textParser.js

function parseText(text) {
  let filterSpace = item => item.length > 1;
  let spacedWords = text
    .split(" ")
    .filter(filterSpace)
    .map(word => `${word} `);

  spacedWords.map((word, i) => {
    if (!word.indexOf("_")) {
      let newWord = <span style={{ color: "blue" }}>{word.substring(1)}</span>;
      spacedWords[i] = newWord;
    }
    if (!word.indexOf("*")) {
      let starredWord = (
        <span style={{ color: "red" }}>{word.substring(1)}</span>
      );
      spacedWords[i] = starredWord;
    }
  });
  return spacedWords;
}