Quick tip: editable text highlight in Ai

While InDesign or text editors have this feature built in, Illustrator does not. Here's my workaround:

1. Write one line of text.
2. Remove the fill from the Color tab.
3. Add a fill for the lettters from the Appearance tab.
4. Add another fill for the highlight of a different color underneath.
5. While having that 2nd fill selected in the Appearance tab, go to: Effect > Convert to shape > Rectangle.

The downside is that it works only with a single line of text. If you want more, use multiple objects and distribute the space between them.