diff --git a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
index 2a2e774ce..203e91b35 100644
--- a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
+++ b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
@@ -850,6 +850,14 @@
 	margin-block-end: 0;
 }
 
+/* Headings need more breathing room above than between body blocks
+   so the document gets a visible rhythm. The :not(:first-child) gate
+   keeps a heading at the top of the editor flush against the toolbar
+   instead of opening a blank top margin. */
+[data-words-content] :where(h1, h2, h3):not(:first-child) {
+	margin-block-start: calc(var(--words-block-gap) * 1.5);
+}
+
 [data-words-content] :where(h1, h2, h3) {
 	color: var(--words-heading-color);
 	font-size: var(--words-heading-font-size);
@@ -904,9 +912,10 @@
 
 [data-words-content] :where(pre) {
 	overflow-x: auto;
-	padding-block: var(--words-quote-px);
-	padding-inline: var(--words-quote-px);
-	border: var(--words-border-width) solid var(--words-toolbar-border);
+	padding-block: calc(var(--words-quote-px) * 1.25);
+	padding-inline: calc(var(--words-quote-px) * 1.25);
+	border: var(--words-border-width) solid
+		color-mix(in srgb, var(--_words-accent-border) 60%, var(--words-toolbar-border));
 	border-radius: var(--words-code-radius);
 	background: var(--words-code-bg);
 	color: var(--words-code-color);
@@ -975,9 +984,13 @@
 }
 
 [data-words-content] :where(blockquote) {
+	padding-block: calc(var(--words-quote-px) * 0.5);
 	padding-inline-start: var(--words-quote-px);
-	border-inline-start: var(--words-quote-border-width) solid var(--_words-accent-border);
+	border-inline-start: calc(var(--words-quote-border-width) * 1.5) solid
+		var(--_words-accent-border);
+	background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--_words-accent-solid) 4%, transparent);
 	color: var(--words-quote-color);
+	font-style: italic;
 }
 
 [data-words-content] :where(ul, ol) {