Struggling to eliminate certain words or phrases from your everyday language? A practical approach can be implemented: customize your computer and phone settings to automatically substitute specific terms as you type them.

For instance, extensive experience with Mac systems often involves frequent reference to the “menu bar,” the section at the top of the screen housing various text menus and icons. For an extended period, “menubar” was my go-to term, despite its inaccuracy. One of my previous editors was particularly annoyed by this error. In frustration, he advised me to adjust my Mac settings so that whenever I typed “menubar,” it would seamlessly convert to “menu bar.” Not only did my Mac update the text, but it also signaled an audible alert each time it made that alteration. Eventually, my incorrect usage ceased altogether.

This example may seem specialized, yet the applications for such a technique are vast. Perhaps your goal is to minimize profane language—your device could be programmed to swap out curse words for more playful equivalents, thereby encouraging a re-evaluation of your phrasing. Alternatively, you might wish to adopt more inclusive language; for instance, you could set your devices to change “guys” into “everyone.” Are you aiming to cut down on vagueness in professional communication? You could configure your computer to replace phrases like “kind of” with clearer alternatives.

The key takeaway is to identify the specific language habits you wish to modify.

Configuring Text Replacements Across Various Devices

Built-in functionality for text replacement exists on Apple devices. To set it up on a Mac, navigate to System Settings, then select Keyboard. On an iPhone or iPad, access Settings, then General > Keyboard, where you’ll find the Text Replacements feature. Here, it’s possible to create numerous replacements tailored to your preferences.

For Android users, a similar functionality is available in the settings. If you’re using the GBoard, which is the default keyboard application, open its settings and locate the Dictionary section. Once there, select your current dictionary and click the plus icon to insert a new Text Shortcut. Input the unwanted word as the “Shortcut” and the replacement in the main text field.

Credit: Justin Pot

Unfortunately, Windows does not include a dedicated feature for text replacement. However, various options are available. One viable solution is Espanso, an open-source text expansion application that has been previously reviewed. While it requires some setup time, it functions effectively. Alternatively, designed specifically for Windows, Beeftext offers a user-friendly and free interface that also supports this functionality.