Story
When an answer says the right thing but is too long or sounds wrong, I want to change its length or tone with 1 tap and keep every fact, so I can send it without checking it all again.
Ifeoma, who sells handmade bags in Abuja, replying to an unhappy customer on her laptop.
- 01 Setting
Ifeoma asks for a reply to Ada, whose bag strap broke.
- 02 Trigger
The draft is right, but too long for a phone message.
- 03 Without it
She types "make it shorter". A second version appears below. She re-reads it to check the refund is still there.
- 04 With it
She taps Shorter. The same reply is rewritten in place.
- 05 Outcome
45 → 26 words, with the repair, the ₦18,000 and the courier marked as kept. She sends it.
Live demo
This demo follows a script, so it plays the same every time - there is no real AI behind it. Change a setting to see the same moment play out differently.
What happens, step by step
| State | The person sees | The AI is | When | Screen reader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The reply streams in (arrives word by word). | Writes. | 0-2 s | “Generating a response” |
| 2 | Shorter, Longer, More formal and More friendly sit under the reply. | Idle. | when done | “Response complete” |
| 3 | The pressed control fills in; the others fade. | Idle. | on tap | - |
| 4 | The new version writes over the old one, in the same place. | Rewrites. | - | “Rewriting” |
| 5 | Facts that stayed are marked. "45 → 26 words" and Undo sit under the reply. | Idle. | when done | “Shorter. 26 words” |
On each device
- phone
- The controls sit in 1 row under the answer and scroll sideways if needed, each 44 px tall. Undo sits next to the word count.
- tablet
- As on the phone, with all controls visible.
- desktop
- A row under the answer, or on the selection toolbar (the small bar that appears over highlighted text) to change only part of a text. A slider suits length when people want fine steps.
When to use it
- The content is right, but the size or voice is not - too long, too stiff, too casual.
- People make the same kind of change often - shorter for a phone, formal for a client.
- The facts must stay the same while the wording changes.
- The content is wrong. A new tone will not fix it. Use Regenerate, edit and branches instead.
- People want to fix 1 word or 1 number. Use Edit output and revert to AI instead.
- People do not know yet how it should sound. Use Variations instead.
The parts of the pattern
- AControls1 tap each, named by the result: Shorter, Longer, More formal, More friendly.
- BIn placeThe new version replaces the old one where it was. No second message.
- CKept factsAmounts, names and promises that stayed are marked, so nobody has to re-check.
- DChange and Undo"45 → 26 words" shows what happened. Undo brings the old version back.
Do and Avoid
Hello Ada, I’m sorry your strap broke…
45 → 26 words · Undo
Shorter More formal
Hello Ada, I’m so sorry your strap broke after…
Make it shorter
Hello Ada, I’m sorry your strap broke…
We’ll repair it for free or refund the full ₦18,000.
Sorry about the strap. We’ll sort it out.
Writing and accessibility
- Name controls by the result: "Shorter", "Longer", "More formal", "More friendly", so people know what they get before they tap.
- Show the change in numbers: "45 → 26 words".
- Keep names, amounts, dates and promises the same in every version, and mark them.
- Offer "Undo" right after a change, in the same place.
- Controls are real buttons with clear names. The one just used says it is pressed.
- Announce the result once, politely: "Shorter. 26 words." Do not read the new text out.
- Keep focus on the control after a change, so people can press it again or press Undo.
- Mark kept facts with more than colour: a background, and the word "kept" for screen readers.
Seen in real products
- ChatGPT canvasWeb, Windows and macOS · Nov 2026Shortcuts include "Adjust the length", a slider from shortest to longest, and "Change reading level", from Kindergarten to Graduate School.OpenAI Help: Canvas ↗
- Apple Writing ToolsmacOS · Nov 2026Rewrite, then Friendly, Professional or Concise, changes the tone of selected text.Mac User Guide: Use Writing Tools ↗
- GeminiComputer, Android and iPhone · Nov 2026Gemini Help says you can modify a response: adjust the length, simplify the language or change the tone.Gemini Apps Help: Regenerate or modify responses ↗
Each example comes from the product’s help pages, release notes or teardowns, with the month it was checked. Products change every month - tell us when 1 is out of date.
Check yourself
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