +35,8 @@ export function extractUrls (md) {
 
   return Array.from(urls)
 }
+
+export const quote = (orig) =>
+  orig.split('\n')
+    .map(line => `> ${line}`)
+    .join('\n') + '\n'