Type it once. Expand it ever after.
Notes on text expansion and calmer typing: what it is, how to name abbreviations you will remember, saved replies that sound human, phone shortcuts, and checking a tool before you trust it.
What Text Expansion Is, and Who Actually Needs It
Text expansion swaps a short abbreviation for a longer piece of text as you type. It is simple, old, and still among the most useful small habits for anyone who writes the same things often.
;methodNaming Your Abbreviations So You Remember Them
Most people who give up on text expansion do so because they cannot remember their own triggers, or because the triggers fire in the middle of ordinary words. A naming scheme fixes both.
;at workSnippets for Support Replies That Do Not Sound Canned
Saved replies make support faster and more consistent. They also make it sound robotic when used carelessly. The difference lies in how the snippets are written and how they are combined.
;habitsKeyboard Habits Beyond Shortcuts: Typing, Posture and Rest
Text expansion removes repeated typing. The typing that remains is worth doing comfortably, accurately and without hurting yourself.
;mobileText Shortcuts on Your Phone: Replacement, Home-Screen Web Apps and Sync
Phones are where typing is slowest and shortcuts help most. The tools are built in, but they behave a little differently from their desktop counterparts.
;safetyVetting an Extension Before You Trust It With Your Keystrokes
A text expander has to watch what you type in order to work. That makes it worth ten minutes of checking before you install one, and the checking method applies to almost anything online.