Replace text and punctuation in documents on Mac
In many apps, you can automatically replace text and punctuation. For example, you can replace a double-space with a period and a space, teh with the, fwiw with for what it’s worth, or replace straight quotes with “curly” quotes (called smart quotes). You can also have internet addresses (URLs) converted to clickable links (called smart links).
Create text replacements
Automatically replace certain text with other text or symbols. For example, replace (c) with ©.
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)If you’re working in an app, you can also choose Edit > Substitutions > Show Substitutions, then click Text Settings.
Click Text Replacements.
Click
in the dialog that appears, type the text to replace (such as teh) and its replacement (such as the), then click Add.Click Done.
To keep your text replacements up to date on all your Apple devices or share them with other Mac users, see Back up and share text replacements.
Tip: You can quickly end a sentence with a period when you press the Space bar twice. In Keyboard settings, go to Text Input, click Edit, then turn on “Add period with double-space.”
If you use Chinese or Japanese input sources, your text replacements are included in your user dictionary. See Edit your Chinese user dictionary or Edit and use your Japanese user dictionaries.
Use text replacements
In an app on your Mac, do one of the following:
Apply a text replacement to existing text: To use the text replacement in part of a document, select the text, choose Edit > Substitutions > Show Substitutions, make sure the Text Replacement checkbox is selected, then click Replace in Selection. To use the text replacement in the entire document, click Replace All.
Set an app to always use a text replacement: In a document, choose Edit > Substitutions, then choose Text Replacement (a checkmark shows whether it’s on or off).
Use smart quotes and dashes
Automatically convert straight quotation marks to typographical (“curly”) ones, and double hyphens to em dashes (—).
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
Go to Text Input, then click Edit.
Turn on “Use smart quotes and dashes.”
To choose a style for smart quotes, choose styles from the “For double quotes” and “For single quotes” pop-up menus, then click Done.
Tip: To apply smart quotes and dashes to existing text, select the text, choose Edit > Substitutions > Show Substitutions, make sure the Smart Dashes and Smart Quotes checkboxes are selected, then click Replace in Selection. To use them in the entire document, click Replace All.
Use smart links
Automatically convert URLs or other text to clickable links. For example, “apple.com” is converted to a link that opens that website, and “mailto:dawn_ramirez@icloud.com” is converted to a link that creates an email message to dawn_ramirez@icloud.com.
In an app on your Mac, do any of the following:
Set an app to always use smart links: In a document, choose Edit > Substitutions, then choose Smart Links (a checkmark shows whether it’s on or off).
Apply smart links to existing text: To use smart links in part of a document, select the text, choose Edit > Substitutions > Show Substitutions, select the Smart Links checkbox, then click Replace in Selection. To use them in the entire document, click Replace All.
Text replacements, smart quotes and dashes, and smart links aren’t available in all apps.